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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To ask you to explain what general anaesthesia is like...?!

261 replies

nonotquite · 03/01/2022 20:54

I'm getting a gastric sleeve surgery on February and I am TERRIFIED of the anaesthesia!
I haven't ever been put under before and so I have absolutely no idea what to expect. I'm praying it will all go smoothly and I won't freak myself out too much, but right now it's just consuming me and I'm feeling more anxious about it by the day!!

Is anybody able to put my mind at ease..!! What is is really like? Do you really wake up and feel sick and nauseous afterwards?! (I've got a terrible phobia of sickness)

Thank you for any help in advance!!

OP posts:

MaybeHeIsMyCat · 03/01/2022 20:56

I was really really panicky. As in "give me my bag, I'm leaving"
They said could they just give me some midazolam to relax me and I said yes, then I felt like I had a bottle of gin but not dizzy/sick, just laughing a lot
I asked for as much anti sickness as they could give me
Then they said they were doing the anaesthetic and I said "it's not working" and then er, I woke up
Felt fine, had a full meal about an hour later, not sick at all. I do get wired after so don't tend to sleep for 48hrs but apparently that's unusual

notanothertakeaway · 03/01/2022 20:56

I've only had GA once, in my teens. All I remember is coming round afterwards, feeling rather disorientated as if I was waking up, and someone going to tell someone else that I had come round, so they could check I was ok. I'm sure you'll be fine. Hope it goes smoothly

HandScreen · 03/01/2022 21:00

It feels lovely, and the process is very quick. 3-5 seconds of the most comfortable relaxed sleepy feeling, falling into a deep happy sleep.

Annabelll · 03/01/2022 21:00

I’ve had several GAs in recent years.

Each time I have felt anxious whilst in the ante room waiting for the anaesthetic but the staff have always been lovely and reassuring. They tell you they are going to send you off to sleep but you don’t notice it happening. Then….. you wake up!

I always feel dozy for the first hour or so but other than that completely fine, tired for a couple of days but think that’s more to do with painkillers etc.

LolaButt · 03/01/2022 21:00

It impacts people differently. Personally I come round and am wide awake and couldn’t sleep if you paid me.

The actually going under bit is quite nice. You’re awake and then the next thing you know you wake up. The anaesthetists have always been great - they chatted to me in a really positive way and I went under half way through a sentence one time!

AnneLovesGilbert · 03/01/2022 21:01

I’ve had 3, two in the last 4 years. I love them. I wake up feeling like I’ve had a week long holiday.

The anaesthetist is there to take extremely good care of you. It’s why they get up in the morning.

Never had any nausea. I had a worse reaction to a local once where I shook like mad for a few hours with chattery teeth.

Being nervous is completely normal! DH had one a couple of years ago and despite how ill he was and how much he wanted the surgery he was shitting himself about the GA. He came round hungry and sleepy and all good.

Tell them how you’re feeling, ask for them explain everything as they go if that’ll help.

You’ll be fine Best of luck.

Ariela · 03/01/2022 21:01

IME they tell you they're putting the stuff in, often with a countdown and I'm saying 'yes right, as if I believe it's working, I'm perfectly awake!', then about 5 nanoseconds later with no comprehension of any time passing, someone is saying 'Ariela! Ariela! are you awake ?' from somewhere down a corridor and gradually you get closer and are awake. If you're under for ages it can be disorientating if time has sped on and it was daylight when you left the wards, but is now darkness outside.

TeddyTonksGirlfriend · 03/01/2022 21:01

I bloody love a GA. Best. Sleep. Ever!

Flyingbymypants · 03/01/2022 21:03

I've only had one short GA, but I woke up feeling completely rested and serene.

Aardvarkitsabloodyaardvark · 03/01/2022 21:04

It's ok Op.
I had a countdown from 10, got to five and out of it.
I talked a lot of nonsense when I was waking up 🤣

iklboo · 03/01/2022 21:04

Every time I've had it I've woken up laughing hysterically - not the best with appendix staples. As PP have said, it's like going suddenly to sleep and you think it's ten seconds later when you wake up, but it's not.

MulticatHouse · 03/01/2022 21:04

God I could have one right now. Love it.

