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

[nonotquite]

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!!

@nonotquite

Thank you all so much for putting my mind at ease! The procedure itself is keyhole - 5 small incisions so I'm hoping that will go smoothly! It's strange really as I've never had an operation before and stupidly it's the going under part I'm most scared of?!

I am nervous about the idea of anaesthetics. I have gone under four times now, once for same surgery as you. I had a premed the first two times, premeds are nice and relaxing, they didn’t offer me one the third time (for my gastric keyhole surgery). I don’t agree that it is like sleeping, you are not asleep, it is more like lost time. One moment you are counting and the next you are being told the surgery is all done.

I felt slightly nauseous after my first two GAs, which were both about thirty years ago, I was fine and went home the same day as my third one, which was about 12 years ago.

I felt like a bus had hit me after my fourth procedure, which was keyhole gastric surgery, I don’t think I would have even noticed had I felt nauseated by the anaesthetic. Has anyone spoken to you about the surgery and how you might feel afterwards? It might be keyhole and I am sure it is low risk and everything will go smoothly, it is still quite physically demanding on the body.

I have a doctor friend and a doctor cousin, who have both said that anaesthetists are one of the most highly respected and highly regarded specialists in the hospital. Takes a long time to become one and my cousin said it’s like watching a magician mixing potions.

The process is fine - you lie down and they put a plastic mask over your nose/mouth and count backwards, at 7 you panic that nothing is happening and then you wake up in the aftercare room! :-) Any pain then (or once painkillers wear off) is generally from the operation rather than the knocking-out, so will depend what you had done.
One thing to be aware of:

1. For my first they had a special side room (which smelled strongly of disinfectant) where they put all the unconscious post-op people from different surgeries in a row on trolleys to monitor them as they came round before taking them off to a ward. I came round and briefly thought I was in a morgue before the nurse came over. If you wake up in this situation, don't panic.

Time for this I feel

The minute before you go to sleep is amazing, the first injection is like going backwards on a roller coater, then next thing you know you are waking up.

I'm wired when I come round, can't sit still. It's like I'm on speed, I don't sleep for at least 2 days without drugs.

Tell them how you feel, they can give you drugs for sickness beforehand. For years I was absolutely terrified before a GA, now I just lie back & drift off. Actually I sit up & sing loudly. Apart from putting the cannula in the back of my hand & wiring me up, they do everything else when I’m out so it’s more normal-ish setting for me. I felt quite sick after my 1st op, & I was sick after my 2nd. Usually I don’t want to eat much for a few days after. I’m very dizzy as well, this can go on for a few weeks. Everything can be such an effort after an op, so rest for a few days or weeks if need be. But in saying that when everyone else seems to struggle to come round, I’m really lively for the first 24 hours & can stay awake all night. As the drugs wear off I tend to be quite dozy after that time, & sleep. After the GA is the only time I ever feel completely relaxed, it’s such a wonderful feeling for me. You’ll be ok OP.

Best feeling ever! Wish I could buy some!

I actually love being put under but I'm weird!!

It's a really nice feeling! I have emetophobia and I explained this to them before hand and they gave me extra anti-emetics and I didn't get any nausea at all.

I've had GA several times. On one of those occasions I did actually have a bad experience, but I think my reaction was quite rare. All the other times I had it I was like everyone else on here, you just start counting down and then you're out. Next thing you know, you wake up!