Tomorrow is my operation

[Belizz]

Finally. Well I say finally because I delayed it once and can't deal with the stress anymore. I want it to be over.

I managed to calm myself a bit in many ways but still there is this uncertainty with being put under. I talked to my friends and other people, listened to their stories. Even the ones who were very scared of being put under prior to their first operation. All describe it the same way, just having weird bodily sensations for a couple of mins in total, last 30 secs so relaxing and calm feeling then wake up because it goes so fast. As you all described to be here in the forums before.

Met my doctor and the anesthesiologist today, they gave me lots of information about the operation itself and the anesthesia in general. My fear has always been not waking up and then there is this rare thing where the patient actually feels everything under the effects of anesthesia. Dr said as long as she wants it I will be waking up for sure. Doctor didn't lie about the other thing and didn't say it never happens. But instead she assured me that it's an extremely rare thing. Otherwise that I am healthy and young, so they are not expecting me to have any major issues.
The operation itself I am not worried about.
And my friend is going to come with me even though she can't stay all day if the decide to do the operation after lunch time
I am nervous of course.

 

[Cheyworship]

Hi there, what is your operation for? I know it will go perfectly fine for you, you’re in professional hands and they’ll take care of you. Good luck and take it easy!

 

[Belizz]

Hi there, what is your operation for? I know it will go perfectly fine for you, you’re in professional hands and they’ll take care of you. Good luck and take it easy!

Thank you!
It's a keyhole operation for a large kidney stone. Quite a common operation.

 

[RoNYC22]

Oh, you’ll be fine! My brother had the same operation and came out singing, lol. It is scary to be put under but you probably have a subconscious (or conscious?) fear of dying. We all do, but the real fear is living on this earth forever. Trust that when it is your time (which I highly doubt) you’ll be at so much peace regardless of the outcome and have lived a long life. Also, practice some mindful meditation - detach from the 3D for a bit

 

[Gooze17]

Thank you!
It's a keyhole operation for a large kidney stone. Quite a common operation.

I remember being terrified the first time I was out under. But it was over before I knew what happened. Had all the same fears you have but it ended up being a much more frightening scenario in my mind than reality. Also sorry about the kidney stone! I had one last year. Worst pain I’ve ever experienced by far. I thought I was dying

 

[suzzeeb]

I have been put under many times. I was pretty anxious the first time, but since then I am not worried at all about it. It's weird but I feel more relaxed right before a procedure because I know it's in their hands and I feel at peace about that, and then once they put some medication in the IV I like the feeling and then it's over in what seems like a second.

 

[Belizz]

Thanks a lot all for the reply <3

Yeah just got back home. It went really very smooth.
The being put under part, I have to say that it's not too different than normal sleep so nothing weird there. Everyone I talked sorta exaggerated it a bit I think from their perspective. No special bodily sensations there if you are concerned about bodily sensations really, just like I was worried about before.

It's just once the anesthesiologist puts that mask on your face (and if you have an amazing anesthesia dr like I had) they would describe you what the gas does and talk to you about ordinary stuff. Then you just feel no anxiety anymore after 3-5 inhales.
That's all... everything was so subtle for me actually. I didn't feel anything else in my body during the sleeping process. Anxiety vanished quickly then I tried to tell anesthesiologist a couple of things. That was the last thing I recall. And they didn't even give me any calming medicines, I actually thought I handled the anxiety and the nervous feeling quite well.

But I remember dreaming about a work related thing just before I woke up, because I remember mumbling to myself saying "why tf I dreamed about work, instead of something nice?" lol
And I came to pretty quickly when they were transferring me to the recovery bed out of the operation area. The nurse leaned on me saying that I woke up pretty quickly and I joked "well I started talking instantly probably and said stuff" meaning I talk a lot all the time. And she replied "well you did but we didn't understand a word, so no biggie" xDD

Then the pain after the big stone was gone was manageable. I dont have much pain around the kidney or the keyhole. Just the catheter caused some burning and irritation but since they removed it pretty quickly in my case, the remaining mild discomfort is to be treated at home with oc medication.
The toughest part of this experience for me was that they can't find my veins easily. I am used to it but after 1 hr of different nurses trying to open new holes in your arms, hands or even on your feet, then it starts getting very irritating.
That's all.

 

[Gooze17]

Thanks a lot all for the reply <3

Yeah just got back home. It went really very smooth.
The being put under part, I have to say that it's not too different than normal sleep so nothing weird there. Everyone I talked sorta exaggerated it a bit I think from their perspective. No special bodily sensations there if you are concerned about bodily sensations really, just like I was worried about before.

It's just once the anesthesiologist puts that mask on your face (and if you have an amazing anesthesia dr like I had) they would describe you what the gas does and talk to you about ordinary stuff. Then you just feel no anxiety anymore after 3-5 inhales.
That's all... everything was so subtle for me actually. I didn't feel anything else in my body during the sleeping process. Anxiety vanished quickly then I tried to tell anesthesiologist a couple of things. That was the last thing I recall. And they didn't even give me any calming medicines, I actually thought I handled the anxiety and the nervous feeling quite well.

But I remember dreaming about a work related thing just before I woke up, because I remember mumbling to myself saying "why tf I dreamed about work, instead of something nice?" lol
And I came to pretty quickly when they were transferring me to the recovery bed out of the operation area. The nurse leaned on me saying that I woke up pretty quickly and I joked "well I started talking instantly probably and said stuff" meaning I talk a lot all the time. And she replied "well you did but we didn't understand a word, so no biggie" xDD

Then the pain after the big stone was gone was manageable. I dont have much pain around the kidney or the keyhole. Just the catheter caused some burning and irritation but since they removed it pretty quickly in my case, the remaining mild discomfort is to be treated at home with oc medication.
The toughest part of this experience for me was that they can't find my veins easily. I am used to it but after 1 hr of different nurses trying to open new holes in your arms, hands or even on your feet, then it starts getting very irritating.
That's all.

Glad it went so well! Just out of curiosity how big was the stone?

 

[Belizz]

Glad it went so well! Just out of curiosity how big was the stone?

It was around 2.8 cm , if I am not wrong it makes around 1.1 inches? not sure how it would be in inches really.
So, RIP big stone.

 

[Gooze17]

It was around 2.8 cm , if I am not wrong it makes around 1.1 inches? not sure how it would be in inches really.
So, RIP big stone.

Holy cow! Mine was only 6mm. Cannot imagine one that size

 

[Belizz]

yeah lol xD
normally they dont remove such stones if it is in the lower area of the kidney and if it doesn't disturb anything.
But mine was closer to the busy filter parts of the kidney, and above everything else it had a risk of causing infection so that's something we wouldn't want to risk.