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Original poster

Can you go straight home after having GA? General Anaesthetic

224 replies

boysforyoueh · 23/01/2023 21:52

I'm due an op soon. It says 'you must' have someone with you to pick you up after surgery.

But I don't have anyone able to. H will be busy elsewhere. So I hope they don't cancel my surgery Sad simply because I have nobody

But my main question is, how soon after a short time under GA can you go home? Is it simply a case of blood pressure reading fine and then doing a wee? As they like to make sure you can wee

Can I just go after that? It'll have to be in a taxi but the booklet I've got is again saying you can't leave the ward alone

OP posts:
LapinR0se · 23/01/2023 21:53

You’ll need a friend or relative to accompany you home

Original poster
boysforyoueh · 23/01/2023 21:53

I've had several lots of GA in the past but they've all required a hospital stay in their own right for the reason I had the GA, so no idea about pre planned surgeries that are quick procedures

OP posts:
enqnwko · 23/01/2023 21:53

They won't let you leave alone. It isn't safe.

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Original poster
boysforyoueh · 23/01/2023 21:53

LapinR0se · 23/01/2023 21:53

You’ll need a friend or relative to accompany you home

I don't have anyone so can they just refuse to treat me?!

OP posts:
museumum · 23/01/2023 21:54

If you don’t have anyone they will have to find you a bad in a ward and keep you in. Not sure how long for - one night I assume if all goes well.

Greybeardy · 23/01/2023 21:54

You need a sensible adult to be with you for 24hours. If that’s not possible then you would need to stay overnight. HTH.

Chowtime · 23/01/2023 21:54

It will be quite a few hours they'll want to see you eating and drink something as well as have a wee.

And no, they won't let you go in a taxi. Your husband will have to come and collect you and stay with you for 24 hours afterwards. It what spouses do for each other. Or you could ask another adult.

enqnwko · 23/01/2023 21:54

I think they have to find you a bed on a ward, I'd be expecting surgery to be pushed back as a result.

RagamuffinCat · 23/01/2023 21:55

Phone and check with them. They will probably keep you in for the night if you don't have anyone to take you home.

Chowtime · 23/01/2023 21:55

boysforyoueh · 23/01/2023 21:53

I don't have anyone so can they just refuse to treat me?!

Show quote history

Yes, they can - they did to my friend.

Blowyourowntrumpet · 23/01/2023 21:55

You'll need to have someone to collect your and stay with you for at least 24 hours.

They won't let you go in a taxi. My advice is to contact them ASAP and rearrange

Blueeyedgirl21 · 23/01/2023 21:55

What is your dh doing that can’t be rearranged

Original poster
boysforyoueh · 23/01/2023 21:55

@Chowtime that's bloody awful.

OP posts:
TightFistedWozerk · 23/01/2023 21:55

Ring them and explain. What I would expect is for you to be told that they would have to keep you in for 24 to 48 hours to observe you themselves them discharge you after a suitable length of time.

teaandtoastwithmarmite · 23/01/2023 21:56

Last time I had one was for laparoscopic surgery for endometriosis and I was allowed to go home after a few hours. I was taken back to a ward, given some dinner and meanwhile DD and DH came to collect me. I had to wait for something, can't remember what then was allowed to go

SockQueen · 23/01/2023 21:56

Greybeardy · 23/01/2023 21:54

You need a sensible adult to be with you for 24hours. If that’s not possible then you would need to stay overnight. HTH.

And given the current bed state in most hospitals, this may well mean the operation gets cancelled.

Yes, they can refuse to treat you - having someone to take you home safely is just as much a reason for delay/cancellation as if you hadn't followed the fasting instructions. Both are for your safety.

Trumpton · 23/01/2023 21:56

I had a General Anaesthetic for an operation a week ago. I went down to theatre at 11.30 and went home at 5.30. I felt great but felt worse as pain killers wore off.
How long would you be alone? Or maybe ring the ward and ask if you can stay until your DH is free. I don’t think it would be wise to go home alone.

Original poster
boysforyoueh · 23/01/2023 21:57

My H doesn't drive and he will be looking after our disabled child at home

OP posts:
HadEnoughNoise · 23/01/2023 21:57

Blueeyedgirl21 · 23/01/2023 21:55

What is your dh doing that can’t be rearranged

Exactly this 👆🏻

Also they will need to monitor you and won't let you leave until you've had a pee. Which sometimes for me can take half the day!!!

elliejjtiny · 23/01/2023 21:57

They let 9 year old ds go as soon as he could sit upright in a wheelchair. He did have me with him though. This was after a 4 hour operation, an hour in recovery and 1.5 hours on the ward which he spent either sleeping or puking. Poor boy. It was easier to look after him at home though.

Blowyourowntrumpet · 23/01/2023 21:58

Can your husband bring the child to the hospital to pick you up and then you can all get a taxi home?

Chowtime · 23/01/2023 21:59

boysforyoueh · 23/01/2023 21:57

My H doesn't drive and he will be looking after our disabled child at home

He will have to get a taxi, or a lift of a friend or relative. I presume your disabled child goes out in a car sometimes?

Namechanger355 · 23/01/2023 21:59

Or can you just ask a friend or neighbour or colleague to pick you up in a taxi or car and take you home where your husband will be?

LeapingCat · 23/01/2023 21:59

Unless your husband is on deployment somewhere he needs to sort it so he can be there for you. If he can’t and you genuinely have absolutely no other adults who can come and collect you (I would do this for any of the school mums or a colleague, it must be rare to have no social connections at all) then call a care agency and see if you can pay someone.

ChrisPPancake · 23/01/2023 22:00

I went home maybe a couple of hours after but dh collected me and had to be around for 24 hours after. Not like in the same room necessarily but checking on me regularly.

If you can't have that then they may well say it's too risky for you to have GA. Hospitals are chaos atm so doubt they'd have space for you to stay unless you became an emergency admission. No chance of having whatever you're having done under local?