Greenoctopus18
09-26-2003, 12:08 AM
Hi. I have just been told a date for my wisdom teeth extraction... not until I finish this years studies, fortunately.
I am extremely worried about the general anaesthetic not working and my waking up through the operation.
I have heard of this happening in other operations and the patient is unable to alert the doctor to the problem as they are given something to temporarily paralyse their muscles.. or something...
Would they do this with wisdom teeth, or if I were to wake up could I move my arms or open my eyes to make the surgeon realise?
Also, someone told me (just to scare me further as a joke) that the more I worry about it the more likely I will be one of those people who have this awareness happen to them? I just want to check that this is not true. If in my mind I was expecting the general anaesthetic to not work it wouldn't make it more likely to not work, would it?
These are stupid questions but I am very afriad and already feeling very anxious about when the day comes.
Also, the doctor suggested a general anaesthetic as it will be performed in hospital and the only reason I have them out now is due to crowding. One tooth is about 1/3 through and then recently another is maybe 1/8 through the gum. So there will be a lot of digging and stitching up in order to get all 4 out... therefore, I don't think having a local anaesthetic is an option, and it doesn't appeal any more to me than the general.
Thanks. :)
I am extremely worried about the general anaesthetic not working and my waking up through the operation.
I have heard of this happening in other operations and the patient is unable to alert the doctor to the problem as they are given something to temporarily paralyse their muscles.. or something...
Would they do this with wisdom teeth, or if I were to wake up could I move my arms or open my eyes to make the surgeon realise?
Also, someone told me (just to scare me further as a joke) that the more I worry about it the more likely I will be one of those people who have this awareness happen to them? I just want to check that this is not true. If in my mind I was expecting the general anaesthetic to not work it wouldn't make it more likely to not work, would it?
These are stupid questions but I am very afriad and already feeling very anxious about when the day comes.
Also, the doctor suggested a general anaesthetic as it will be performed in hospital and the only reason I have them out now is due to crowding. One tooth is about 1/3 through and then recently another is maybe 1/8 through the gum. So there will be a lot of digging and stitching up in order to get all 4 out... therefore, I don't think having a local anaesthetic is an option, and it doesn't appeal any more to me than the general.
Thanks. :)
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MrsLee
09-26-2003, 11:08 AM
I know it can be scary to go through this for the first time. It sounds like you need to discuss your concerns with your doctor. He or she can give you a better idea about the safety of it, but from what I know, it is a pretty safe. I went through general anesthia for the first time a couple months ago and I had no problem.
When I got my wisdom teeth pulled, the doctor used sort of a "twilight" sleep. I'm not sure the technical name, but you aren't all the way out, but when you wake up, you don't remember anything. Maybe this is what they are using? If not, maybe you can discuss it with your doctor.
It isn't fun getting wisdom teeth pulled, but they can cause so many problems if you wait and don't get them pulled. It wasn't the worst thing I ever went through though.
Good luck and make sure you talk to your doctor about this!
When I got my wisdom teeth pulled, the doctor used sort of a "twilight" sleep. I'm not sure the technical name, but you aren't all the way out, but when you wake up, you don't remember anything. Maybe this is what they are using? If not, maybe you can discuss it with your doctor.
It isn't fun getting wisdom teeth pulled, but they can cause so many problems if you wait and don't get them pulled. It wasn't the worst thing I ever went through though.
Good luck and make sure you talk to your doctor about this!
stephanie01
09-26-2003, 03:20 PM
I am getting my wisdom teeth pulled, all 4 of them in about a week. I am afraid also, if the stuff doesn't work or something, and I wake up right as they are pulling out my teeth. I am sure that everything will go fine. Its not like we are the only people that have ever had our teeth pulled. I will let you know how it goes with me. So maybe that will help you out.
Greenoctopus18
09-26-2003, 05:32 PM
Hi. Thankyou for your reply.
I'm pretty sure the soonest I can see the surgeon is on the day of the operation. I have called about things but only get to talk to the assistants. And I will be in another town until the end of the year.
I am hoping that I will get to talk to the person that puts me to sleep, just so I can be sure he is thinking right on the day.
All I have been told is that a general anaesthetic will be used and I will not feel a thing. So if everything goes to plan I guess the worst part will be afterwards. :)
I haven't had any pain at all from them so far.
Stephanie - Good luck next week.
