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Original poster

Feeling so embarrassed after anaesthesia. Please tell me this has happened to others?

420 replies

ShortFlighted · 18/08/2023 17:18

A week ago, I had a surgery. I was extremely nervous before being put to sleep.

When I came round, I was in a lot of pain but my throat was so dry I couldn’t say “hey, I’m in pain” , so I just started whining “ouch “ “ouch “.

Then I kept taking off the oxygen mask because it was annoying me. I also asked multiple times where my car was and had to be reminded I was in hospital at least twice. I also kept waving to thin air. The nurse was nice enough but I could tell I wasn’t her favourite patient 😳.

Now I remember it, I’m so embarrassed and feel like I was probably a real pain in the arse. Coincidentally, I had to be kept in post op because I was groggier and woozier than expected.

Reassure me please!

OP posts:
knobheed99 · 18/08/2023 19:14

These stories are great. I have to have a GA in 3 weeks time and the thing that's worrying me the most is either being panic-stricken when I wake up and terrified OR doing something really embarrassing.
It's reassuring to know that plenty of people do daft things.

I am wondering though, whether to text the bloke I have really liked for a year to tell him when I come round from the op, and if it goes tits up I can say I was coming round from anaesthetic,.... and if it doesn't go tits up - result!

CheshireCat1 · 18/08/2023 19:15

Don’t be embarrassed, it’s normal. I was not stop talking about Jeremy Kyle, never watched any of his shows in my life. Another time after surgery I woke up surrounded by nuns, I thought I was in heaven, yes they were real nuns.

listsandbudgets · 18/08/2023 19:16

@Yorkshiredolls I proposed to the student doctor while I was giving birth to DD and apparantly got quite insistent when he politely declined -(presumably a vomit covered, sweaty, screaming woman with splayed legs wasn't to his taste!!) even told him DP who was holding my hand at the time would be fine with it - thankfully DP is still with me nearly 18 years later so I guess he forgave me - don't know what happened to the rather fanciable student though Grin

OP honestly it's alright to be disorientated after anaesthetic. After my MIL had an operation she kept telling nurse to take the milk out of the fridge, make a cup of tea for both of them, find the chocolate biscuits and sit down for a bit

ShowOfHands · 18/08/2023 19:16

dontgobaconmyheart · 18/08/2023 19:10

I have a condition that reduces the efficacy of anaesthesia (Ehlers Danlos if anyone's interested) so in small and conservative doses it doesn't put me to sleep as expected - as a result of the same condition I've had a few surgeries and am often counting down to ten only to get to 0 and be sat there fully conversational. It also seems to wear off much quicker and I've often been in the situation where I've come out of a minor procedure and can see the individuals who've gone in before me are still drowsing in their bay while I am back to normal. You often get a nurse pop in not expecting to see you awake and eyeing you very suspiciously. It all depends on how knowledgeable the anaesthetist is with the condition and the link between EDS and the resistance. I get the impression they get a lot of people saying sedation won't do anything for them who just immediately conk out and so are always a bit dubious until they check medical records or have prior understanding that it can affect this.

Anyway, I'm often much more awake in the recovery bay area than the vast majority of the other post op patients and can confirm that all of this is so normal, albeit jarring. I've heard frequent screaming, lots of calling for mums, lots of anger at nurses - "who are you, get off me" a lot of non compliance for obs being taken or medication administered, lots of crying out about being in pain or feeling sick. Quite often you will see the same people in the waiting room once they've left the recovery bay to be collected and they are normal again and having their cup of tea and biscuit. I'm not saying its everyone but it's certainly something I've seen a lot of.

Nursing is a very difficult job and I have so much respect for them.

Teen DD has EDS and waking up mid surgery was the first major clue! They tried to sedate her once for a biopsy and they kept saying "it isn't working, she's just normal". She carried on chatting and when they'd finished, asked if she could go home. She comes round so quickly and is ready to go home while still in recovery usually.

