Can a general anaesthetic make you feel depressed?

[perceptionreality]

I had one a week ago. Now I feel depressed, paranoid and anxious. I am afraid to open the curtains. I do have a lot going on with dd1 lately but nothing new.

Then I remembered this happened the last time I had a GA. Anyone else had this?

[Reenypip]

I had a GA yesterday, and have cried a few times since. I know I'm fed up of my health problems, but I think it may be normal to have post anathestic blues.

[pinksancerre]

Yes it can, normally about 3 days post. It's cos it messes with your brain chemicals!

[perceptionreality]

Ah, thanks. I have a bipolar diagnosis so I'm really worried this will trigger an episode, but hopefully it won't as I don't feel faintly manic. I have been well for years. Heres to hoping I feel normal again soon. You too Reenypip.

[ToryLovell]

Yes it has always made me weepy and very down.

Hope it passes soon for you

[perceptionreality]

Thanks Tory. Still feeling very down today :( if it doesn't go away I will see the doctor.

[PeanutButterCupCake]

3days post op for me was terrible after both GAs I've had, weepy, scared, increased pain, total inability to cope.

It passed though

Be kind to yourself

[perceptionreality]

Thanks PeanutButter - I'm glad it's not just me!

[PeanutButterCupCake]

It's quite normal I think

[topsi]

yes

[gingerwine]

Definitely! I had a GA on Monday and was have been quite emotional especially the first two days. Still quite fragile really, some of which is due to the operation itself but I'm sure the GA is also to blame. I reckon it takes a good week to get over a GA. An anaesthetist told me that one hours GA was equivalent to running a marathon in terms of body stress too so bear that in mind. Hope you are feeling a bit better today.

[Reenypip]

Hi ginger, that definately puts it into perspective about what your anaesthetist said. I'm still weepy. Have post op infection too now.
It's really making me think will I be fit enough for major surgery next month.
I'm going to have to help from social services I think.

[rockinhippy]

I always get this a day or so after GA & it can last a while too, so IME YES, definitely

[gingerwine]

Hi reeny. Yes it's a good analogy. Does make me feel I should go easy on myself. Hope those antibiotics do the trick. There is still time. Might be a good idea to get some significant help organised before surgery. You don't need to be worrying about things when you should be focusing on recovery. Am willing your infection away!

[whereismywine]

Hi, I'm 4 days after a GA and this is my second one in 5 months (lucky me) and the pattern is exactly the same, kind of a very down, anxious and claustrophobic feeling. It's interesting observing how similar the feelings are so I conclude def GA makes you feel it took me a week to clear it out last time. Pity they don't make you feel instead! Also surgery and hospitals are fairly traumatic things that I think it makes us feel fragile. For me it gives me a real sense of my own mortality, if that makes sense. As im still a bit ga addled it probably doesn't!

[perceptionreality]

Thanks for replies - whereismywine, that is exactly how I felt! Horrible isn't it? I am feeling a bit better now so hopefully it's on its way out.

[whereismywine]

Glad you're feeling better. It's a lousy feeling but it does pass. I keep telling myself that anyway!

[sydlexic]

Read this thread sometime ago totally agreed, I have now discovered that anaesthetic depletes b12 and this causes depression and anxiety. After having several surgeries I was very unwell mentally and physically. B12 injections have made an amazing difference.

[digerd]

My last GA made me really grumpy and aggressive, but only on the day . Afterwards it was the pain in my knee which made me grumpy < yes, I am at the grumpy old woman stage in life anyway.

[CamelBalls]

I know this is a old thread but found it when I was googling,
Had a local on Friday and today I have felt really really tearful, not interested in anything, want to sleep, don't want to talk (am visiting a friend currently so can't do any of that)

And wondering if its connected? I have days of feeling a little low (have sufferered depression in the past) but have been ok)

Wondered if this feeling will go in a few days?

Any help would be greatly recieved :)

[gobbin]

Oh yes for sure.
After C-Section was totally paranoid e.g. Thinking "Why's she got more cards than me?" "The nurses never bother with me,it's never myturn to be seen" etc. All total bollocks as the other patients/staff were fab.

It happened again on my bowel resection but I recognised it - we all laughed at day three when I was howling to a nurse, crying "I know it's just the anaesthetic, I'll be ok tomorrow!"

[SpottyDottie]

I'm going to say yes, because I had an operation last week and saw my GP today because I feel so flat and tearful.

[ValG]

Had a GA on 12th September 2017 for 3 hour op. Am still feeling very low and def unable to cope with the simplest of tasks. I feel that they swapped my brain for someone elses whilst I was under. I know the thread is now old, but............

[AngelsWithSilverWings]

Normal apparently. I had a big operation last year and was under for about 3.5 hours. Three days after the op I couldn't stop crying. When I went to my follow up appointment a couple of days later the first thing my surgeon asked me was which day did the tears come. She said that all of her patients get tearful a few days post op. I was fine after a week.

[AngelsWithSilverWings]

Oh no - Zombie thread 😳

[Ready1]

I know this is an old thread but I experienced this last time too and have had no problems with any previous GA.
For 7 days I felt severely depressed and sort of like I wasn't me. It was truly disturbing.
I've spoken to my anaesthetist for my next operation and they suggested this might be because I was given an anti-nausea drug called Cyclizine. They're going to use an alternative this time so fingers crossed it doesn't happen this time.