I have read to be sure you have bought all the food you will be needing before the operation, or if you are lucky enough to be living with your mum make sure she has it ready. :)
Good luck again, and if you are feeling ok to reply I would appreciate it.
I'm pretty sure the soonest I can see the surgeon is on the day of the operation. I have called about things but only get to talk to the assistants. And I will be in another town until the end of the year.
I am hoping that I will get to talk to the person that puts me to sleep, just so I can be sure he is thinking right on the day.
All I have been told is that a general anaesthetic will be used and I will not feel a thing. So if everything goes to plan I guess the worst part will be afterwards. :)
I haven't had any pain at all from them so far.
Stephanie - Good luck next week.
I have read to be sure you have bought all the food you will be needing before the operation, or if you are lucky enough to be living with your mum make sure she has it ready. :)
Good luck again, and if you are feeling ok to reply I would appreciate it.
Djin
09-26-2003, 05:59 PM
I had all four of my wisdom teeth removed in 1999. I was really scared, as I'd never had an operation or been under anesthetic before!! A good friend of mine who had heart surgery when she was 10 (!!!) was kind enough to listen to my fears and help put them to rest. (Think about it...SHE had heart surgery as a kid, and I, at 23, was worried about having some teeth removed!) But she was so sweet and understanding about my fears.
I'm sure I was just as afraid as you are now, and I assure you, you needn't worry. The cases of people waking up and feeling anything during the surgery are very few and far between. I do know a fellow who had a problem when he had his wisdom teeth out, but he doesn't tolerate meds well, anyhow, nor was he under general anesthetic. They just used a local.
How do you handle other medications? If you do well on them, then the anesthetic shouldn't be a problem. The biggest issue I had when I woke up was being extrememly nauseous, but they gave me meds for that, and it eventually went away. I didn't have any problems healing, either. No pain, no complications, nothing. Just make sure you follow your doctor's orders and you'll be fine.
Good luck, and try not to worry!
I'm sure I was just as afraid as you are now, and I assure you, you needn't worry. The cases of people waking up and feeling anything during the surgery are very few and far between. I do know a fellow who had a problem when he had his wisdom teeth out, but he doesn't tolerate meds well, anyhow, nor was he under general anesthetic. They just used a local.
How do you handle other medications? If you do well on them, then the anesthetic shouldn't be a problem. The biggest issue I had when I woke up was being extrememly nauseous, but they gave me meds for that, and it eventually went away. I didn't have any problems healing, either. No pain, no complications, nothing. Just make sure you follow your doctor's orders and you'll be fine.
Good luck, and try not to worry!
bassie
10-04-2003, 12:53 AM
Originally posted by Greenoctopus18:
[B]I am extremely worried about the general anaesthetic not working and my waking up through the operation.
When you have an anaesthetic and you are due to wake up (normally) there is a period of time where you are "lightening up" in preparation for "waking up". The anaesthetist reduces the "sleepy stuff" with great accuracy so that you are "drowsy" in the recovery room. (You do not remember anything of this at all or even possibly an hour or more later depending on severity of surgery)
**Very rarely** patients recall snippets of 'converstion' in theatre but that has nothing to do with being "awake".
I have heard of this happening in other operations and the patient is unable to alert the doctor to the problem as they are given something to temporarily paralyse their muscles.. or something...
Would they do this with wisdom teeth, or if I were to wake up could I move my arms or open my eyes to make the surgeon realise?
Patients are usually given anaesthetic in this order:1. Stuff to knock them out by injection in arm. 2. short acting stuff to temporarily relax muscles (also injection) so a tube can be inserted to assist with breathing.(you know absolutely nothing of this)3. Gas to "keep you under" given trough mask over face.
The anaesthetist is right there at the top with you ALL the time and if you even so much as "move" a finger, will increase the gas or give a little more injection to deepen sleep.
The surgeon has a seperate task of doing the "surgery" so there are two Dr's doing seperate things which they "do best" (as Tigger would say)
Also, someone told me (just to scare me further as a joke) that the more I worry about it the more likely I will be one of those people who have this awareness happen to them? I just want to check that this is not true. If in my mind I was expecting the general anaesthetic to not work it wouldn't make it more likely to not work, would it?
No it would not. It has no bearing on it whatsoever. You cannot stay awake by worrying about it cause the stuff is an anaesthetic which just overides all your abilities and sends you sleeping like a baby.(Bet you don't even count to 10).
These are stupid questions but I am very afriad and already feeling very anxious about when the day comes.
