Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To look forward to surgery under GA?

128 replies

AudTheDeepMinded · 03/02/2017 22:31

Am awaiting Doctor's appointment but am pretty convinced after extensive research (Dr Google) that this will lead to a referral and the need for surgery.
The surgeon will probably be the one that did an original op on the site. He's lovely, such a nice guy so I'm looking forward to seeing him again. I also understand that it will probably involve an overnight stay in hospital, so a decent night's kip away from the children and the chance to read m book, watch some telly and do some knitting in peace. And now cooking to do for bastard ingrates.
So AIBU, or even just plain weird to be quite excite at the prospect?

OP posts:
Missyaggravation · 03/02/2017 23:21

I had fentanyl and something else when ihad.my wisdom teeth out. Was so weird. High as a kite but still a bit with it. Could feel the pain but it's like it was 3 steps removed, it was as if I could feel the thoughts of the pain, felt spacey for the whole day after.

SnowBodyforrrrm · 03/02/2017 23:22

Gosh...am i the only one who turned their head to the anaesthetist to tell them I was about to vomit before going under? I didn't get the lovely fuzzy feeling you all describe 😢 Just a few seconds of nausea. Not fair!!

That said, the oromorph after my surgery was dreamy, until I shit myself during the night as I had a drain coming from my head and the bottle was attached to the bed and in my morphine post surgery state, I couldn't untie it in time. Cue a stealth shuffle to the toilet at 5am to pretend I was going for a shower. They definitely knew I shit myself didn't they 😞.

honeyrider · 03/02/2017 23:23

I'm having surgery tomorrow morning and looking forward to getting it done and over with as I've been waiting 2 years to have my varicose veins lasered. I had one leg done a week before Christmas, one minute I was awake, next thing its 2.5 hours later when I come round and felt rested. No drifting off just knocked out.

I was allowed home half an hour after coming round and slept all the way home and then kept dozing off for the evening and had a great night's sleep that night and nodded off a lot the next day.

traviata · 03/02/2017 23:24

I'm with Crumb1. No bloody sleep on the ward. One patient in our bay talked without stopping from the second she was admitted, around 5pm. At 11.15 pm I called across to her and begged her to STFU.

30 minutes later the woman in the next bed had a panic attack which lasted for 3 hours due to the non-stop talking IMO.

Then the woman at the end started to moan and toss and turn.

I begged the doctor to discharge me.

TheCustomaryMethod · 03/02/2017 23:34

I remember having one as a child in the 80s which was gas-based and it was horrible - I had terrifying, vivid nightmares throughout which I was convinced I was somehow stuck in forever. I was so relieved when I discovered the 21st Century adult version was completely different.

I was in a great deal of pain when I had my last two, so the few seconds when the pain lifted, before I went to sleep, were lovely. Unfortunately, like some pps, I am a post-anaesthesia puker ... I'm then pretty much inert for 24 hours afterwards.

Bunnyfuller · 03/02/2017 23:37

You lucky buggers, GAs don't make me 'drift', I get a really loud buzzing sound as the propofol goes in then it's smack...no gentle decent. Then I'm awake.

I had a hernia repair a couple of years ago and my body didn't process the painkillers properly so they gave me something far yummier which made me very chatty but needed oxygen, so stayed in overnight. Oh the bliss, not a private hospital but private room anyway. Milked it a bit when the family arrived with goodies and mags...

I think the hernia has come back....(no, I really do!)

Rainbunny · 03/02/2017 23:47

Lol! I get this, I just had a routine colonoscopy in which I was sedated with a mix of propofol (stuff that Michael Jackson od on) and fentanyl (stronger than heroine apparently and very addictive). Lovely, lovely feeling as I drifted off and I felt lovely and a bit out of it for several hours after I was brought around. No wonder those drugs are on lockdown as they're so addictive! Good thing I rarely ever take an aspirin normally otherwise I could develop a problem...

Since I mentioned my colonoscopy, I'll also share another unexpected bonus side effect, that is that afterwards within a few days I start having excellent, satisfying bowel movements, really premium quality IYKWIM!! I don't have issues in that department in any case but I always notice the improvement afterwards.... Anyway, I always wonder if it's just me who experiences this?

HashiAsLarry · 04/02/2017 00:06

Hahaha rain that reminds me. Just a few months after Michael Jackson's death I needed an operation. They knocked me out with propofol. Anaesthetistic joked with me that 'don't worry, this is just the drug that killed MJ'.

Seriously was him joking though, we'd had a chat beforehand about these things.

Bunnyfuller · 04/02/2017 00:08

Lol @hashi. I didn't know that's what MJ took. He REALLY wanted a sleep then!

lalalalyra · 04/02/2017 00:10

Last time I had a GA I told the anaesthetist it wasn't working when he told me to count to 10... Then two seconds later a nurse tried to tell me that my surgery had been done (breast lump removed) and I was what the nurses called "politely indignant" that if someone had "cut a hole in my boob" I'd know. Didn't believe them until they showed me the dressing.

