To ask you what general anaesthetic is actually like?

I’ve had quite a few general anaesthetics and always wake up feeling reset.

My last operation was done under sedation and I felt the most relaxed I’ve ever felt. 10/10 would recommend.

The 48 hours afterwards can be emotional.

Angios aren't done in theatres and elective patients unfortunately need to be bounced for people having acute heart attacks so that's more likely than elective surgery

Emergency surgery is another kettle of fish and people often get delayed/bounced. Elective cancellations are rare and generally only due to overruns if a previous patient has been more complex than expected etc

from a slightly different anaesthetist PoV (perhaps there are regional variations re. pre-meds).... It's definitely not routine for adults outside some contexts, but if someone asks I think most of my colleagues are happy to at least have a conversation and consider it. (would be a definite 'no' from me with mounjaro in the picture, but on a case by case basis am pretty sure most of us are happy to consider it for some patients even for day surgery).

Would be very unusual. Outside of cardioversions and relocating dislocating bones which takes about seconds-minutes, everyone gets antiemetics whilst asleep

Twice -

Once for wisdom teeth pre kids. Didn't like the registrar doing the op when I got there the day but the anaesthetist was lovely. I came round nicely and apparently told them about a Scottish mountain walk I'd just done. Those on local were much less happy, I noted.

Second time was 'emergency' general anaesthetic for birth of DS. The reason for the inverted commas was because it was chaotic in delivery that night and from a clinical perspective they did not get their act together for the coming pre ecalamptic fit which I started on the operating table due to them failing to give pre op drugs. No problems with the actual anaesthetic though.

The one time I was out to sleep I could not wait for some bugger to just knock me the hell out because I was in so much pain with a broken bone. I was so excited to just sleep and not know the pain.

When I came round I couldn't feel my teeth and kept asking the nurse why they had removed my teeth 😂

I also felt like I was floating above the bed, but that might have been the morphine.

Everyone gets a single antisickness, individualised risk assessment determines if get additional, you don't need to ask

I've had 13 GAs. I can assure you it is nothing to worry about. The anaesthetist and anaesthetic nurse will look after you!

Its not that short by surgical standards, it's very rare to be cancelled on the day

V v v difficult, particularly in day surgery which you would be. It requires additional ward monitoring and often has hang over effects which delay discharge home. We rarely even do it for children now

This! Last op was private as the nhs waiting list was so long. No anti-emetic given and dh had to stop the car for me to be sick in a carrier bag on the way home.
Tbh I didn’t feel up to discharge and hadn’t eaten anything. More the ga than the actual surgery.

Very common. It's like no time has passed a all. I was in an induced coma for a week in 2021 due to strep pneumonia (lucky to be here to tell the tale) and the first I knew about it was when my friend told me - I thought I'd just been out a couple of hours!

I’d say less than heavy sinusitis. I’ve been very relieved and able to breathe through my nose which has been so good.
You do need to rest and take it easy though and avoid going out especially in crowds as you can be vulnerable to infection. I’ve been fine just lazing around and napping.

I’ve had quite a few and always wake up crying

If you’re worried about being sick, ask for anti-sickness. I don’t do being sick so always ask for it as a matter of course.

I have had lots of General anaesthetic operations. Going to sleep never an issue, and often it is a very relaxing sleep. Two things to note often for the first few minutes when you wake up you may feel a little nauseous usually for no more than a minute and then it passes. The other thing often you feel some involuntary shaking, this also stops after a few moments. Usually they wrap you in lots of blankets so you are nice and warm and cocooned as you wake up more. After some ops I have been groggy/sleepy for several hours, after others back to proper awake after an hour. Don't be afraid to ask your questions.

I like to ask how I will know that the operation is over. When I had oral surgery I was told that there would be some pads in my mouth and I would feel the strings hanging on my cheeks when I woke up. I did, and it was very reassuring. Other times I was told that when I woke up in recovery the head of the bed would be reassured and w would be able to look around. Again, exactly what happened.

Never had any nausea on waking up. I'd drift in and out of sleep, with gloriously colourful dreams. Quite nice, really!

Anaesthetists and their nurses always seem to be chatty while they put you to sleep.

I’ve had I think 8 GAs. You usually feel a bit warm as you go under. How you feel when you come round is determined by what you had done, how long you were under and which anaesthetic you had. One thing I would say is, a nurse leans over and says hello when you come round. They want you to respond. After that let yourself wake up gradually, don’t try to force it as you’ll feel very heavy.