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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:
Festivecheer26 · 03/01/2022 21:09

I’ve only had one experience and was also very worried and anxious. The going to sleep bit was totally fine, the medical staff were lovely and chatted away about holidays, pets etc. so I was completely distracted from what they were doing.

On waking up, I was also worried about being sick but wasn’t. I really struggled to stay awake, felt v groggy and had a high heart rate, in the end it was fine - I got sent home to sleep it off and felt miles better the next day. You do end up with a horrible sore throat from the breathing tube unfortunately but this went away within a few days.

Best of luck OP, try not to think about it until nearer the time and hope all goes well for you Smile

MaryBoBary · 03/01/2022 21:09

Yep agree it is so nice! Although when I've woken up I've got quite cold a shivery. They put what looks like a hoover tube under the blankets and it blows warm air. It's like going to a spa it's that relaxing!!!

EbonanzaScrooge · 03/01/2022 21:10

I have been put under twice, one for investigation and one for surgery. I honestly don’t even remember falling asleep.

Both times I remember lying on the bed in the theatre room talking to the nurses about daft things then the next minute I’m being woken up by a nurse who doesn’t really leave your side for the first 10/15 minutes and constantly checks everything. Pain relief and anti nausea is always on hand should you need it, your never kept waiting.

The fear of the unknown is horrible but honestly it’s absolutely fine

20viona · 03/01/2022 21:11

I love it! It does effect everyone different though but I had no sickness or anything I felt really calm after and chilled out.

AdditionalCharacter · 03/01/2022 21:11

I've had a few GAs. Going under, I always have a little bet with myself that I'll beat the anaesthetic and won't go to sleep. Never happens though. I always wake up with a start and ask what time it is Hmm.

I sleep for days afterwards, it's lovely as I don't sleep well at all.

It's not like you see on TV either, you don't go into the operating room and have to climb onto the table, you're already in a bed and in a little room before the theatre.

purpledagger · 03/01/2022 21:11

I've had two GAs.

  1. following a miscarriage. Once I was wheeled into the prep room, one of the staff was talking to me about random stuff while the Dr prepped his stuff. I think he was just trying to relax me, although I didn't feel like I needed it. I woke up about 15 minutes later (very quick procedure) and couldn't stop talking to the Nurse, about random stuff (eg did you see Eastenders, I like your hair clip, what is your favourite food...)

  2. was an emergency caesarean, under a GA, so very rushed. I remember lying in theatre, being prepped - I was paralysed but conscious (was high, so didn't feel unsafe). The junior Dr asked the surgeon if they should start shaving me as 'the patient is really hairy'. I remember wanting the ground to swallow me up in shame!!

When I woke up, I felt really disorientated - its really strange waking up somewhere different to where I went to Sleep. Both times. I woke up briefly and then went back to sleep again and woke up feeling a lot less groggy.

I'd never thought about GA before I had my first one, so it didn't occur to me to be worried. But it was pretty straightforward and you get lots of observation.

TestingTestingWonTooFree · 03/01/2022 21:11

It’s magic. I feel a bit awkward and worry whether it will work, but it always does. Anaesthetists are lovely.

LightBulbous · 03/01/2022 21:12

The weirdest part for me was that it was like blinking. That’s how long I felt I was ‘out’.
Lovely sensation of falling asleep, then eyes opening immediately afterwards. Weird and was just very thirsty/dry lips.
My op was keyhole gallbladder removal and worst part was trapped wind after the op Blush

decafforme · 03/01/2022 21:12

I was really nervous before having it for day surgery once. The anethasist came to speak to me before hand and answered my questions which helped.
The people in the pre room were absolutely lovely. I had the mask put on took a few deep breaths and next thing I knew I was back awake with a lovely lady nurse holding my hand. I was very dozy for about 10 mins and was absolutely fine after, able to walk to car etc. no sickness or anything like that.

EmpressCixi · 03/01/2022 21:12

I had it once for a surgery. The doctor will check your weight, age, and medical records (I have a bee allergy, so they are careful) and chat with you to assure the medication itself and the dosage is custom for you.
Usually they then do a countdown and I was wide awake at 10 and do not recall hearing anything past 7. Next thing I knew, I was waking up in recovery. I wasn’t sick or nauseous at all just very drowsy and was slurring a bit. Fortunately they know enough to stop by and give you a run down on how successful the surgery was, anything else they found...it’s like they know what questions people waking up are going to have.

PhilCornwall1 · 03/01/2022 21:13

I've had several GAs and all I can remember is coming around when it was all finished.

I've never had the feeling of drifting off at all.

cherrypiepie · 03/01/2022 21:13

I had one 7 months ago for the first time and was nervous too - mine was emergency but had fasted.

As I was drifting off the anaesthetist told me to have good sleep and That she would give me Some nice drugs when I woke up.

When I came round I was thirsty and asked for paracetamol but the lovely recovery nurse told me I'd had some drugs so I asked what and she told me fentanyl. It was lovely.

Back in the ward (well a
Reclining chair) I tucked into hearty pack up I'd made myself an hour or so later after getting dressed!

Good luck op it will be worth it! Husband picked me up 6 hours after anaesthetic. Total time of the ward / chair was about 1.5 hours

Original poster
nonotquite · 03/01/2022 21:14

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?!

OP posts:
upinaballoon · 03/01/2022 21:14

All people are different. I'm old. I've had more than one. Tell them if you're scared. They've heard it before. I just bopped off and the next second I was coming round (not really but it felt like the next second) and it depended what I'd had done whether it hurt much or not. They asked me. I was sick after tonsils out, bound to be, but no other times. All best wishes.

