What's it like to be under general anesthesia during surgery?

I have had over 30 surgeries. Most have been done under general anesthesia. Some surgeries are also done with the patient put on a ventilator to take over breathing for you. Since you didn't share what you are having surgery for, it's hard to know for you. Typically surgeries that take longer than 2 hours you are put on the ventilator for. Again depending on the surgery you will likely have a foley catheter inserted into your urethra to collect your pee so that you don't contaminate the sterile field they created prior to surgery. The paralytic they usually use is Propofol or "milk" that's what Michael Jackson's doctor Conrad Murray used to help Michael get some sleep. It is harmless while used in a surgical setting. Lastly the last thing that goes is your hearing. Once the give you Propfol you will hearing a muffled ringing sound and then your are out. If you are a newbie they might have you count backwards. For experienced surgerical patients they don't usually do that. I personally prefer to be knocked out in the operating room instead of pre-op because I like to see the operating room and the people working on me. Also if you are on your period when you have surgery they will not allow you to wear a tampon into the operating room. They will usually let you free bleed and clean you up after the surgery. Also since you are of child bearing years they will request a urine sample in pre-op to make sure you aren't pregnant. They do this because too often people are pregnant before surgery. Then the surgery has to be cancelled. Its scary for many if it's your first time. They fully understand a patient is nervous and they can get a little bit of Versad to calm your nerves.
It’s honestly like you’re in a super deep sleep. They give you paralytics to keep your reflexes from jerking around when they operate. When you lie on the table, a mask will be placed over your mouth and nose and you’ll be asked to count down from either 10 or 100, or asked to say the alphabet. I’ve done all three, lol. It is just a gauge for the nurse or anesthesiologist to know when you’re fully under. You won’t make it past the third or fourth number or letter, guaranteed. When the nurse wakes you up, you will already be in the recovery room and super fatigued, depending on what surgery you had and how long you were under anesthesia. The surgeon will probably have you on a liquid diet for 12 to 24 hours as well. If you’re having intestinal or gastric surgery, you’ll be on that diet for at least 3 days.
My dad is a surgeon and he always recommends this video to his patients that have questions. Good luck with your surgery. I’ve had a few surgeries in my life myself.
It depends on if the person that gives it, gives you the right amount. I have been under Three times in my life. The first time, it was literally a blank spot in my memory. Like i was knocked out. No consciousness. I was laying on the OR bed, they shot me full of something, i was asking a question of the surgeon, Blank spot, and i am in recovery.. That was with a broken hand. Second time, was my first set of wisdom teeth. I was given something to breathe in, Blank spot, and i am in recovery.. The third time, it was basically the same but i think they got the dosage wrong because i started coming around toward the end of the job and i could feel them messing around in my mouth. No pain, just VERY weird.
It was scary the first time, i was afraid i would die, and not know it.. It didn't happen thankfully but the first time made the subsequent times easier. The drug they administer is called Twilight by the way.
Hmm. Okay. I work in healthcare and I think I'm freaked out because patients who are intubated don't have a fond memory in my mind. I wish I could just take their pain away. I've only had one intubated patient who was awake. I felt really bad for her but she was working really hard to get better
I was never intubated that i know of.. I imagine it would be painful after.
If you were, you would have a sore throat after surgery from the tube. That's all most people can remember about the intubation tube. I'm nervous about the paralytic medicine.
Ah so i never was ok.. I had the same, the first wisdom teeth removal, they were so badly infected that i could not open my mouth.. they had to do something to get it open.
It's just like going to sleep, they ask you to count to 10 and by the time i reached 6 next thing i know i was trying to get up had nurses pushing me down and ended up throwing up on one of the nurses. I do remember the waking up part but don't remember throwing up on one of the nurses
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When I had wisdom tooth surgery, they couldn't find a vein in my arm for what seemed like a long time. But when they injected me, I think the effects occurred quickly. It was a feeling of a drop in blood pressure, like how I might feel after taking antihistamines and walking around.
I was still conscious the whole time but drowsy and dissociated- I often had my eyes closed because they felt heavy. But I felt absolutely nothing. I think that if someone had pinched my leg it might not have hurt.
Psychologically, I had no ill effects from this. Afterwards a nurse told me that my uncle (who was my ride) should hold my arm on the walk to the car because I had "lowered judgement" or something like that. I was offended that she would say that! And I shook my head to tell my uncle I can fucking walk unassisted to the freaking car.
When I got back, I slept pretty soundly for a good few hours. When I woke up I was still tired, but my pain was minimal to nonexistent.
Should I have been conscious during the surgery? Lol
I was awake when I got my wisdom teeth out. I kind of wish they put me to sleep because my bottom wisdom weren't fully ruptured, so the dentist drilled into my jaw. I still have a vivid memory of that. My mom said when she was driving home, I made a joke about Donald Trump and laughed at my own joke for ten minutes.
If they did it right, you should not have been conscious no..
I have a very vivid memory of the last time I went under general anesthesia, I am being given one of those gas mask they give to put little kids under, I'm screaming, the air tastes funny, and they tell me to count back from ten.
Needless to say the whole thing is terrifying if you are 3 or 4 years old
Leading up to it is scary because all the thinking you do about it. Really you'll have no concept of time. It is a weird feeling when you wake up. Why are you having surgery?
Around June 17th. The surgery scheduler is supposed to call me today
I don't remember!
And, EW!
Seriously, it was a long time ago, with gas, and I just woke up when it was all over.
Hey know I'm excited to get a picture of my organs.
I'd also like a picture of my organs, when I did an ASD brain imaging study I got to see an MRI of my brain and it was rad
It’s almost fun in my opinion haha. You start to countdown and next thing you know it’s a few hours later and you’re just chilling in your hospital bed.
Depends on what they give you. They will knock you out though so don't worry about it.
You will be completely unconscious and they won't let you go home until it is all worn off.
It's scary as hell but for most part it's kinda cool and not that bad when you get over the initial nervs
It’s like you close your eyes then open them with no sense of how long you’ve been out
The first time I was under I was a more then a little confused &scared when I was coming out. Mostly though you don't feel a thing.
Nothing. Completely unconscious. You are totally out of it and have no sense of time passing. Feels like you close your eyes for a second then you open them and it's done.
I got an intensive surgery coming up, and I'm nervous as well ahaha. Here to read the answers.
What are you going in for?
Hang on I'll message you
they will make u sleep first through injection and then give u anaesthesia.
Oh gawd lol its like being asleep
Its like this..10, 9, 8... gone
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