Have any of you ever had an operation or had to have a general anaesthetic? I've had one once before when I had my tonsils out at 16. I'm having a laparoscopy on Thursday but much to my horror I read an article in a magazine about a lady who came to during her operation but couldn't let the surgeons know- it sounds rancid so I'd love some reassurance!

Goodluck with the operation, I'm sure you'll be fine!

The only operation I recall having is one where the doctors put a 'Gromit' in my ear when I was about 7. Nothing major though. I got teased for months afterwards, people kept saying stuff like "Have you got a Wallace in your other ear" It was not even remotely funny...

i never had one (well exept when i was born lol how did i get out then!?)
unless u can call sticking a needle up your arse an operation

i'm lucky enough never to have: a)broken a bone, except my ankle, and b) an operation


i'm lucky!!

I worked as an Operating Theatre nurse for a good few years, and honestly all those horror stories you hear about being awake during surgery etc. are extremely rare.

I HATE the thought of having anaesthetics, the surgery part of 'surgery' doesn't scare me, it's the anaesthetic which bothers me, BUT I have had a couple of ops under full anaesthetic, tonsils out, appendix out.

I always come out of a general anaesthetic sobbing my heart out, and I am sure this is down to my terror at going under!!!

It is highly unlikely that these days I'd ever be allowed to have a general anaesthetic as I have COPD now, so unless something was absolutely life-threatening, I'd not be given an anaesthetic.

Stop worrying, you'll be fine I have had a laproscopy, and it's a piece of cake, it'll be over before you know it.

I'm deaf in one ear and have had countless operations to try and mend it. You can drive yourself silly thinking about it and worrying about it but remember that the doctors and surgeons who are treating you have probably done the same or similar operations hundreds of times. If they're good at their job they'll put you at ease and tell you that you've nothing to worry about.

Thanks so much for the encouragement guys, I really appreciate it. Good to hear that a few of you have been under before and experienced no problems. And I'd forgotten about the pre med! Those things are fantastic!!!

I'd be more concerned about going to the dentist than getting an operation. People bang on about the hygiene in hospitals and how important it is (and it is), but from my experience, dentist surgeries are much worse in comparison.

I went to the dentist for a check-up about 3 years ago and came out fine. No problems and no work had to be done. The next day I was back with him in total pain! He said I had an infection. Hmmmm wonder where I picked that up from? While inspecting my mouth he put some kind of rod into my tooth/gum but it broke inside my tooth. He said to my mum that he couldn't get it out and instead he'd fill it!! Like *beep* he was going to do that! We had to get him to take the tooth out.

Needless to say he is no longer my dentist.

That's so horrible...my teeth feel all funny now. I'm never ever going to the dentist again.