Sadly, we didn't realise that she (and DH) have eds before DH had his vasectomy and the local didn't work and he tried to punch a doctor due to the pain. His Mum said afterwards that it was weird as he'd been similarly resistant to anaesthetic as a child. All makes sense now of course!

nolamesallowed · 18/08/2023 19:17

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HowToSaveAWife · 18/08/2023 19:17

I wouldn't worry OP. I came round in recovery and started immediately screaming and ugly toddler crying, I had spiked a temp and my whole body felt like it was on fire, sheets were drenched with sweat. Snotty nurse smirked and said "must have pissed herself". Well apparently I rounded on her in front of my consultant and said "No I didn't you heifer, I'm on fire, it's sweat. You're dismissed."

And then I was promptly put back out.

Came round a second time in my hospital room with a nurse who turned out to be quite lovely but in my hazy state I glanced at her name badge and she shared a surname with a famousish pirate and I decided that the blood pressure cuff was a torture device... Apparently I mumbled "fucking pirate I'm not afraida you".

So really OP, don't be worried about it.

MikeRafone · 18/08/2023 19:19

if its any consolation, I know someone that on coming round said

Thats the best sex Ive ever had

so id not worry about waving to thin air and asking where you parked your car😜

TheYadaYada · 18/08/2023 19:22

OP, I can’t see anything remotely embarrassing there.

My 13 yr old had to have a curcumcision. He was adorable as he came round from anaesthesia. He was definitely waving his arms around a lot, but also kept pulling my head down to his and telling me how much he loved me whilst covering my face in kisses.

BIossomtoes · 18/08/2023 19:22

My bloke decided it would be a great idea to grope the recovery nurse’s breasts. He was incredibly lucky that she laughed and said he wasn’t the first.

ColonelSpondleClagnut · 18/08/2023 19:23

I woke up and was relieved I felt absolutely fine.
I even had a very intellectual conversation with the recovery nurse. So much so that I remember thinking to myself that the nurse must be so so glad they had me as a patient because I was so clear of thought and word and clearly amazing and not massively off my tits like the videos I'd seen online.

I strongly suspect I was talking absolute bollocks - I just wish I could remember what about!

Yemelade · 18/08/2023 19:23

I'm sure they've had much worse. I know exactly how you feel though, and how cringe inducing it can be reflecting back.

I had a colonoscopy earlier this year, was meant to be having a small procedure at the same time. Was supported by a lovely nurse who held my hand as the procedure started, had gas and air for pain. Wasn't expecting the intensity of the pain. Passed out with a camera up my rear end, they were unable to complete the procedure. I woke up to this same nurse on top of me slapping my face whilst snatching the gas and air from me trying to rouse me. I was so out of it and discombobulated (also light headed from the gas and air) I swiped at her and she fell backwards.

speakout · 18/08/2023 19:25

I think it's very common.
I had a GA and as I was waking up I was demanding a gin and tonic ( apparently)

fetchacloth · 18/08/2023 19:26

I wouldn't worry too much OP I'm sure the hospital staff have seen/heard worse 🙂

Last time I had to have a GA, coming round from it, I had terrible nausea followed by projectile vomiting, I was really mortified 😳
I later found out that a member of staff had given me an antibiotic that I was allergic to. This information was on my medical records as well as the wristband I was wearing.
Later on the same day I was given a prawn sandwich. I'm allergic to shellfish - this info is also on my records and on the wristband. FGS 🙄

larlypops · 18/08/2023 19:27

I don’t remember anything after surgery but after living in gowns for 4 days and being allowed no visitors during lockdown I went down naked and they asked where my underwear was 🤣 no one told me to put any on and I only had the pair I came in with

MargaretThursday · 18/08/2023 19:29

DD1 said something very funny the first time as she was going under. I'm not going to repeat it as I've told lots of people, but I'll just say she's normally so factually accurate and she quoted something and added more. Think Macbeth saying "Is this a dagger I see before me, and I can also see crackers on the table because it's Christmas dinner." She woke furious because her last memory was the whole room hysterical with laughter.
Another time when she came round I mentioned that I wasn't looking forward to driving back as I didn't know my way round that town. She tried to insist I phoned her boyfriend to come over so he could direct us home as he knew Birmingham very well. We were nowhere near Birmingham, and, I believe, he doesn't know his way round it at all.

