Freaking out on the OR table....

amberdanielle68845

As I sit here reading posts I'm thinking back on my CS experience.  I'm usually a very calm, collected, don't get riled up easily kind of person.  I've had 3 prior abdominal surgeries so I wasn't worried about any of that.  They numbed everything and laid me down flat on the table.  Apparantely the last feeling I had was of my leg being slightly bent so I kept asking them to straighten my leg even though they swore it was straight.  I knew I wouldn't be able to feel anything from my midsection down but never once did it occur to me that I would be able to feel the slide into numbness.  It completely freaked me out to the point of I was fighting the arm straps and almost had an anxiety attack.  The dr's had to bring my SO in 30 min early to try and calm me down.  As soon as they had my DD out they gave me a shot of something that calmed me down instantly and I remembered nothing from 7:30pm until the next morning about 7am. 

Did anyone else have a freak out................

blueturkey12

I just remember being so stinkin' tired. I couldn't keep my eyes open and felt very zombie-ish and yet couldn't fall asleep. I didn't ever freak out, but I did start vomiting quite a bit. That wasn't much fun.

niftychick29

I had a freak out the night before....it was the middle of the night when the nurse came and told me I couldn't have anything to drink (I'd already been taken off solids, from throwing up three times due to Mag Sulfate during the day) because the surgery was 12 hours away...I was also on oxygen, and after she left my mouth felt so dry and my nose was dry from the oxygen and I felt like I couldn't swallow/breath and I freaked out and called the nurse, begging for a drink of water and she said I couldn't...it was a little scary, and I think I was having a bit of a panic attack with the reality of the impending surgery setting in.  Luckily my husband was sleeping in the room with me, and came and held my hand.  The nurse told me I could chew a piece of gum to get some saliva going, so I did that, and it helped enough that I was able to fall asleep.  I thought I would get really anxious on the operating table, for some reason I thought I was going to feel like I couldn't breath when they laid me flat, but it was fine.  Having my husband there helped a ton to make me feel better.  Sorry you had so much anxiety!

limetango

I absolutely freaked out.  My spinal was too strong I guess and I couldn't feel myself breathing so I started crying to my husband that I was going to die before I saw my daughter.  I had never been in the hospital before and my c-section was very unplanned so I'm actually surprised they didn't just knock me out completely to calm me down.  I still get anxiety when I think about it.

LeLe9

The uncontrollable shaking was freaking me out.  I was exhausted and thirsty.  After  she was whisked to the NICU with him following they began removing my fibroids and I needed blood.  Heard the Dr call for it and a nurse saying something and he became very stern with her saying get so and so on the phone NOW!!! Only then did I sense something was really wrong.  He'd lean over curtain and say things to calm me down but I began freaking out some, turning my head from side to side over and over again frantically, breathing heavier, begging for a sip of water, seeing the anesthesiologist watching me with a nurse beside him, to the right a nurse.  Never felt pressure until I think they were dealing with the tumors felt like they were kneading dough on my upper left stomach area. Unless it was the same painful kneading they do when you get to recovery that was AWFUL so painful.   I asked the nurse to the right should I be feeling that? I can feel it.   I think I need more medicine! Saw them with the bags for transfusion.   I remember being so exhausted but couldn't close my eyes or sleep and thought is this it?  Am I going to die?  I'm glad she's out of me and they're both gone from the room so they don't see.  They put something over me to blow warm air onto me to try to control my shaking.  He said don't every try to go vaginal if you get pregnant again you have to have a c section.  People say if I have a planned c section it will be better because next time it will be scheduled and  I won't have gone thru labor like I did for 26 hours and be so exhausted.  I'm not sure if I should believe them. I still think about it, all of it, it was worth it for my baby girl but man scary stuff. 

24karat

I totally freaked out (even though I knew what the spinal would do) the first time I realized I couldn't control my legs.

kpahl

I freaked out with my first unplanned c section after hours of labor. I swore I could feel the first cut just not the pain part. Well, out I went and I didn't wake up until the next day.

With my scheduled recent one it was much better and I knew what was going on. I didn't feel a thing and everything went great!

