Can you go straight home after having GA? General Anaesthetic

[boysforyoueh]

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 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

That will mean that someone else’s treatment gets cancelled or delayed.
They would not let you home in a taxi and I highly doubt that the taxi driver would take responsibility for you either as it’s putting both of you in a vulnerable position.

Do they have an ambulance/pickup/drop off service?

Whereabouts are you?
I'd take you there and back if you're near me.

In my opinion it depends how small the operation is. I have a small day op every 6-9 months for an ongoing condition, it's not a GA but sedated and on the operating table. I have to rest afterwards but can go the same day.

At first I used to comply with all the conditions and spent time arranging for folk to collect me but after a while I didn't bother. I know how the operation affects me, no-one asks who is collecting me or anything so I don't say. All the letters I get each time detail how I'm supposed to be accompanied, can't drive, must go home with someone etc., but I just ignore. I drive myself there, and when I'm ready to go I drive myself home, without anyone with me. If I don't feel too good I wait until I'm fine to drive.

And no they can't keep you against your will although if they're really worried they can get you to sign papers to say you've discharged yourself against medical advice (it covers them rather than you)....but in your position I'd be saying nothing and then just go.

When I had my gallbladder out and was discharged, I made it to the car, collapsed and ended up admitted again. It does happen.

Are you on Facebook? Do you have a local Facebook page with anyone offering any type of help? We have a local couple who do ironing, pet sitting, waiting in your house for deliveries, get prescriptions, wait on engineers etc. They would also very likely do hospital pick ups too.

there may be voluntary car services

ring the ward and ask them

I don't know why it baffles you, not everyone has family, or someone they can call on.

I have a disabled child and had day surgery a few years ago although with sedation. They did say someone must collect me but said because of my son, my proceedure would be first on the list to enable me to be out as soon as possible.

@Hotpinkangel19 you don't think it's unusual that someone would have no friends, no family, no work colleagues, no one from the school run, no neighbours they could ask a one off favour from?

And her dh also appears to have none of those either..

I would ask on a local FB page if someone will pick you up. In my village people would fall over themselves to help, they love a good deed.

In this case you could request patient transport to get you home.

If they are expecting you to have an escort and you don't then they will likely cancel your procedure.

Some units are daycase units only and do not have overnight beds, so pretending you have someone to collect you when you don't is very silly. They also won't just let you get a taxi alone. You can lie to the hospital staff and then self discharge after the procedure but again that's not sensible as you can't expect a taxi driver to take responsibility for you. The hospital don't let you do this as its not safe

Some units do not have admissions rights for that specialty. Even if it's a daycase unit with a speciality that can admit they often won't take patients who require an overnight bed. It very much depends on the hospitals procedure on overnight stays, and isn't as simple as they will get you a bed.

You either need to find someone or contact the hospital to tell them you won't be able to have any escort. They can either arrange an overnight stay or cancel the procedure now and rearrange so you can have an overnight stay. This will at least prevent a wasted GA appointment.

Do you really not know anyone that could come and sit with your DC while your DH collects you or visa versa? No family that could stay the night? If not you need to let the hospital know. We don't let patients go home with patient transport if they don't have an escort as there's nothing to say they have someone to be with them at home.

It's not based on your opinion, it's based on OP and everyone else's safety

Its absolutely not safe to be driving after sedation. Even a small amount.

This is really dangerous advise.

We are in the same situation. It’s more common than people realise, especially if you have a disabled child. It can be really isolating. You can’t socialise in the same way, you can’t get childcare easily, it can cause issues within a family to the point of having to go no contact. All sorts of things. Throw disability or illness of the parent into the mix as well and it’s a nightmare.

Lots of people have absolutely no one. No one. If I didn’t have my dh I’d have no one at all to help with dc.

This is what I’ve had to do for my surgery tomorrow and they’ve agreed to it. (Exact same situation as op).

I had no idea this was a thing. I had GA as was let go alone about 3-4 hours later.

It’s not awful. It’s safety.

You are driving yourself after a sedation?

I hope you get caught before you're in an accident. That is incredibly dangerous and putting yourself and others at risk. At the very least driving when medically told not you would invalidate your insurance.

It is absolutely irresponsible to drive under the influence of drugs.

Adult DS has regular colonoscopies with sedation - he's not allowed to leave without someone physically collecting him from the ward.

OIP, just get Google something like your town and "volunteer drivers". I just tried that out of interest for where I live and came across a number of good neighbour type organisations that have volunteer drivers to help with things like shopping, outings, trips to doctors and hospitals, and the requirement is that all their volunteers be DBS checked. It sounds highly likely that there will be a similar organisation in your area which can offer a vetted volunteer to help you.

I know it takes time to find friends, but now is the moment to put yourself out there as you have a reason to ask for help from a neighbour or acquaintance. As loads of other posters have said, I would readily agree to help. I know it's s leap of faith, but you need those connections and so don't put it off 😁

Did you move before your husband had a stroke and can never drive? Because living do rurally with a disabled child as the only driver and on limited finances does not sound ideal at all 😔

What would be different would be the fact that they actually want to do it and are DBS checked. If they're with a volunteer organisation, the fact that they are used to working with people with disabilities probably means that they will know a bit more about what they are doing in terms of how to help you and keep an eye on you. They won't be in a hurry, and will be happy to help you into the house and carry your stuff in. Taxi drivers aren't DBS checked and have a living to make.