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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:
Original poster
boysforyoueh · 23/01/2023 22:11

@Soontobe60 My car

OP posts:
Zola1 · 23/01/2023 22:11

My partner discharged himself agter a GA. No idea why I as was on my way to pick him up and was intending to go in for him but he was outside when I arrived, just said he'd had enough

Blueeyedgirl21 · 23/01/2023 22:12

Is it whilst your child is at school? Can your partner not get public transport to the hospital then taxi back with you?

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Chowtime · 23/01/2023 22:12

Fluffluff · 23/01/2023 22:10

Can your partner and child come with you on the taxi and hang around. Canteen etc a walk around until you can go and then all taxi home.
Same cost as just you and you are accompanied home

OMG! This! It's the most logical solution - I'm embarressed I didn't think of it!

pizzaHeart · 23/01/2023 22:12

when I went for pre-OP chat with nurse she asked me who would collect me and would I be at home alone over night or not. DH collected me, I was kept until he came.
A friend said that no one would be at home so he was left overnight at the hospital and was allowed to go by himself next morning.

BustaGrind · 23/01/2023 22:13

You're planning on driving?

Triflenot · 23/01/2023 22:13

Ask your GP practice if they know of a voluntary driver scheme. I know someone who drives people to medical appts etc through this

feelingrubbish2023 · 23/01/2023 22:13

Have you not seen the news? Hospitals are at breaking point, they don't need extra people that can't be discharged.

Do you not know any school mums if ds is at school?

Original poster
boysforyoueh · 23/01/2023 22:13

@Zola1 thank you, I did wonder what this isn't offered as a possibility as you can discharge yourself for all sorts as long as you're mentally sound

OP posts:
MarmiteCoriander · 23/01/2023 22:13

How are you planning to getting to the hospital OP??? IF you were able to leave on your own- how were you planning on doing that?

Join your local nextdoor.com and reach out to locals on there. Ring the Samaritans or other voluntary organisation. Do you not have any work colleagues to ask?

Reugny · 23/01/2023 22:13

boysforyoueh · 23/01/2023 22:11

@Reugny I suppose for some people they'll be desperate and just do that then

Nothing they can do really, just keep you in until it's safe for them to discharge you alone without support

Not much of a barrier as I doubt they wouldn't take you down for surgery if the person didn't pick up the phone, or the person could just lie and say yeah I'll be coming

I didn't make it clear in my post but they were implying to the guy next to me if they didn't get his friend's contact details he wasn't going to have surgery.

They also will ring a few times even though they tell you to warn the person they will ring them.

Original poster
boysforyoueh · 23/01/2023 22:13

BustaGrind · 23/01/2023 22:13

You're planning on driving?

Definitely not! Like I say, taxi there and back

OP posts:
TheOtherBoleynGirls · 23/01/2023 22:14

If most of the usual fixes aren’t available, just call the hospital and ask. There may be volunteers who help out, as a PP mentions. You probably won’t be the first to ask, so instead of writing it off in a panic, call them and see what they suggest.

Original poster
boysforyoueh · 23/01/2023 22:14

@Reugny I doubt that's the case for all hospitals. Plus the person on the other side can say any old waffle

OP posts:
BustaGrind · 23/01/2023 22:14

Eh, you said you were planning on getting there in your car

Soontobe60 · 23/01/2023 22:14

Reugny · 23/01/2023 22:09

They wouldn't discharge you.

They also phone the person before you go into theatre to check they are coming to pick you up

Show quote history

No they don’t, I’ve had a fair few day surgeries and only needed to provide contact details of who’s picking me up,

TheYearOfSmallThings · 23/01/2023 22:14

If you explain the circumstances they won't refuse surgery but they will need to keep you overnight and they may not have ready access to an inpatient elective bed (being presumably a day ward), so you might wait a bit longer.

feelingrubbish2023 · 23/01/2023 22:15

Actually i also bet you have a local Facebook group. Put a post on there, I guarantee someone will offer to help you. I live fairly rurally and only last week someone was asking for help with a vaguely similar request and got quite a few offers of help.

Twizbe · 23/01/2023 22:16

Call them. Many hospitals have patient transfer teams and volunteers who will do this.

You cannot be alone for 24 hours at least after a GA. I know I tended to fall asleep randomly after mine. The last one I had I kept falling 'asleep'. My eyes were closed and I couldn't move but could hear what was happening around me - very strange.

Soontobe60 · 23/01/2023 22:16

boysforyoueh · 23/01/2023 22:11

@Soontobe60 My car

In what world did you think you could drive home after a GA?

SockQueen · 23/01/2023 22:16

Greybeardy · 23/01/2023 22:06

I know…I’m an anaesthetist!

Show quote history

I know - I am too! The second paragraph was aimed at the OP but I forgot to @ her, sorry!

BustaGrind · 23/01/2023 22:17

@Soontobe60 2 minutes later she said a taxi so god knows 🤷🏽‍♀️

Original poster
boysforyoueh · 23/01/2023 22:17

@Twizbe I won't be alone, H will be at home

I just don't see the difference between someone I know driving me home vs a taxi driver. Neither can do anything on the road if I randomly and very unlikely faint or something. Both would lead to the same outcome

There's someone at home for me so it's just the journey home of 25 mins

OP posts:
Reugny · 23/01/2023 22:17

Soontobe60 · 23/01/2023 22:14

No they don’t, I’ve had a fair few day surgeries and only needed to provide contact details of who’s picking me up,

Show quote history

Depends on the hospital.

NorthernSoul55 · 23/01/2023 22:17

Try the Red Cross, they were very helpful when a relative had to make a long journey to and from hospital for surgery. Or find out if there are any volunteers attached to the hospital who could transport you home. I'd also ask anyone I had any contact with in the area: local churches, community groups, kids school etc to ask if they knew of anyone who might help. It's not cheeky, and most people really don't mind a one off request for help.
How were you planning to get to and from the hospital by yourself? If by taxi its one extra journey for your DH to collect you. Borrow the money if things are tight, its important for your health.

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