Have you ever had general anaesthesia before? It's nothing to worry about really. You'll go into the theatre prep room, have some wires stuck to your body to monitor your heart and they'll give you a line in your arm where they'll administer the drug.

When I had my first anaesthesia the nurse told me they'd first give me a drug to "make you dream" before the anaesthetic, but the doctor was actually just injecting the anaesthetic itself. I've gone under twice and both times were different. The first time I had it, I thought the doctor was injecting the dream inducing drug, and all I can remember is one second I was talking to a nurse, the next I was waking up after the procedure feeling groggy. The second time I had it, the doctor didn't tell me he was injecting anything again and I remember talking to a nurse one moment, then the world started going dark around me like tunnel vision and I had no choice but to lie back and fall unconscious. The whole thing was over in about a second or two.

When you wake up it'll be as if no time has passed. Honestly it's not as scary as it seems and you'll have a team of doctors and nurses taking care of you. There will be a doctor to simply monitor you while you're under, keeping an eye on your vitals and administering the drug(s). There will be a surgeon doing the operation and maybe a second surgeon there as well. You will also have a nurse, maybe even 2 or 3, so you'll be well looked after.

Hi Molly,

I had hernia surgery under GA in January and I was really worried as well. It was absolutely fine! I don't know where you are in the world, but here in the UK anaesthatists will have undergone at least five years of training in medicine before another two years of specialist training JUST on anaesthetics AND they're with you throughout the entire operation, monitoring everything. If anything happens (which it won't!) they can give you a drug to reverse the anaesthetic and wake you up.

Honestly, you have nothing at all to worry about, it's incredibly safe. You're in more danger driving to and from the hospital than under GA.

You won't even feel it, and when you wake you'll wonder what you were worried about  

I just had my gall bladder taken out a couple months back. I was worried too. It was a piece of cake. Nothing to worry about.

Yes, I am on beta blockers.  You have been told your PVCs are harmless, so there is nothing to worry or stress about. Just try to relax and focus on the thought that it will be over very quickly. They put me on a drug called Tramacet for pain relief after, which stopped my PVCs completely. Until I stopped taking them, which is really strange.