Forum Discussion

Brenda5's avatar
Brenda5
Member
9 years ago

Twice surgery and I dont remember going under

I was just reading those posts where ladies are nervous about getting the surgery and worried about going under. Believe me I was too but honestly I cannot remember going under and I had it done twice! I remember being prepped with the cannula and breathing some bronchial medication and being wheeled into the theatre and even moving over from the trolly bed to the table which was cold steel and not at all comfortable and that's all. No counting back from 100, no count to 10, just nothing until I woke in my hospital bed. I don't even remember the recovery room. I know I have in the past blocked out memories of trauma in my younger years and only lately they can come back to me. Maybe they slipped me a micky before the table? I will probably never know lol.

surgery

9 Replies

  • Bluewren's avatar
    Bluewren
    Member
    9 years ago
    I agree. The waiting game is the worst part. Once you actually go into theatre it all happens fairly quickly. I've had three surgeries in a couple of months. Two out of three ain't bad. so the song says. First one the surgeon asked my name and what was I having done. That was it. Woke up in my room. Skipped recovery room or can't recall it. Second surgery was the same. Woke up being wheeled along corridor to room. Third wasn't a very good experience. Took ages to go under and woke up with pain in the recovery room. Remember thinking at the second op as they placed a heat blanket over my legs, I would love to have a few of these at home.
  • Hopes_and_Dream's avatar
    Hopes_and_Dream
    Member
    9 years ago
    I've had a few general anaesthetics over the years but they don't get any easier!  I think the hours waiting are far worse than the few awake moments in theatre.  I had several theatre sisters, the anaesthetist and surgeon all visit me individually in the waiting area outside theatre.  They each double checked my details and asked me to explain my understanding of what procedures were being done and the anaesthetist put the canula in my hand.   

    Once I was wheeled into theatre I remember thinking how narrow the operating table was.  It was covered in a waterproof sheet but wasn't cold.  My legs were shaking from nerves so one of the nurses covered me in a heated blanket.  They were calming and gentle and my last thought was that this is now completely out of my hands.  I have to trust these people.
    Within a minute of being on the table I had an injection into the canula and some oxygen and that was it.  No sensation of being light headed or falling asleep.  A blink and I was awake in recovery.

    Don't worry about going under - it is the start of our healing.

    Jane x
  • Michk's avatar
    Michk
    Member
    9 years ago

    Unfortunately it becomes a he said she said issue. The anaethitist denied it and the surgeon said I gave verbal consent. Before I lodged the complaint I was told that the doctors would collude to have a consistent story and the nurses wouldn't dispute anything the doctors said otherwise it would be their career.

    A word of warning, when you do raise issues be prepared to be lied to. The health system is a very big beast and when something goes wrong the interests of the hospital and the doctors comes first. 

    The experience was so bad that I've now opted out of everything to do with cancer so no more appointments with surgeons or  oncologist. 

  • primek's avatar
    primek
    Member
    9 years ago

    I'd  be writing a letter of complaint to the hospital who would need to look at it independently.

  • Michk's avatar
    Michk
    Member
    9 years ago

    I wish my experience was that pleasant. I had reconstructive surgery and the last thing I remember is the anaethitist putting the cannula in and asking him not to give me anything until I had seen the surgeon as I wanted to confirm how the surgery would be done (since another surgeon had told me earlier that he didn't think I should be doing the surgery as I wanted and as had been agreed at the appointments with my surgeon). The anaethitist just said not to worry it would just relax me and injected it anyway. Next thing I remember is waking up in intensive care and realising that it hadn't been done as I wanted. Since then the doctors have been very dismissive when I've asked them what happened with the only response been that it wasn't done as was agreed because the surgeon assisting wasn't comfortable doing it that way. What should have been one surgery is now going to be three. When I then asked for a response in writing both the anaethitist and surgeons fabricated conversations that never happened and said I gave verbal approval just before surgery, knowing that the drug they used causes amnesia and I couldn't dispute this. 

  • primek's avatar
    primek
    Member
    9 years ago

    I remember getting onto the table with all the lovely staff saying hello and introducing themselves and tucking me in. Then a mask on my face just getting me to relax and slow breathe and that was it. In recovery I vaguely remember my arms hurting then they gave me some more pain relief then the next moment I was on the ward. That was the eady part. It was the waiting I found difficult. Guess we are all different. Kath x

  • iserbrown's avatar
    iserbrown
    Member
    9 years ago

    Goodness I guess that is a good thing no memory.  I can recall mine, with this BC journey I've had 3 surgeries in a matter of months and each time I was calm and relaxed and well aware of the theatre and who was in it et cetera.  I don't recall the table being cold, I just recall it being nowhere near as wide as the bed and a reassuring word and touch on the arm by the surgeon and the Anaesthetist commenting I remember you, with me smiling back at her and thinking to myself yes this is a frequency I don't want to repeat too often.

    Take care from Christine xx

     

  • Tao's avatar
    Tao
    Member
    9 years ago

    I have never had a general anaesthetic in my life, and I am 53. In these last 13 days, I have had TWO? Sadly, first surgery wasnt so successful. I had always imagined that I would feel myself slipping away. However, one minute I was bright and chatting to staff and what seemed like the very next second, I was waking up in recovery. There is absolutely nothing to be worried about. I was asleep in a treatment room, on both occassions and do not remember being moved from my bed onto the operating table. I think they should really let you go under before they transfer you from bed to bed. 

  • Mira's avatar
    Mira
    Member
    9 years ago

    I've been lucky and only had one surgery.  I don't remember much at all except it was about 3pm (I had to be in at the hospital at 6am!) and I was so tired already.  They put the drip thing in and said they'd give me something to relax and rehydrate me a bit, then they wheeled me into the theatre and the guy said he was "just going to give me a bit of oxygen" ... and I was out instantly. 

    When I was waking up on the ward the nurse commented something about me being able to have McDonalds soon (guess I was hungry? I don't remember asking for it?) and that was it.  I woke up, they gave me dinner (and icecream) and then said I could go home .. at 10pm that night.

    So .. I had a good sleep and apparently had a nice chat to someone lol.  My biggest worry if I have another operation is what I will say!