Comments | free_speech

iconotakeu in free_speech_ftm

CRS

Sep 21, 2011 23:44

I want CRS more than anything and know for the first time in my life I not only want it but need it but I have a very serious phobia of going under (never was knocked out, because I never had major surgery. Just minor with locals). I know the risks and I'm scared to death of them. How serious is it to go under general? My main thing is what if I'm ( Read more... )

Comments 4

expanding_x_man September 22 2011, 04:00:29 UTC

You know, I don't think that many people die on the operating table or people just wouldn't go under. It does happen, but it is rare. Very, very rare... I don't have statistics but that must be the case. You could google statistics easily BTW, of course. I think that a good anesthesiologist would be alert for allergic reactions, and would know what to do if you are allergic. You should discuss all these misgivings and fears with your surgeon, if only for reassurance. They do think about this stuff and have measures in place to take care of it. Plus, your doctor will have a good idea of your general health going into surgery, and this should help as well. If you don't smoke, that is very helpful I know and also being a decent healthy if not ideal weight helps as well.

Best of luck with this. It does feel better to take care of this matter, I mean - you feel more complete and just better so doing it is most likely a good move.

varanus September 22 2011, 04:55:30 UTC

Death or some other very serious complication from general anesthesia does happen from time to time, but it is not by any means a common occurrence. There's a reason why anesthesiologists are some of the highest-paid and best-trained doctors out there. If you are generally in good health--and your surgeon and anesthesiologist would let you know if any health problems you might have would make general anesthesia a problem--then not waking up from being knocked out would be like a "Final Destination" scenario (i.e., your number was just up and there's no way around it). I can't imagine any surgeon consenting to performing double-incision surgery under local anesthetic. There's just too much tissue being manipulated and too many ways for you to move around and mess it up. Plus, I personally wouldn't want to see someone cut my chest open ( ... )

new2life September 24 2011, 01:38:39 UTC

*When they're actually about to do the surgery, the anesthesiologist will usually start an IV that has a sedative in it that will get rid of your anxiety no matter what.*

Exactly! I love when they say.. Ok.. going to put the feel good meds in now.

new2life September 24 2011, 01:37:32 UTC

I have had three major surgeries with the first one being in 1993 0r 4 or something... The difference between then and now is amazing. I had that same phobia after my first surgery where I just had a bad experience with going under. The last two surgeries were a peace of cake. The way they use meds now, so much easier. One minute you are there, the next minute you are in recovery. That is what it felt like anyway. Mind you, I am the guy whose dentist prescribes me a xanax or valium before a dentist appointment. I had all my surgeries at hospitals, which *I* felt safer at. For top surgery, I was comforted by the fact I was in a major hospital where if anything went wrong, there was immediate access to everything. Nothing is ever a hundred percent certain, and you can only allay so many fears. I was nervous as hell, my wife was with me, and they give you good drugs during the surgery prep that are designed to relax you and make sure you are ok. You can ask who the anesthesia doc is and check their medical record etc.. I had ( ... )