To ask you what general anaesthetic is actually like?

Out like a light, gone. You won't even know. Then you wake up after a good sleep. Absolutely fine.

I've had several. I barely felt anything more than just a regular injection feeling when the needle went into my hand, then felt a slight, odd cool feeling going up thst arm. Then lay down, remember being asked a couple of questions, just random questions like, what is your favourite drink 😄 and no sooner had I answered the second question that was it, I was zzzzzz 😅 I didn't feel any pain from the needles/drip etc. Just a teeny prick, no dizziness. Actually quite enjoyed it 😄
It was afterwards that was the worst thing, post op, as I felt very dizzy and nauseous, no doubt due to the pain relief meds

Don’t fast any longer than you’ve been advised to. Fasting is to ensure than you are not at risk of aspirating stomach contents. If you fast for too long, you will be dehydrated, which raises surgical risk. Many hospitals now encourage clear fluids until quite soon before surgery, for this reasons. Do check the specific guidelines through and hope all goes well.

Oh you can wear a normal one to and from hospital. I don’t know why ChatGPT thinks you’re going to be swollen all over and unable to wear normal clothes home.

We normally like everyone just wearing theatre gowns then we know there’s no metal (underwire) in them and we can put monitoring on. Pants I always overlook. Unless you’re having a gynae procedure obviously!

I had one 2 weeks ago. Walked to the anaesthesia room just outside the operating room (but I guess you could ask for sedation if you're really nervous), they were really friendly and chatty - usually 3 people in the room. One nurse popped the oxygen mask on, the other had my hand to the side which already had the cannula in. It felt a little cold going up my arm, then I woke up.

I hope yours goes well, there's really nothing to worry about.

I had a reasonably short surgery so no breathing tube, catheter etc. They just injected and I was under. No time to count. I was out in less than a second. Woke up about an hour later. Not at all woozy. No pain as they'd loaded me up on pain killers. No problems whatsoever. I was so nervous about general anaesthetic but it was honestly a breeze.

You should get paperwork from the department telling you how to prepare for the procedure before you come in and what to bring with you.

I've had a short op under GA (gynae) and a long hip replacement op under spinal block with sedation and for both I was asked to change into just a gown - so no bra and no knickers. But for the hip op, I did ask for a pair of their operation knickers as I needed to wear a sanitary pad.

I doubt they would let you wear a wired bra under the hospital gown in case you needed to be given a 12 lead ECG. If you don't have paperwork phone the ward to which you are being admitted and ask them to clarify. You can't go by ChatGPT.

Shouldn’t be an issue with bra to and from. With all the wires and monitoring bras are not kept on.

The nurses will sort everything out on the day and will give you all the instructions you need - you don't just walk in off the street and get onto the table 😃

Don't worry about anything at all.

It is a very, very minimally invasive procedure, it will be really quick and need very little support.

When I was a kid it was a black mask coming towards your face which was admittedly a little scary.

Now it's a canula in the hand. Injection and a nice sleep, you'll have no idea about a mask (which are clear/see through now anyway).

Your doctor might be able to prescribe you something like a Xanax to take before you come in. I had that before I had an outpatient procedure that I had to be awake for. It was one of the medications that the doctor just automatically prescribed and I had to take it I think 30 minutes before I got to the office.

When I had my wisdom teeth out I was very nervous, really terrified. My husband took me and I went back and they sat me in the chair and there was a little table of instruments next to me covered in a drape, but the corner of the drape was flipped up. There was a hammer laying there and I asked the nurse "is that a hammer" and she said "here breathe this" and that's the last thing I remember. I think you'll probably be out so fast that you won't have time to be that nervous.

I thought it was utterly fabulous. The best sleep of my life, and such a simple, straightforward process.

I had these fears.

It's not instant, however, which makes it a lot less scary. 🙂

I do not react well to GA at all always takes me hours to properly come round and lots of vomiting even though they give me anti sickness. Really hope to avoid it again

Somethings will depend on how long the surgery lasts, if they need to catheterise you or not. I know for one surgery I wore my pants but woke up with them in a bag with a pair of disposable knickers on. They’ve seen it all and managed it all.

wear soft clothing, ditch a bra if you can.

Awful but I have to say I agree, I'm a bad sleeper in general but gosh that's a great sleep you get for a while after!

Oh and plain pants are usually fine for surgery. Some hospitals give you some paper ones but for sinus surgery I’d be happy with you in your own. Bra comes off - even simple ones.

I had one almost 2 years ago for an ORIF.

I was given a healthy dose of ketamine before the anesthetic. I don't remember counting backwards. Just waking up in a private room on the ward. I worked at the hospital I was having surgery so asked them to let my colleagues I was ok (I was otherwise alone). Then they gave me a sandwich as hadn't eaten in 36 hours due to surgery delays. I don't remember making a tit of myself like you see online, though I probably did.

Main issue was moving my bowels post surgery, so have some laxatives ready at home!