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Original poster

How long does post anaesthesia fatigue last ?

16 replies

naericht · 18/10/2019 19:56

I had a short general anaesthetic on Tues afternoon, was only out for 45 minutes max . Got home on Wed morning . Was a very minor bladder op but needed a GA as they had to use a rigid cystoscope . Post theatre they gave me fentanyl, IV anti sickness, IV antibiotics .

Since getting home I’m absolutely exhausted . I slept all day Wed, most of wed night, and for two or three hours yesterday afternoon . Have had a bit of pain but nothing excruciating . I’ve had three meals of a sort today but no real appetite at all .

I’m just horrendously tired , physically but my brain feels slow as well, can’t do anything I want to eg reading, jigsaw puzzle . Had to sit down to shower earlier . I don’t remember much of Wednesday at all and not much of yesterday either, to the point I got a shock when they said on TV that it’s Friday today .

I haven’t had a GA in years and years so I can’t remember what’s normal , I keep thinking as I’m not in much pain I shouldn’t be tired but is that wrong ? I’ve deliberately tried to stay awake all day and now I’m feeling bloody awful ! I’ve got dihydrocodeine but I’m wary of taking them as they make me feel off the planet too . Is it normal to feel so weird ?

OP posts:
Ponoka7 · 18/10/2019 20:00

I've had a few and it can be a few days.

Antibiotics and whatever is going on in your body could also be a combined cause.

HeadBrickWall · 18/10/2019 20:05

I was told it's like a strong concussion and can take up to 6 months to recover from. That was the info for a 2 hour operation.

squirrelnutkins1 · 18/10/2019 20:09

I was under for a couple of hours and it took weeks and weeks to feel better.

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Adversecamber22 · 18/10/2019 20:35

Takes me almost two weeks, plus I’m wondering as we get older everything takes a bit longer to recover and settle. Hope you feel better soon.

Aragog · 18/10/2019 21:00

Much longer than you expect was my experience. My surgeon recommended at least 10-14 days rest and not to be surprised if it was longer.

Mind I've recently had a fairly heavy sedation for a procedure and I've been surprised how long that's made me feel fired too.

Aragog · 18/10/2019 21:01

Tired not fired!

StarlingsInSummer · 18/10/2019 21:06

Sounds normal to me. I had surgery with a GA a couple of years ago and it took several weeks before I felt normal.

Minai · 18/10/2019 21:12

About a week for me and I had a very short op to have my appendix removed by keyhole surgery. I was surprised by how slow my thinking was and I felt like I was in a bit of a fog. About 5 days after the op I managed to take my son out in his pram and I had to come home, not because of the surgery but because I didn’t feel safe taking him out as I was so slow minded and didn’t feel right crossing roads and being aware enough to look after him. On another outing I remember staring at the toiletries aisle remembering that I needed something (conditioner) but couldn’t for the life of me place what it was. I bought a bottle of shampoo and left. It’s weird. I’m never like that normally. I got back to normal after about a week or so. Hope you feel better soon. It’s a very odd feeling.

NK346f2849X127d8bca260 · 18/10/2019 21:13

My 15 year old daughter had a GA for cardiac CT/transesophageal scan and was under for just over an hour and she slept the next two days away and was still very tired for two more days after that.

VickyBHF · 18/10/2019 21:16

I was crying in an utterly uncontrollable way every time I tried to sit up for about 24 hours after my GA. I’ve only ever had the one for a small op and the recovery from the GA was horrible - far worse than the op wound pain / recovery etc.

SpiderCharlotte · 18/10/2019 21:19

I had a GA for 5 hours almost 6 weeks ago and I still can't seem to shake this bloody awful fog.

weasledee · 18/10/2019 21:23

I had something similar and it took a couple of weeks! Really shocked me as they don't really warn you about it.
It does pass though..... :)

Trumpton · 18/10/2019 21:25

I had a GA in August and another 5th September . I can honestly say that it’s a rare day that I feel really well . Not helped by having a chest infection so now on my third lot of antibiotics since August .
I have another operation ( a big one) scheduled for November and am doing all my Christmas shopping, wrapping and cards now !

nagynolonger · 18/10/2019 21:41

I've had GA three time and it takes weeks.

The last time was keyhole surgery and I thought I was fine. No pain post surgery and home the same day. I felt great so two days later decided I was well enough to go out for a short walk. DH questioned whether I should. I insisted I was OK. I only managed 10 minuets before I had to sit on some ladies garden wall and ring DH to come and pick me up. I wasn't in pain just completely shattered. I couldn't walk.

Monr0e · 18/10/2019 21:48

It takes me about a week. After my first GA I went shopping 4 days later and had a panic attack in Tesco.

After my last GA as well as feeling physically awful I found that everything I drank tasted of salt.

thenightsky · 18/10/2019 21:51

I had a spinal Diamorphine injection and GA for a 3 hour operation 12 days ago. I'm still sleeping away most afternoons.

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