AliveAndSleeping · 03/01/2022 21:05

I've had it twice. Both times I was gone within seconds. It's quite a pleasant feeling actually if that's possible (as it happened so fast). The first time I did wake up throwing up but not the second time.

Don't worry (I know ajways easier said than done). You'll be fine. Best of luck with the surgery and speedy recovery.

fighoney · 03/01/2022 21:05

Well maybe it was slightly different as it was an emergency but I remember being asked if I would like to be put to sleep and then nothing until I woke up in itu the following day. Don't remember feeling nauseous, lungs a bit sore from all the tubes and memories from that time are a bit foggy.

Whadda · 03/01/2022 21:05

The doctors and nurse will chat to you and you won’t even know you’re going under.

I had an operation under GA two months ago and snapped awake straight afterwards in the recovery room and was texting my family within minutes. No sickness or disorientation at all. After twenty minutes, I was able to walk to the bathroom without assistance.

I was completely fine.

Snowpaw · 03/01/2022 21:05

Not bad at all - it felt like a vaguely cold sensation creeping over my face then blackness. Woke up speaking a bit of jibberish but fine. If you’re feeling anxious tell the staff in the room - they always know what to say to put you at ease.

CurbsideProphet · 03/01/2022 21:06

I had a procedure under GA in August. I was absolutely terrified (and very upset as it was surgery post miscarriage). The anaesthetist was extremely kind and listened when I said I have felt very nauseous under a sedation earlier in the year, so gave me extra anti sickness before the anaesthetic. The anaesthetist and assistant (unsure of job title) spoke very calmly to me and I drifted off.
When I woke up I felt completely normal, just tired and wobbly. I had no memory of the tube being removed. No sickness at all.
Everyone seems to have a big sleep afterwards. I had terrible insomnia and didn't get to sleep until after 3 am 😬

ancientgran · 03/01/2022 21:06

I've had a few and it doesn't worry me. I've always declined a premed but last time a nurse advised me to take one, I said I was fine no worries but she said it relaxes you and will help with pain when you wake up as you will be more relaxed. So I had one. I think she was right.

I've always found the doctors and nurses really nice and reassuring, it is very fast, they usually ask you to count, maybe backwards from 10, and I remember thinking this isn't going to work 10 9 8 and I was gone.

Good luck, I hope it goes well.

Darbs76 · 03/01/2022 21:06

I’ve had a lot due to a pancreas disease and I absolutely love that feeling as you’re drifting off. It’s just like when you’re super tired and feel yourself falling asleep. Not always nice when you first wake up but you’re so groggy you don’t always remember that bit

emsmar · 03/01/2022 21:06

It feels brilliant! I've had a few. I got really upset seeing my son put under though. Cried like a baby! So silly.

ViceLikeBlip · 03/01/2022 21:07

Really, really normal to be nervous. It's not really like being asleep, it's more like no time has passed at all. I wake up quite wired, totally vibed, chatting nonsense, which is also apparently quite normal (or maybe the lovely nurses are just being kind to me 🤷‍♀️🤣)

Letsnotargue · 03/01/2022 21:07

When I went under I literally felt like I was drifting off. Like I was being gently whooshed away on a cloud. When I woke up I could hear people talking in the room for a few seconds before I actually woke up. I was a bit confused, but it was like when you think it’s Monday and it’s actually Saturday and you can sleep in. I felt heavy and sleepy (and laughed heartily when the nurse asked if I could climb from the trolley back into my bed) but it was like I’d had the best sleep ever. No grogginess or hangover feelings at all.

I’d have another one tomorrow if I needed one, with no hesitation.

Houseplantmad · 03/01/2022 21:09

I've had a few GA. I was nervous but apart from a bit of a funny smell in my nostrils just after the anaesthetic went in before I went under, it was all very calm and straight forward. I've never been sick or felt nauseous afterwards. Thirsty but not nauseous. Good luck.

museumum · 03/01/2022 21:09

Going under is very very quick.
I wasn’t nauseous waking up but was dozy the first time I came round then had a nap then woke properly. No nausea for me.

Metabigot · 03/01/2022 21:09

Usually fine but one time I came round having wet the bed and talking gibberish... nothing they haven't seen before I'm sure..

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