Kim22

With my first c section I remember screaming that I couldn't feel my feet when I got the spinal. Everyone was like "that's the point". Obviously I knew that but it is so weird to experience. They offered me something to calm down but said I wouldn't remember the birth so I turned it down.

amberdanielle68845

Kim22 said:

With my first c section I remember screaming that I couldn't feel my feet when I got the spinal. Everyone was like "that's the point". Obviously I knew that but it is so weird to experience. They offered me something to calm down but said I wouldn't remember the birth so I turned it down.

Part of me wishes they would have asked me if I wanted something to calm down or not. I know I was bad enough that it had to be done but the fact that I don't remember anything for 12 hours really bothers me.  My mom has pictures of me holding her the 1st time and I don't remember any of it :-( Next time has to be better. I'm glad to see I'm not the only one who freaked out even though we all knew we were suppose to be numb.

Bunnyfer

I was freaked about the shaking...and they when I could no longer feel my legs...I had to be talked down by my anesthesiologist...we talked about other things, and it helped..

Kissimi21

I totally freaked out during my last C-section.  I had tried for a VBAC, but after 34 hours, a sunny-side up Baby A, and an epidural that didn't work, I opted for a RCS with a spinal.  They over did it on the spinal and I felt like I couldn't breathe.  I had asthma as a child, and feeling like I was suffocating brought back memories of attacks.  The anesthesiologist lowered the does so I could feel myself breathing just as Baby B was born and I heard them say he wasn't breathing.  That brought on a whole new freak out.  They pulled my H out of the OR to see Baby B.  I remember the anesthesiologist telling me to breath while I kept asking where they took my baby and why wasn't he breathing.  Luckily my H came back in and said they got him breathing and that both boys would be waiting for me in recovery.

Martinez720

Bunnyfer said:

I was freaked about the shaking...and they when I could no longer feel my legs...I had to be talked down by my anesthesiologist...we talked about other things, and it helped..

This! Same here I freaked out because I was shaking soo much... When I got the epidural and then when my legs went numb. My leg was propped up for some reason and it just fell to one side and almost knocked the Iv stand. That really bugged me out. Then I started to shake again when I was wheeled into the O R and the nurses thought I was cold so they put this hot air thing on me and I kept say get it off of me I'm not cold!!

JennyCraig

limetango said:

I absolutely freaked out.  My spinal was too strong I guess and I couldn't feel myself breathing so I started crying to my husband that I was going to die before I saw my daughter.  I had never been in the hospital before and my c-section was very unplanned so I'm actually surprised they didn't just knock me out completely to calm me down.  I still get anxiety when I think about it.

 

This exact same thing happened to me with DS#2. And to be honest, I've been anxious ever since! I think anxiety is natural and is pretty common. Just try to laugh about it if you can!

bingbongsmama

Sounds like you had a very traumatic experience.
I had a freak out because I wasn't expecting that heavy feeling on my chest like I couldn't breathe. I only thought my waist down would be numb. I was so anxious that they gave me something that made me so drowsy I couldn't keep my eyes open and missed getting a glimpse of my baby before she was taken to the nicu. I hope to be more prepared this time so I can tell them to go easy on the meds so I can stay alert

aeh72

I wouldn't say that I freaked out, but at the time I thought it was a horrible, horrible experience.  I remember telling my friend the next day that I felt like I was in a horror movie because I could feel the pulling and tugging.  I also told her that it was so horrifying to me that it made me never want to have another child.  (In fact, the picture of me, DH, and DS immediately after his birth confirms how I was feeling in that moment. The look on my face was hilarious.) Flash forward and I now know that it was just a reaction to having a very long, hard labor and just being so over it in general by the time the doctors decided on a c-section.  I would do it all again (okay maybe not the really long, hard labor part) in a heartbeat.  

katiedid0907

I was shaking like a leaf and crying . They had 2 nurses just trying to calm me. I was better once I saw my husband but boy do I not wanna go through that again...

amandalgreene86

I told them before the c-section that I have anxiety and asked them to knock me out.  They refused and apparently (I don't remember a thing) during the c-section I lurched up, screamed, and tried to get off the table (according to my husband).  They then gave me something that knocked me out and I woke up in my regular room and my baby was clean, dressed, and in my hubby's arms waiting for me to wake up, lol.  I'm sad I missed him being born and all of that, but I told them I would freak and they didn't listen!!!

