Can anyone help with my concerns about Anesthesia?
Question:
I'm afraid of the lack of control, not waking up, the experience of going under.....I've never had surgery before and it's really eating at me.
Answers:
People have a number of concerns about anesthesia. There is a real fear of giving up control: you are placing yourself in the hands of a stranger. this is analogous to getting on a plane. A lot of people would prefer to drive because they are in control. On a plane you are in somebody else's hands. people have real fear of awareness under anesthesia. This happens about .1% of the time-more common with trauma, cardiac surgery or C-sections. There is a pretty good monitor, a processed EEG called the BIS monitor, which measures state of brain activity. It's not fool-proof, but is pretty good. In elective surgery, the chance of a serious mishap is extremely low. Ask your anesthesiologist if he/she is board-certified. Board certification isn't a guarantee, but would be reassuring. One last thing-your concerns are common and we're used to seeing them. Good luck.
You watch too much Chicago Hope. Today's medical world is so advanced that you need to keep telling yourself. They've done this hundreds of times, or theyre experienced. If you continue to be frightened, your body will tense up and then this might allow something bad to happen. Very rarely do things go wrong with anesthesia. Anestheseologists (sp?) (doctors for anesthesia) are so equipped to give anesthesia. The feeling of being put to sleep is actually very relaxing and youre very refreshed when you wake up.
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