These are very sensible questions and come about because of the "fear of the unknown". Very normal!!
Also, the doctor suggested a general anaesthetic as it will be performed in hospital and the only reason I have them out now is due to crowding. One tooth is about 1/3 through and then recently another is maybe 1/8 through the gum. So there will be a lot of digging and stitching up in order to get all 4 out... therefore, I don't think having a local anaesthetic is an option, and it doesn't appeal any more to me than the general.
Very sensible suggestion. Local anaesthetic would be unwise cause it would mean quite a lot of injections, and an element of anxiety while they are working and you are awake.
It would be quite likely that they would suggest a "general anaesthetic" half way through anyway cause of the fiddling around and lack of access to the op-site etc.
Hope this has reassured you.
[B]I am extremely worried about the general anaesthetic not working and my waking up through the operation.
When you have an anaesthetic and you are due to wake up (normally) there is a period of time where you are "lightening up" in preparation for "waking up". The anaesthetist reduces the "sleepy stuff" with great accuracy so that you are "drowsy" in the recovery room. (You do not remember anything of this at all or even possibly an hour or more later depending on severity of surgery)
**Very rarely** patients recall snippets of 'converstion' in theatre but that has nothing to do with being "awake".
I have heard of this happening in other operations and the patient is unable to alert the doctor to the problem as they are given something to temporarily paralyse their muscles.. or something...
Would they do this with wisdom teeth, or if I were to wake up could I move my arms or open my eyes to make the surgeon realise?
Patients are usually given anaesthetic in this order:1. Stuff to knock them out by injection in arm. 2. short acting stuff to temporarily relax muscles (also injection) so a tube can be inserted to assist with breathing.(you know absolutely nothing of this)3. Gas to "keep you under" given trough mask over face.
The anaesthetist is right there at the top with you ALL the time and if you even so much as "move" a finger, will increase the gas or give a little more injection to deepen sleep.
The surgeon has a seperate task of doing the "surgery" so there are two Dr's doing seperate things which they "do best" (as Tigger would say)
Also, someone told me (just to scare me further as a joke) that the more I worry about it the more likely I will be one of those people who have this awareness happen to them? I just want to check that this is not true. If in my mind I was expecting the general anaesthetic to not work it wouldn't make it more likely to not work, would it?
No it would not. It has no bearing on it whatsoever. You cannot stay awake by worrying about it cause the stuff is an anaesthetic which just overides all your abilities and sends you sleeping like a baby.(Bet you don't even count to 10).
These are stupid questions but I am very afriad and already feeling very anxious about when the day comes.
These are very sensible questions and come about because of the "fear of the unknown". Very normal!!
Also, the doctor suggested a general anaesthetic as it will be performed in hospital and the only reason I have them out now is due to crowding. One tooth is about 1/3 through and then recently another is maybe 1/8 through the gum. So there will be a lot of digging and stitching up in order to get all 4 out... therefore, I don't think having a local anaesthetic is an option, and it doesn't appeal any more to me than the general.
Very sensible suggestion. Local anaesthetic would be unwise cause it would mean quite a lot of injections, and an element of anxiety while they are working and you are awake.
It would be quite likely that they would suggest a "general anaesthetic" half way through anyway cause of the fiddling around and lack of access to the op-site etc.
Hope this has reassured you.
tagger
10-04-2003, 01:35 AM
I have been under anesthetic many times. I love it. It's probably the only tme I sleep well!lol! Four wizzies pulled at the same time, several abdominal surgeries, and the "twilight" of invetro fertilzation.
One thing to remember is that anesthesiologists are professional and the stories you have heard are often "urban legend". Not to invalidate the real nightmare of it actually happening (there was a poster who had undergone this ordeal.) But only one posster out of 100's of 1,000s who
Before you undergo the procedure the anesthesiologist will talk with you extensively re meds you are taking, smoking, blodd pressure etc and I think that my put your mind at ease. Have they done any bloodwork yet? (that is the norm)
Good luck and I'm jealous that you will be having a good sleep while I liv with my insomnia.!...Tagger
One thing to remember is that anesthesiologists are professional and the stories you have heard are often "urban legend". Not to invalidate the real nightmare of it actually happening (there was a poster who had undergone this ordeal.) But only one posster out of 100's of 1,000s who
Before you undergo the procedure the anesthesiologist will talk with you extensively re meds you are taking, smoking, blodd pressure etc and I think that my put your mind at ease. Have they done any bloodwork yet? (that is the norm)
Good luck and I'm jealous that you will be having a good sleep while I liv with my insomnia.!...Tagger
stephanie01
10-04-2003, 02:08 AM
I had the same worries as you did. I just had my teeth pulled out today. About 12 hours ago. I am probably the first person who ever cried before going to the dentist. But let me tell you it was FINE. I felt nothing. I posted an entry in the dental problem board all about it.
