To ask you what general anaesthetic is actually like?

I’ve never felt that way. The only side effect I have is I can’t sleep for about 48hrs after as I feel a bit wired
my shortest op was 30 mins and longest 8hrs 37

Not my experience, at all.

Around 12 years ago, I had a haemorrhaging uterine polyp removed under GA.

I can remember the walls looking a bit squiffy for a few seconds as I was coming round. Was given an oxygen clip for a few minutes, offered a drink and a pain killer (not that I was in any significant pain) and shortly afterwards wheeled back to the ward. Had toast and coffee. Got dressed and went to the loo by myself, was seen by the surgeon who had performed the procedure and discharged to the "departure lounge" for collection. I didn't feel at all exhausted or disoriented.

But perhaps you spent a longer time under GA. The OP isn't having a lengthy procedure.

Terrifying. And it is not a "good nap". You are drugged heavily to stay unconscious, you don't sleep. You come round feeling exhausted and disoriented.

My point is that if you are as anxious as this then I think you should be talking to the GP about this or the team seeing you.

Maybe they just thought I looked like someone not likely to drink lemonade in the morning!
admission was 7am and I was clear fluids until 5am
it was pretty shitty as no food from the morning before until the morning after so 48hrs without food (they brought me toast but I choked on it as it was too dry after a full day under GA)

the fasting rules are nothing to do with post op nausea and vomiting - it's to do with the physics and physiology of having a stomach full of food/fluid at the time that you're about to become unconscious and have your airway reflexes obtunded.

The most commonly used anaesthetic drugs these days are very much 'cleaner' in terms of nausea and vomiting than ones used historically, however, respecting that vomiting slows down recovery we usually give one or more anti-emetic to higher risk customers to minimise the chance they'll feel nauseated post-op (risk factors including sex/age/what the pathology is/what the operation is/past history/etc).

The drug that a lot of us would use routinely for ENT surgery actually has anti-emetic properties.

I see now that it is dependent on hospital - but it certainly was the case two years ago.

Google pre-assessment phone number and the hospital they're the best to ask

What do you mean by better drugs? Modern anaesthetic drugs are amazing, it's human physiology of gut emptying that determines fasting guidelines.

Although we've had huge progress now on allowing sipping of water preop having done many national studies showing evidence of benefit and no increased risk

Bowel prep is normally the day before surgery not day of.

I don't know of any anaesthetist that would electively GA someone within 6h of fizzy drinks

(I'm also traumatised from a small child who sneakily drank coke preop without his parents realising, and had oxygen levels in the high 60s for far too long from aspirating it during their op)

I had bowel prep (gynae surgery) and they told me fizzy was fine - I mixed my prep with lemonade
although to be fair I didn’t drink any in the morning as i am not a lemonade person at 5am!

Not lemonade! Anything fizzy = Cancelled.

Clear see-through squash including blackcurrant is allowed in most places I've worked.

When you talk to the preop nurses they can clarify

that would be totally unecessary unless the oral route is contraindicated for other reasons. Taking PO fluids is better tolerated, probably physiologically better, and completely safe for most people. For the people for whom it's not, separate advice will have been given.

When you receive the letter with written confirmation of your operation date, you might receive a more detailed information sheet about pre-op fasting and what you can and what you can't drink from the night before.

In the meantime, if you Google the name of your hospital trust + fasting guidelines + day case surgery you might find a PDF or a web page that will give you a better idea of what your hospital says your can drink in the hours before your surgery, for example this one below:

https://www.nlg.nhs.uk/resources/adult-fasting-guidelines-when-and-what-you-are-allowed-to-eat-and-drink-before-your-operation/

I should be surprised if your paperwork does not include similar information.

that is not standard UK advice.

Clear fluids are water, dilute squash/clear juice, black tea/black coffee.

SipTilSend | Centre for Perioperative Care

(I'd ignore the sips til send bit until you've seen your anaesthetist on the day or the pre-ass nurse specificially mentioned it though).

Yes - you will need to stop Mounjaro for a few weeks prior to the operation as it’s a vomiting / choking risk.

Clear fluids are usually lemonade, apple juice, tea or coffee without milk, squash (not blackcurrant), bovril

No-one on MN can tell you what your hospital's protocols are.

If you feel you can't manage without an electrolyte drink in the hours preceding your operation, then you need to ask the surgical department for advice.