worried about general anethesia

[Roshelle32]

I was just recently told that i have a cyst on my right ovary and that it may be cancer and that i have to have a total hysterectomy with removal of the ovaries. I agree that i need the surgery but i am mostly worried about being  put to sleep during the surgery. I have to have the open abdominal surgery and i would like to be awake for the surgery i want to be aware of whats going on. I have had 3 c sections and i was sleep for one and awake for the other two and i didnt do well when i was put to sleep. Does anyone have any experience with being awake for that procedure? I am really stressed about it and I am worried that i wont be allowed to remain awake for the procedure....anyone with any info please help

[madgeOwens]

I am not as tired this week as last and so forth...this is the way its been. However somedays uts like taking a step backwards in that area. I know thats going to happen because they told ne that, so I don't worry. I get a little disappointed but thats normal too. I find that I will sleep until 1 pm if I did alot the day before LOL so I guess thats very telling. Thats what happened today. I could not believe how long I slept, but to tell the truth I could have slept longer.  So I guess I am more tired than I had thought.  I feel very good though. I am still bleeding.......I wish that would stop.  Yes we are the same dat for our surgeries I noticed that.  I was afraid of being put to sleep...........heck I never got to even see the OR I fell aslep when they told me in pre op here is something to make you relax.......thats the last I remember until I woke up in my room!

[nat234]

Thank You !  

I was the biggest wimp you ever saw before I had the surgery,because its the unknown of being put to sleep and all the what if questions. But if you think of it realisticly,hard to do when your worried and never gone thru it, they do this on a daily basis, with more complicated surgeries than ours, ie heart transplants.

I just can speak for my experience, it was great and I will not hesitate to go to sleep again if I ever need another operation.

Speaking of operations, I have read a few of your posts along with others, you have quite the experience for this stuff, I am glad you seem to doing much better. Your recovering from what I have read is going great too. Are you still pretty tired during the day?

Lisa

[madgeOwens]

It was so thoughtful for you to put this post inhere for girls who are so terrified of being put to sleep. It will really help them. I was afraid, and I use to be a nurse.  It helped me to read some comforting remarks like yours and I hope it will help others.  I am so glad I had the hysterectomy. I had a prolapse and it was causing my bladder and rectum to be messed up and the surgeon repaired all things, and i am better than I have been in 35 years, when I had my son.  I think your post was very thoughtful.
I don't like to see people try to frighten women into not having their surgery. That is not helpful at all.
Madge

[nat234]

Pls becareful when reading about the CA-125 test, it is not the sole test for detecting  ovarian cancer, it is used as an indicator that something could be going on, it is highly unreliable, many factors can give you a high numbers, ie menopause, menstration, hormones, ovarian cysts, fibroids etc.

I have had 2 tests in the last 3 months, my numbers were 240 & 383. I was really concerned, until my doctor, took the time to explain in great detail everything. When I asked if it could be cancer, she said the % of that was low.
In my case it was due to my fibriod, I had a hystrectomy last month, but still have my ovaries. I had a large fibriod and 2 ovarian cysts, my ovaries were perfect, apart from the cysts.
It was my first surgery and I was terrified of being put to sleep, so terrified to the point of having second thoughts about having it done or just putting up with the pain. It was an abdominal incision, bit longer to recover, but they really know how to take care of you especailly if your scared. I was talking to one nurse in the OR and next thing I was waking up in my room. Its the best way to go.
Hope this helps eases your mind a bit.

[madgeOwens]

If you are over 50 they are more concerned about ovarian cysts, because they are ususally not good, as in cancerous.  Since we don't know her age its difficult to say much more than has been said, without trying to scare the **** out of her.

[debkakes]

Perhaps you should be worried as well about getting an unnecessary hysterectomy. Is the cyst the only thing wrong? Because the majority of cysts are benign, and they really cannot be sure of cancer unless you have a very high CA125 count. Is that the case? Not knowing your full history, perhaps I'm out of line. I've read many posts by women whose docs just reflexively tell them to get a hysterectomy, when a less drastic approach might be better for her, or at least discussed.

[madgeOwens]

I don't think you should fear being put to sleep.  I was, now that its done I am glad I went to sleep and left everything in the habds of anestesiologist and surgeons.  You will be fine! I am in late 50s and did great.........stop worrying.

[pattidee]

Hi.  I just arrived home from my pre-op testing for a complete abdominal hysterectomy being performed on 2/27/08.  I thought I would be having general anesthesia, but was convinced not only by the anethesiologist, but by two women who work at the hospital, that regional is preferable (basically an epidural).  They will not only completely numb the lower half of your body, but they will also administer drugs to relax you and make you sleepy, but you will be responsive.  The two women agreed that "regional anesthesia" is much better than general because when you wake up, you will not experience any pain as you are still numb.  This will also help in getting you out of bed quicker.  I was petrified about being too aware of what was happening, but I now feel completely comfortable that they will manage my stress level.  So, I will post again when I return home to let you know how it all works out.  
Patti