Greenoctopus18
10-09-2003, 10:21 PM
Hi. Sorry I took so long to read the replied, but thanks a lot. It really does help having people tell me everything will be ok. :)
I really hope I get to speak to the person giving the aneasthetic.
Having normal dentist things done (such as fillings put in that require the drill) I haven't ever had a needle, but I get Happy Gas (still at 19.. lol.. I told him I didn't want a needle) and it seems to work fine. My lips go tingly in a matter of minutes or less. Is this a good indication that general anaesathtic will work?
So I will have an injection to relax my muscles all over my body even though it is just my mouth being operated on?
My sister said when she had hers out the nurses said not to try and fight off the sleepy feeling. I'm not sure why they would say that.
I can generally fall asleep any time of the day without any aneasthetic. :)
I guess if I happened to be one of the small % of people who wake up it woudl be better having teeth out then having my stomach or anywhere cut open.
I haven't done any blood work and I don't think they intend to either. i had an x-ray in july and they don't intend to have another taken before my teeth are removed on Feb 6th. I tried to put it off as far as possible, so now it will be just before I go back to university after summer (but with 2 weeks of recovery! :) ).
I will look up the mesage on the dental problem board.
Thanks everyone. :)
[This message has been edited by Greenoctopus18 (edited 10-09-2003).]
I really hope I get to speak to the person giving the aneasthetic.
Having normal dentist things done (such as fillings put in that require the drill) I haven't ever had a needle, but I get Happy Gas (still at 19.. lol.. I told him I didn't want a needle) and it seems to work fine. My lips go tingly in a matter of minutes or less. Is this a good indication that general anaesathtic will work?
So I will have an injection to relax my muscles all over my body even though it is just my mouth being operated on?
My sister said when she had hers out the nurses said not to try and fight off the sleepy feeling. I'm not sure why they would say that.
I can generally fall asleep any time of the day without any aneasthetic. :)
I guess if I happened to be one of the small % of people who wake up it woudl be better having teeth out then having my stomach or anywhere cut open.
I haven't done any blood work and I don't think they intend to either. i had an x-ray in july and they don't intend to have another taken before my teeth are removed on Feb 6th. I tried to put it off as far as possible, so now it will be just before I go back to university after summer (but with 2 weeks of recovery! :) ).
I will look up the mesage on the dental problem board.
Thanks everyone. :)
[This message has been edited by Greenoctopus18 (edited 10-09-2003).]
bassie
10-09-2003, 11:17 PM
Originally posted by Greenoctopus18:
[B]
.......
Is this a good indication that general anaesathtic will work?
I assure you that your G.A. *will* work
So I will have an injection to relax my muscles all over my body even though it is just my mouth being operated on?
Good question. You will have a short acting injection cause it is only needed to relax the vocal chords to insert a tube to assist breathing. If your op. was ab******l and the muscles were real tight so the surgeon was having trouble, you would have more relaxant. But stop worrying about the relaxant. You have it *after* you are asleep and all the time there is an expert looking after you.
My sister said when she had hers out the nurses said not to try and fight off the sleepy feeling. I'm not sure why they would say that.?
That is just "nurses reassuring chatter" while you drift off. In reality, even if you fight it you will snooze off nicely.
[B]
.......
Is this a good indication that general anaesathtic will work?
I assure you that your G.A. *will* work
So I will have an injection to relax my muscles all over my body even though it is just my mouth being operated on?
Good question. You will have a short acting injection cause it is only needed to relax the vocal chords to insert a tube to assist breathing. If your op. was ab******l and the muscles were real tight so the surgeon was having trouble, you would have more relaxant. But stop worrying about the relaxant. You have it *after* you are asleep and all the time there is an expert looking after you.
My sister said when she had hers out the nurses said not to try and fight off the sleepy feeling. I'm not sure why they would say that.?
That is just "nurses reassuring chatter" while you drift off. In reality, even if you fight it you will snooze off nicely.