Hi Ladies, got my masectomy on weds and im quite scared now, never had an op or general anesthetic before, has anyone else having to go to cheltenham general hospital for surgery? can anyone tell me how bad i will be after the op? im really worried about not coming round after surgery, anxiety is talking now, any advice from any lovely ladies out there
Eleyore58 I think we’ve all had feelings like this Remember your team have done many operations like yours Do speak to your team too they can give you something for your anxiety and if you take anything do let your team know if you have what it is and mg. Do get some senokot or something the meds and really block you up after operation. They usually stick compression socks on you afterwards. Get button front shirt/too so you don’t have to lift arms post operation and do take flip flops and dressing gown For me I googled same operation tgst I was having and watched it for me it helped me keep calm because I was able to see what would be happening while operation was happening. But that’s was what worked for me do I could understand and process it all. Please don’t do that if it will cause you more anxiety, I just wanted to share what worked for me. Do please ring tge number on here and speak to a nurse, they will offer support and guidance too 
Shi xx
Oh Eyeore,
I ‘get it’ I really really do. I was absolutely dreadful leading up to my surgery - I was more scared of the surgery than the cancer. I was the same as you, had never had surgery and was certain I’d never make it through. I’m not going to go into everything that scared me at the time, but to touch on it - I also had a phobia of any medication and it was overwhelming. I talked to the anaesthetist a couple of weeks before and realised that they are literally THE most skilled medics you can imagine, they do longer and more training than anyone else in the hospital. Every single part of your health and body is monitored every second of the procedure and I tell you this, if you had any risk they foresaw now, you’d not even be being offered this surgery. They don’t lose people in surgery (well they do - but they are those who aren’t very very sick people before they even go in for some emergency procedure and have various serious comorbidites and are at risk already) , especially not for these non-bodily-invasive types where none of your organs are affected. I asked my anaethetist about what if something ‘goes wrong’ like a reaction to the medication, and they say they have everything there they need to deal with it immediately and it had never occurred that the situation hasn’t been reversed in those rare circumstances.
It is surprisingly common to be scared of the surgery, and I think talking through to your BCN and being honest about your fears tomorrow, would give you a more calm few days leading up to it. I talked to another mastectomy lady about her exact same fears a few months ago (in real life) and she is now healing well and its all behind her. I presume they have given you information about what to expect on the day - if you are staying overnight or not. Most people are day surgery cases it seems now, unless your surgery is done later in the day and they need to monitor you after discharge time. Someone said to me - in all honesty you are at far higher risk driving to the hospital for the surgery. When do you have your every bodily function monitored carefully by various highly skilled specialists in usual everyday life ? Ask away and I’ll say what I know - but bear in mind that different hospitals and trusts do things slightly differently…
I did not meet my anaesthetist until the day of my surgery I can tell you, in all honesty, he instilled in me a calm and self-belief that all would be well he made ME feel in safe hands I was so relaxed under his care, he even commented upon it!
He was so down to earth, bright and breezy as well as funny along with being incredibly kind the last thing I remember was him telling me to ‘count backwards’ the next thing I was awake in the recovery room.
You do imagine all manner of things, only natural I had never had surgery before, until diagnosed never been to hospital before I was 63 when it all started.
When in the recovery room I remember saying I was going to be sick, as soon as the words left my mouth they gave me something I was not sick and the feeling went away as fast as it had come.
I was taken to the ward, still feeling fuzzy but aware of what was happening around me. The nurse told me it was nearly tea time and would I like anything to eat I had an egg butty and a small ice-cream which I ate and then went to sleep (the ice cream was fab) as my mouth was a little dry.
I went to the loo once, which seemed to take forever as I was still a little drowsy, went back to bed and slept again.
I had breakfast, got dressed made a friend with the lady in the bed next to me (we have since met and keep in touch) we sat joking and chatting waiting to be told we were well enough to go home.
Can a hospital trip that involves surgery be considered constructive, well yes, for me it was. I learnt a lot about myself, made a lovely new friend as well as knowing the worst part was over with.
Lots of hugs and good wishes (hope you get offered ice cream)
Poppy xxx
Hi @eeyore58 -My 1st experience of General Anaesthetic was for a major knee op 1995, then two mastectomies only a year apart 06 + 07, and two minor knee tidy ups since. I can honestly say, EVERY time, the Anaesthetist team have ALWAYS been ultra caring. Modern anaesthetics these days are vastly improved, so don’t tend to leave you with a prolonged grogginess afterwards, like they used to. Are much easier for the body to recover from, so after you come out of theatre, into the recovery room and usually swathed in specially warmed blankets, you will be surprised how quickly you feel back to yourself. A little groggy to begin with, but that’s really all. Plus, you are likely to be VERY hungry, because you’ve starved yourself since the night before, so even just tea and toast tastes delicious.
Have they told you how long you’ll be in for, out the same day, an overnight? Yes, as @Shi so rightly points out, if you are really anxious before, make it known as soon as you get to the hosp, so they can give you a sedative. And yes, take some form of anticonstipation pills in with you, to take as soon after the op as poss, as any Codeine based painkillers are big bunger-uppers, and that, in itself, can make you feel sluggish after a few days on them, if you don’t take anything to counteract it. Keep it in mind, that these Anaesthetists and Surgeons are very highly skilled people, who carry out hundreds (unfortunately) of your same operation, so you are placing yourself in VERY GOOD HANDS, lovey.
Start doing your exercises as soon as physically possible (you’ll be told how soon, because they want to avoiding pulling to the wound area too soon), and then RELIGIOUSLY and as OFTEN as possible. If they advise you do the three times a day, do them 4 X, or more as long as they aren’t pulling at the wound. You’re likely to not have an awful else to do the first few weeks, so why not. The more you exercise, the quicker you get the strength and mobility back again in your arm and shoulder, which then all helps speed up your recovery.
And always take a couple of the prescribed or your own chosen painkillers before you go to bed, even if you aren’t feeling any discomfort at the time. If you don’t, you can bet any subconscious awkward movements in your sleep will wake you up!! You need good sleep after the op to help with the physical and the MENTAL healing.
I soo wish you a comfortable and speedy recovery Eeyore. We’ll be thinking of you on Wednesday, so let us know how you are when you can, hey.
Lots of love to You and everyone else on here, Delly XX