Topseyt · 04/02/2017 00:11

I had to have my tonsils out when my three children were very young. DD3 was still just 11 months old.

General anaesthetic and my own room in a private hospital. Peace and quiet for two whole days, watching rubbish TV , sleeping and reading whenever I wanted. Bliss.

OhYouBadBadKitten · 04/02/2017 00:15

I get about 2 seconds of lovely fuzzy stuff under deep sedation then bam I'm awake as soon as I arrive in recovery.

I've only had a general a couple of times. I woke up violently shivering then as I was warmed up with those heater blankets (lovely things) bam! I was awake.

I really don't do restful dozing :(

SpareASquare · 04/02/2017 00:16

I love a GA. That feeling of drifting off is awesome, as are the painkillers after. Have had a few in the last few years but only one was an overnight stay though I did stay a few days last year. No GA but plenty of time to read and nap in that fuzzy, floating good painkiller cloud. Bliss!

MaryPoppinsPenguins · 04/02/2017 00:24

I caught a hospital infection after a surgery in my early 20's... and it needed to be revised many many times...

Always one to look on the plus side! They were so nice to me they put me on the private ward every time, and I had a GA every Friday for about 4 months... lovely floaty feeling, followed by one night and breakfast in a gorgeous room with movies and books Grin

I've been ignoring something similar for about a year but this thread has made me think I should really get it seen To and get another night in Chelsea & Westminster.. (now I have 2 kids and can truly appreciate the break! Grin)

MaryPoppinsPenguins · 04/02/2017 00:24

I've been taking diazepam and cocodamol for it too... I can't say I don't enjoy them either!

Haudyerwheesht · 04/02/2017 00:27

I had to have a wisdom tooth taken out at hospital once and I wasn't sedated but it took ages. The dentist apologised that it was so traumatic and lengthy and I just laughed and slobbered said that I was on week 3 of one or other of my children having chickenpox and this was the longest I'd had to myself in ages. He looked at me like I was insane so I presume he has never been stuck in for 3 weeks with under 5 year olds....

HerRoyalFattyness · 04/02/2017 00:37

I've never had GA and kind of feel I'm missing out now! And all these people having wisdom teeth out under GA! Shock
They took mine out with local. But it wore off and they just kept pulling despite my tears and screams. Sad bastards. Then he had the cheek to tell me I did well. I had no fucking choice did I?!

ExplodedCloud · 04/02/2017 01:12

I don't get the fuzzies with GA. I get the 10, 9, Wake Up! I've had one in 10+ years of parenthood and that was a daycase. I did get to spend 48 hours in bed at home Which was bliss. Plus it fixed the awful anaemia I'd been struggling with.

womanwithoutasong · 04/02/2017 01:15

Oh god yes, I love it. All the attention and care, the rest, the lovely woozy feeling as you go to sleep, the drugs ...

SingingInTheRainstorm · 04/02/2017 01:26

Nothing beats that feeling whilst you're drifting away. What I worry about is post op pain relief.

womanwithoutasong · 04/02/2017 01:26

Just realised Ive had five GAs!

Seen most of what Spire & Nuffield have to offer in Cheshire! Lovely!

RhodaBorrocks · 04/02/2017 01:38

I'm due to have an op under sedation soon. They use Spotify in the theatres and let me login to my account and choose a play list beforehand. I've had many ops at this place (I'm a work in progress, lol) so they know me quite well, I don't know if that influences them letting me dictate the music.

Anyway,the sedation is wonderful and I get to feel floaty and lovely for a while, listening to my favourite music, then I get tea and biscuits after and get a McDonald's on the way home. And then I get a week or two recuperation at home.

When I have ga and stay in its a nice little break, though it's tough when the stays drag on as I'm too far away to have visitors.

YANBU to make the most of it. Surgery us never fun, see the positives where you can! Grin

YouHadMeAtCake · 04/02/2017 02:04

I hate being ill and really dislike going under as I panic but I love the sleepy feeling after and the days or weeks in bed or on the sofa watching tv, reading, nodding off as and when . I've had 4 and I may end up having another this year. Only private healthcare where we live and it is excellent. Posh rooms etc. it's like a very sanitary hotel! Morphine however is not my friend. Vom.

AlmostAJillSandwich · 04/02/2017 02:06

Never had GA, thought actually terrifies be, but i have a phobia of sleeping so :P (i don't like not being in control of my body and have constant nightmares)

TarragonChicken · 04/02/2017 03:19

I'm with Crumbs1. Sleep? In a hospital? No way.