Question:
I have one main fear about surgery...

I know this may sound insane, but the one main fear I have about surgery is waking up during it. I know it isn't possibe, but when I think of the surgery and what I have seen of it, I have these weird fears and I think even dreams that I will wake up during it. Please reasure me and tell me I am totally off on this. Also if some one could give me a good medical explaination I would really appreciate it. I just need someone to tell me it isn't possible, then I will feel better about it. Thanks in advance! Please don't laugh too hard at this one. :) LOL    — Female C. (posted on July 15, 2002)

July 15, 2002
Hey, I'm not laughing. That was my main fear, too. I had gall bladder surgery before, so my fear of the anesthia (sp?) was not there, but I did think about waking up during the surgery. I would ask your surgeon if he uses the same anesthiologist for each of his surgeries, therefore making sure they've had experience with keeping us bigger people asleep. You might also ask who he uses and give them a call and tell them your fears and let them explain the whole process to you. Personally, I decided I didn't want to know, I figured it would scare me more, but everyone is different. I just prayed hard on that issue and had peace about it by the time my surgery came around. I'm sure everything will be fine. Out of all the posts I've read on here in the last year or so, I've never heard anyone mention waking up during surgery. God Bless You and here's wishing you a speedy recovery and a sucessful journey!
   — KRISTI K.

July 15, 2002
I can't say it's not possible. But we have to keep our fears in perspective. It's possible that a meteor will hit your house tonight. It's possible that you'll run into Tom Cruise in your home town and he'll be interested in dating you. We should focus on the likelihood of something happening. Probabilities are vastly different from possibilities. It is completely improbable that you would awake during surgery. I know the 'getting hit by a bus' thing is way overused and should be banned altogether, but it's a far likelier possibility. I understand your fear. I'm pre op. Waking up during surgery was one of the many fears I had when first researching WLS. But you know what I fear the most? Not having surgery.
   — Jon W.

July 15, 2002
I am not laughing. I had surgery last week 7/8 and I woke up during surgery. I was only awake for a few minutes I couldn't more or talk, but I could hear what they were saying and could feel some pressure. This was scary....BUT I made it through alive which was one of my fears. I wasn't sure if I should reply to your question because I don't want it to scare you. It very rarely happens and is nearly impossible, I was just one of the few I guess. I would suggest talking to any family that has had surgery about there experiences, because of course after I told my dad about it he said the same thing happen to him. Well, it would have been nice to have know that eariler and they might have dealt with me a little differently. Good luck with your journey. I wish I had a happy ending for you but since I am only a week out I don't have any huge weight loss numbers to report yet but I am hoping that will happen soon :) Take care!
   — Sheila R.

July 15, 2002
Hey...I just wanted to say to Sheila that I thought that her first inclination about not writing was the one she should have gone with. If I had that problem and saw that was a big fear I would not increase your fear by telling you that. Come on, your fear is natural but it is also very unlikely. It is not common enough for you to have to fear it so when Sheile wrote that it might have only made you fear it more knowing there are people out there that had that happen to them. I am sure if you talk to your doc's about it and let them know you fear this they will accomodate you by being extra careful not to let that happen. I agree though about asking your family members to see if anyone else had that happed being that her dad had it happen to him as well. But seriously I would talk to the doc's about that, like tomorrow. Don't hessitate thinking it is a silly thing to fear because no fear is silly. Fears are there for our protection and once you are confident with the medical professionals then you will feel safer and more confident. I am pre-op also and I only fear the pain afterwards. I wonder how much in pain I will be in. I also had my gall bladder out LAP and this is going to be done OPEN. My lap surgery sucked. I was in tremedous pain. Maybe I don't handle pain well. But I do know that I was very scared and that probably didn't help. Plus it was my first surgery. I am reading a book called Prepare for Surgery, Heal Faster. I am learning how to use relaxation and visualization to prepare for surgery. I really think it will help a lot. Try looking into books that help you prepare. I got my book used on Amazon for only 10 dollars. What a steal! Good luck to you and I wish a sleepy surgery for you. ps....I love the Tom Cruise post. That was halarious! Now only if that was more possible we would all be happier!! hehe
   — Michelle J.