magdalina.h

We basically had a party in the OR so my mind was occupied with chatting.

nikel13

I did.  I was put under.  I don't like masks over my face.  They kept trying to put an O2 mask on.  I couldn't deal with that.  They strapped down my legs as well.  I really didn't like that.  I'm not normally claustrophobic, but I was at that point.  I had a little bit of an anxiety attack and then they put me under.

eandk18

I freaked out because I couldnt breathe.  The anesthnesiologist kept telling me I was but I couldn't feel myself breathing and then I couldn't even talk because of it.  They ended up knocking me out and I completely missed the birth and my husband wasn't allowed in either.  It still bothers me.  Afterwards the anesthnesiologist left without putting my pain med orders in so I was in an extreme amount of pain for an hour after I woke up.  It was a horrible experience!  

P.S.  I wish they would have told me it was "normal" to not feel myself breathe!!!  That may have calmed me down more!

lisamk08852

I had a horrible experience with my son. When they gave me the epidural I almost passed out and then when I came too only one side of my body was numb. I kept telling them but they ignored it. Right before surgery I said it again and they had to redo the epidural . I started freaking out and screaming the whole time because I thought I was going to feel the incision. I am due in dec with my second and I am so nervous!!!

lolob45

These stories just horrified me. I'm having a c section in 3 wks. Hoping I have a good experience.

ejb23

I freaked out as well. It was a long stressed labor and unplanned c section that I was highly trying to avoid. I was shaking a bit during labor but when I was being prepped my shaking was very intense. So much so my teeth and neck still hurt due to the tremors. I also threw up during prep due to anxiety. I know these stories suck but Ithink having a scheduled would be different as you have time to prepare yourself mentally.

chicagobride_07

Yes, I freaked out the morning of the surgery. I had been on bedrest for 2 weeks prior, so was already at the hospital. My MFM resident called anesthesia to get something safe to help calm me down. It didnt work. I had major anxiety and after I was wheeled to labor and delivery the OB resident and anesthesia residents were beside themselves. My OB arrived, called the chief of anesthesia, and I was wheeled into the OR. They asked me to open my mouth to assess my airway and put me under. I think after battling a high risk pregnancy, complete hospital bedrest, etc., it was all just too much. I know it is not optimal for most people, but I do believe being completely knocked out was the only safe way I could have had my daughter. I was completely hysterical on the day of my c section.

michellersayer

Yes! I kept feeling like I was going to throw up from the sounds of the tools!! And I felt like I couldn't breathe! I swear I thought I was going to die.

cnhurst15

kpahl said:

I freaked out with my first unplanned c section after hours of labor. I swore I could feel the first cut just not the pain part. Well, out I went and I didn't wake up until the next day. With my scheduled recent one it was much better and I knew what was going on. I didn't feel a thing and everything went great!

This. They asked If I wanted to be put out then, so I said yes b/c I was freaking.out. 

Zimger

I did okay with my first C-section. It was not planned but the only time I felt overly emotional was right before the epidural. They didn't strap down my arms and I felt like everything was properly explained to me as it was being done.

My upcoming C-section does have me worried because they strap your arms down as a precaution...I don't think that will help me at all. I think it will make me panic. So I am discussing it with my doctor in hopes that he changes his mind.

eliroberson89

I freaked out. I screamed more during the c-section than I did in the 4 hours of pushing before they decided I needed an emergency C-section because he was so stuck in my pelvic bone. I could feel them make the incision (just no pain) and all the jerking and tugging was terrible (he was really stuck so they were rough and had to be quick). I still get goosebumps when I think about that feeling. And afterwards, I know I smiled when I heard my son cry, but then I began to feel like I couldn't breath/catch my breath so I was panicking...while the dr explained to a student each part of my body he was sewing up. (I think that added to the anxiety because I did not want to hear about my Fallopian tubes and how to sew my uterus shut--and I never gave a student permission to be in the OR). Ugh. I just tell myself if I have to have another C-Section it will be planned and it won't be so rough!!