To ask you what general anaesthetic is actually like?

For me they wheeled me into the room they anaesthetise you in and the anaesthetist said hello, made small talk whilst getting things ready (for less than a minute) then told me to count and I was unconscious within a second or two. It's just so quick.

Through a volunteer job I saw wild animals put under anaesthetic for examination and treatment and it really is one second they are trying to bite you ferociously then the next they are peacefully sleeping.

We used to get GA at the dentist when we were kids in the 50s and 60s and it was horrible. Rubber gas mask stuck over your face, horrible smell. I can still smell it now 60 years later. I had an op 3 years ago, my first with ga. What a difference. Could not believe how many people were involved, all very professional, all moving quickly but everyone knowing what they had to do. A bit of humorous banter as I went under, I commented that something he strapped to my leg was cold, he said if I had gone private it would have been warmed up. Next thing I knew I was waking up 9 hours later, and being cared for by a nurse who woke me up every 2 hours to drink and check my monitors. Have a look on youtube, there are loads of videos explaining what happens, do whatever they ask before hand, no eating or drinking as it cause serious complications. I won't say I enjoyed it, but was wasn't unpleasant at all.

Just out of interest... does this still apply if you're accustomed to fasting daily? I only have black coffee and water every day until late afternoon or early evening. Then have a snack, big evening meal, glass of wine if I fancy it, etc across the evening. So I fast anywhere from 16-20 hours a day, every day. My body is completely happy just switching to burning fat at some point during the fast instead of relying on whatever I last ate, I hardly never feel hungry.

If I were to have a general anaesthetic, would this put me at risk? I'd still have plenty of clear fluids up until the cut off time, obviously. So no risk of dehydration. But would I have to force myself to stay up really late the night before and force myself to eat something then?

You won’t be in recovery for long usually and you’ll just be a bit zonked. Just let go of control and follow the advice and instruction given. You know that the anticipation is always 1000 times worth than the actuality.

I’ve had quite a few. They are much better these days. My first was about 40 years ago and I felt so ill afterwards. These days you’re awake and alert much more quickly. I find it weird when I come to in that I’m aware there’s been a time gap, but it’s just blank, whereas from sleep I feel like I’ve been present while asleep, GA is just nothing. Just tell them you’re nervous, it’s perfectly common, especially for your first one, and they’ll be keen to look after you. I got nervous for my second caesarean and there was a lovely nurse holding my hand and chatting away to me.

My dad did the whole count down from 10 thing and was surprised when he got to 1. He asked the nurse what happens now that he did the whole 10-1 thing , were they going to try again ? Err no sir the surgery went well and you’re in recovery.

I was very close to getting up and walking out when the anaesthetist refused...

When i had ga i was very anxious.. so asked for a pre med- i didnt think it was working , but all of a sudden it did.I was then wheeled to surgery, and i felt calm and detatched. needle in- straight to deep sleep .
When i woke up I felt quite euphoric and had to be told to be quiet!
I then felt sleepy tired and chilled rest of the day.
The team are usually really good , and of course skilled .

Yes of course! I didn't care about appearing a big baby. I was!

I am a proper panic merchant. I’ve had 3 GA’s, I didn’t sleep the night before my first one. I was so worried.
And then in I went, they said they’d count down from ten and as soon as I heard 8, I was out. You are absolutely out.
And when you come around it’s like it never happened. I also had the best sleep of my life the night after each GA.
Had one last year and wasn’t phased at all.
These people are absolute experts, there’s nothing to worry about, and I don’t even like having my teeth cleaned and polished at the dentist!
You will be absolutely fine. Promise!

I only had it once during an emergency surgery so it was chaotic but I remember a nurse asking me what I was having for tea - I started to reply and… then I woke up in a different room feeling disoriented (although that may well be because it hadn’t been planned). no other side effects whatsoever. I’m an insomniac - it’s nothing like falling asleep. As others have said it’s an off switch, there’s no “drifting off”.

They had to do this with me because I was so anxious my heart rate was sky high! I'm not sure if it's normal procedure or not but whatever they gave me felt amazing!

The actual anaesthetic was fine though. I woke up trying to get off the bed saying I needed the loo but they wouldn't let me up.

The worst bit for me was after. I had ulcers in my throat from the equipment that were super painful, had to stop the car on the way home to throw up and all I could do was sleep for about 2 days. My blood pressure was low after so I think it was that causing the sleepiness.

I don't know anyone else that this has happened to though so I think I just reacted badly to it.

The nurses and anaesthetist will chat to you while they get you prepped.

I can still recall the conversation I had with the male nurse who administered my spinal block but within seconds of the sedation being administered I was out like a light.

I suppose it's like when a film or tv show fades to black, and then cuts to another scene. That's what it's like.

I love it! They give you something just before that chills you right out.

They'll be talking to you whilst you're conscious, which won't be for long once they administer the anaesthetic.

They will chat to you as you go off. Anaesthetists are all different but either the anaesthetist and the ODP/anaesthetic nurse (their assistant) will chat to you either asking you to count down or picture yourself somewhere you'd love to go like lying on a beach etc.

Your body won't fight the drugs, you will just go off to sleep one minute and be awake the next- people say it's like a pause button that has been pressed.

If you are really worried about weeing under GA, take a pair of spare knickers with you to wear home.

They will have seen it all before.

@RainSoakedNights falling asleep is a natural process that is part of your daily cycle. Getting an anaesthetic is being given several different medications that switch off the conscious part of your brain, makes you unable to move your body but also makes your body relaxed so that you can be moved around as needed by the operating team. It's like the difference between being unconscious like when you have a head injury and are knocked out, or if you faint, and just normally falling asleep. Similar, but different.