July 15, 2002
Sheila is correct in letting you know the truth and what to do about it. Let your doctor know what you are feeling.
   — faybay

July 15, 2002
Hi, I don't know what type of surgery Shelia had that she woke up with..if it was WLS..then she had a horrible anesthesiologist! I had a miscarrige several years ago and needed a a small surgery to "clean everything out" and I woke up during it and I had the same fear, since that time I have had my gallbladder removed and this Open RNY.. I told both anesthesiologist before surgery about my fear..the first one just said "you will be fine"..but with the WLS that guy was great and explained to me that the reason I woke up with that surgery was because they only used a "twilight gas" to put me out..something similar to what a dentist would use because you are not under very long. He explained that there would be NO possible way that I would wake up before they wanted me to! Just understanding the difference in being put under made me feel much better. I would speak the the anesthesiologist and your doctor and if you are that worried ask for something to calm you before surgery. You will be fine
   — Patricia R.

July 15, 2002
Hey one of my fears.. Anyhow I asked detailed questions about that. Many hospitals monitor your brain waves during surgery to prevent this from occuring. Those that dont monitor your heart rate and respiration. If you begiin to wake up fear will naturally increase your heart rate letting them know your having a problem. I was told any of this is unlikely, happening in less than 1 in a 100,000 surgeries nationwide. Some folks are naturally resistant to certain drugs. If it ever happened once you will naturally tell the anstesialogist. Getting more careful monitoring in the future. Be sure to tell them your fears the morning of surgery. This was one of my big ones, how much energy I wasted worrying so....
   — bob-haller

July 15, 2002
I've had 14 surgeries in my life and in 13 of them (I was 4 years old in the first) I was scared, terrified in fact, that I'd wake up during surgery. I never have, but that fear always terrifies me and at this point it should'nt. They almost always (now days) have the anestheasiologist talk to the patient BEFORE surgery. I take advantage of that by asking what method they use to make sure you DON'T wake up. It gives me alot of peace. (If they secretely think I'm a coward I don't care). Personally I'm always happier with a woman anestesiologist. But that is something we can't seem to choose. But talk to whoever you have. It really does help.
   — Danmark

July 16, 2002
Hi. You have an interesting fear there. I am 33 days post-op and your fear reminded me of how it ws when I went into surgery. First, the room is c-o-l-d!!! Anyway, the techs were great. The anesthesiologist (spelled right?) told me he was giving me a shot, and I would start feeling groggy. I remembered the old "Honeymooners" skit where Norton was getting a shot and I started counting down from one hundred. I said, "100... 99... 98... three!!!" The tech cracked up, and before I could finish chuckling over it, I was out. The next thing I knew I was being gently awakened and informed that everything went well and that I was in the recovery room. I don't know what your stand on God is, but this will certainly be one of those times when you just have to let go and trust a higher power to take care of you. God bless you and good luck on your surgery. Your life will change for the better. Albert
   — Albert B.

July 16, 2002
I had a c-section in 1983 in a German military hospital. I "woke" up during the operation but didn't really. I was in some conscious state that I can't describe but yet wasn't. I could hear but couldn't. I was told because the baby was in distress they couldn't give me the maximum amount to put me under. Either that or a poor anesth. Back then, you couldn't sue the military and I had had some shoddy care before. I thought I would be traumatized forever. Now it's a funny memory of something I just can't describe........ But I have a lot more trust in civilian doctors and have never had a repeat of that in my several other surgeries. Relax and make sure to let your anesth. know your fears --- I'm gonna!!! Nelly
   — Nell C.

July 17, 2002
Hi, I am a Registered Nurse and worked in the Operating Room for years. You would not believe the monitoring that goes on to ensure that you are anesthetised properly. I have seen thousands of surgeries and had a few myself. People do not wake up during the procedures... you won't either! Take care, Best wishes coming your way...
   — Ann B.

July 18, 2002
Remember that you get to talk to your anestheseologist (spelled correctly?) before surgery. If you have this fear, tell him to be sure to keep you out cold. Also when they go to put you under with the injection in the IV... try to stay awake. You will find that the drugs always win! I play that game of trying to see how long I can go and it does take a lot of medication to knock me out. But sooner or later...poof I wake up after the surgery. Your fear is only a feeling. People don't wake up during WLS, only during operations that use twilight level medication...like minor out-patient work.
   — Thomas M.

July 18, 2002
I just wanted to thank all of you for replying to my question. All of your responses have made me feel a lot better. For the few that have had bad experiences thank you for being so honest. Knowing that, if for some freak reason I would wake up, it would be okay. All of you have helped me put my mind at ease and I am not worried about it anymore. Thank you all!! :)
   — Female C.

Click Here to Return