Ds was 3yo when he woke from his general, and leapt into the nearest nurse's arms. He then looked at her, cried "you're not mummy" and kicked her. Luckily she found this quite funny.
When he had his appendix out, when he was 13yo, he couldn't get over that one of the nurses had real cola when they didn't sell it in the hospital (choice of coke zero or diet) and went on and on about it. It was in the middle of the first lock down and I'm sure the nurse deserved it, but he was not going to be put off from his debate as to why she was allowed it but he couldn't buy it.

Goldbar31 · 18/08/2023 19:29

Davidsdaughter · 18/08/2023 17:30

yes, and I work in a MAT school, so I texted the CEO, the head the deputy heads, my head of faculty and my head of department.

I had myself a little text fest.......

and then I had a lot of explaining to do.......

And I also robbed Sainsbury's on the way home.... luckily they were very understanding

So when you are told don't go home unaccompanied, this is why!

Show quote history

This has made my evening!

SunsetCurtain · 18/08/2023 19:31

I was obsessed with not embarrassing myself after waking up and mortified at the thought of everyone else's behaviour - so I made a point of only saying thank you to all the staff. Over and over and over and over again. This in itself isn't that bad - but unfortunately I felt the need to also tell everyone how much I was saying thank you.

Alleycat1 · 18/08/2023 19:32

I have had quite a few surgeries and I always come round shouting, hitting out at the poor Drs and nurses and using terrible language that wouldn't normally pass my lips! I always have to warn the staff.

@Yemelade I need regular colonoscopies and always have a strong sedative so that I know and feel nothing. One hospital tried to give patients just gas and air but after a trial run and many complaints they went back to sedation. If you ever need another I would ask for/insist upon this.

Luciansmum6 · 18/08/2023 19:33

my partner got a hard on and called the nurse my name. I was there! 😂

Livebythecoast · 18/08/2023 19:35

19 years ago I had to have an emergency c-section as had placenta previa and pre-eclampsia. When I came round I asked the nurses what I had.. 'a girl' they said. Apparently I just kept repeating 'a girl?' a million times like they had just told me I had birthed a hedgehog or something. I couldn't get my head around it even though it was a 50/50 outcome. I must have been so annoying 🙄!

Hurryupdoris · 18/08/2023 19:38

Auntieobem · 18/08/2023 17:41

Not quite the same, but after having dd2 and still high on gas and air I asked the midwife who was stitching me up to "make me bonny!" She said she'd do what she could..

@Auntieobem 😂after giving birth to my dc, I needed stitches. High on gas and air, I apologise for not shaving. I then starting to sing to my midwife. I was mortified but they found it funny.

CointreauVersial · 18/08/2023 19:40

I woke up from my rhinoplasty sobbing like a baby. The porter arrived to wheel me back to my room, and I wailed "can you hold my haaaaand?" Bless him, he held my hand all the way back down the corridor.

ichifanny · 18/08/2023 19:40

Oh love .. I’m a recovery nurse and people do all sorts as they are coming out of anaesthetic, please don’t worry we would never judge and it’s very common , a lot of women cry and men can try and punch you . Please don’t give it another seconds thought .

WestendVBroadway · 18/08/2023 19:41

I had all four wisdom teeth out under anesthetic in the hospital. There was another woman also having her's done, so we got chatting in reception. When I came around I kept saying " Where's 'Janet', is she okay?" I apparently didn't give a shiny shit about myself, but was so worried about her.

Whatelsecouldibecalled · 18/08/2023 19:43

First operation I had they made me wear paper pants as they were cutting into my groin. These were taken off in surgery. Post op recovery the nurse was trying to get me to roll over to change the sheets as they were messy. I cried 'no you can see my arse hanging out' never mind the fact I'd had been naked waist down on the operating table Confused the nurse was lovely and was like I've seen it all before.

Second op post birth and 4 degree tear. Was rushed to theatre after PPH. Coming round after the operation was in the ICU as wasn't well. Baby was on my chest. Husand has been sent home (covid) I was laying there repeatedly saying what the fuck has just happened??! That was a mental time.

Done worry OP they see it all