If you have a general anesthetic do you have to have a catheter?

[giraffesCantRunA10k]

Or only if it is a long op?

[kaxter]

Generally only if it is a long op or if the surgical site in the vicinity e.g gynae procedures. But the majority of cases no. Can i ask what surgery? (i am an anaesthetist on mat leave, your post just caught my eye)

[giraffesCantRunA10k]

Oh good! I have another thread on this board but no ones replying so thought I would ask a specific question. I am highly stressed, went to hosp today expecting all to be fine and a few hours later I am seeing a pre op nurse. She couldnt get any blood out of me as crap veins and says my anaesthetist will have fun with me...! link about op I know its very minor but to me its scary

[SlartyBartFast]

ooh, an anaesthetist
what can i add, she who knows nothign,
um, normally it is nil by mouth, hence taking away the need,

[kaxter]

Not a nice thing to say about your veins, I think. That would not put me at ease. The anaesthetist you meet will hopefully just take his/her time looking for a good one and won't cause you too much stress. Pre op investigations are usually routine, part of pre op criteria so don't be too worried - you prob weren't singled out as such unless you have a significant med history.

[expatinscotland]

anaesthetists are very, very good at finding a vein to work with before they strike, so i wouldn't worry too much about it, tbh.

i have rather crummy ones in one arm, but now i found that out the hard way i just ask them all to use the other one.

caths aren't bad so long as you're out when they put them in, or have had regional block like epidural.

i've had loads and they were never a bother

[giraffesCantRunA10k]

The tube thing they put down your throat...does that come out before you wake up or after?

[kaxter]

Most anaesthetists will take out that tube when they are sure you are awake enough to be able to cough or gag if necessary,and that is usually as you are waking. And most people do not remember that period of recovery. The tube you will probably have is a relatively noninvasive one - it isn't the same as the endotracheal tubes used for very long surgeries or those that involve the abdomen or chest, so you may have a sore throat for a short time but it shouldn't be a big problem for you. I hope this helps you.

Let the anaesthetist know you are feeling nervous and what worries you - tell him/her about the tube, ask about the catheter. Our job is to keep you comfortable and safe. There is room to tailor the anaesthetic technique to suit you.

[giraffesCantRunA10k]

Thanks very much

[smurfgirl]

Sometimes a general anaesthetic can make your bladder a little sleepy and it can make it hard for you to pass urine.

The nurses on the ward will keep an eye on this and will be asking you if you have had a wee quite a lot. Sometimes if you don't pass urine for a few hours after your operation but your bladder is full and uncomfy you might need a catheter but it would only be in for a very short time.

I have helped wake people up and taken their tube out and then seen them the next day and they don't remember it at all. You will be fine but like kaxter says sometimes you can have an uncomfy throat.

[expatinscotland]

kaxter's right. by the time you are actually awake enough to remember anything, you won't remember that tube down your throat at all.

and every time i've been nervous, they've given me something to make me very un-nervous very, very quickly .

even if you ever did need a catheter, again, you won't remember it. i've had them a few times - instrumental deliveries and a couple of longish surgeries on my legs, and never felt a thing.

[PavlovtheForgetfulCat]

I have had about 5 ops in my lifetime, and if wasn't for the fact that I have seen the tubes down people's throats on tv progs and dramas I would never have known I had them down my own throat! I have had no recall of it whatsoever.

[expatinscotland]

Me, neither, Pav. The anaesthetist just sets up hte cannula then tells you you're going off to la-la land. And you're gone before she even gets the sentence out of her mouth.

[Blondeshavemorefun]

do you always have tubes down your throat in ops with a general anesthetics?

i have had think 3/4generals and dont remember having one ever

i do wake up very well though from a general and want tea and toast asap and very perky/chatty etc

apparently that is rare

girafee - hope your op is ok

[giraffesCantRunA10k]

Thanks.

I need to step away from google.

[mistlethrush]

I've been told always to ask for anaesthatists to do anything with my veins esp canulas as my veins do a vanishing trick when I'm anxious - they are the best people to do something like that and the ones most likely to do it efficiently, effecitively and with as little pain as possible (not thinking of one senior registra in particular who had 4 or 5 goes at getting wide bore cannula into me with no local first - and I was told later that this wasn't the best option anyway and, if the problem that he was anticipating had come about, they would have dealt with it then and there in a different way anyway )