EmpressCixi · 03/01/2022 21:14

Mine wasn’t gas, it was added/injected into my IV drip.

TheYearOfSmallThings · 03/01/2022 21:15

I love a GA. They hook something into your arm, put a mask on your face, make banal conversation while watching you to see if you are getting woozy, then they ask you to count backwards from 10. You say "10, 9,......" and then you hear someone saying your name and the operation is over.

Then they wheel you out of recovery and you go back to sleep for a bit. After that I imagine it depends on the surgery and your medical team's attitude to analgesia.

Allthesefolks · 03/01/2022 21:16

I had one for a Mmc a couple of years ago and it was fine. I was a bit anxious when they were putting it in as the nerves for the op hit but the staff were chatting to me to distract me, it did sting a bit in my hand and when they asked me to start counting I thought this will never work but was out in seconds 🤣 It didn’t feel like I’d slept, more like no time had passed when I woke up. I was a bit confused so just lay there for ages listening to others on the recovery ward but had a really friendly HCA looking after me.

No sickness/nausea although I’d told them my mum reacts badly to GA.

QueenJeanie · 03/01/2022 21:17

I had my first general for my lumpectomy about 5 years ago

I was absolutely terrified but it was absolutely fine and actually a really pleasant experience (I know that sounds odd). I went under chatting to the lovely anaesthetist and woke up with a really lovely recovery nurse rubbing my arm. I went back to sleep and felt really warm and safe

Sounds daft but that's the only way I can describe it!

Newyearnewme2022 · 03/01/2022 21:18

It’s a lovely feeling going under and I always wake up feeling very relaxed, I ask for anti emetics so I’ve never had nausea, quite the opposite, I’m ravenously hungry.

Hospedia · 03/01/2022 21:18

When they come around the ward to do you pre-op check-in stuff make sure you tell the anaesthetist that you're nervous and they'll sort you out, tell them too that you have a fear of being sick.

I was given a pillow to carry down to theatre which I'm sure was a distraction technique because I was tasked with making sure either kept it with me. Everyone was very chatty and friendly, got me tucked up on the bed with an electric blanket so I was all cozy. The anaesthetist gave me something to make me mega calm and - at my request - didn't tell me when they were injecting it. Next thing I knew I was waking up in recovery. The anaesthetist gave me a whopping dose of anti-emetic before I woke up so no sickness and as soon as the word "ow" left my lips I was given an IV shot of pain relief and some oramorph. I was very emotional, GA makes me cry, but they were all really nice about it and very kind.

Georgeskitchen · 03/01/2022 21:18

Tends to be very peaceful although you don't know anything until they start bringing you round. Then it's lovely like floating on a cloud. They will usually put something in to prevent nausea. I've had a few GA's and only felt a bit nauseous a few hours later . Good luck with your surgery 🥰

MushMonster · 03/01/2022 21:19

My best wishesfor your surgery OP, both on the quick recovery afterthe surgery and the long term targets.
I have been under anaesthetics twice. First emergency, so no time to prepare with fasting or anything. I just was talking to the doctor, and next thing I woke up and they were all in a circle staring at me lol. That was only a short one to get a dislocated joint back in place.
Then I had the long proper surgery. Same, the doctor tells you what they are doing and they do a bit of general chit chat with you. They are also very calm and soothing! And smiley! They told me I would feel a bit "social like", meaning a bit like when you have been drinking and you can feel it, but you are not really drunk yet. And it is true, it happens quite quickly, but is is actually a nice feeling. They will chat with you till you are unconscious. Then, no idea. I have no clue how many hours I was under, how long it took, nothing. I woke up in my hospital bed. Felt no pain (I have 13 screws and a metal plate, and was bruised to purple colour all in my back, it was a nasty fall). But I was quite grogy. Like when you are about to fall asleep and you have to fight to keep your eyes open. I called the nurse and asked her to phone my next of kin, tell him I was OK, but very sleepy and I will call him to vosit me after I take a nap LOL. So I did. I went back to sleep. I woke up. Again, no pain, I was quite awake. No sickness. Nothing really, I felt quite well, only that I was stuck in my bed. I think I would have sat or walked around if I could.

ZSquid · 03/01/2022 21:19

@AdditionalCharacter

I've had a few GAs. Going under, I always have a little bet with myself that I'll beat the anaesthetic and won't go to sleep. Never happens though. I always wake up with a start and ask what time it is Hmm.

I sleep for days afterwards, it's lovely as I don't sleep well at all.

It's not like you see on TV either, you don't go into the operating room and have to climb onto the table, you're already in a bed and in a little room before the theatre.

I did have to go into the operating room and climb on the table - that was the worst part. I was under in seconds though, no time to worry about anything.
Rekorderlig88 · 03/01/2022 21:20

I was terrified but had the best sleep ever

user1471453601 · 03/01/2022 21:20

Not everyone feels sick. An hour after my right hour operation, I was eating mince, mash and peas. I was so hungry I was on the verge of picking the food up in my hands and physically stuffing in my face. But this has been the case with every operation I've ever had.

And I also quite liked the feeling of "going under".

The person giving you the anaesthetic is concentrating on you and your vital signs. Your surgeon will be concentrating, I imagine, on doing what they need. But the one giving you the anaesthetic is the one who will know what your vital signs mean.

If it's your first general, of course you are apprehensive but it needn't be an awful experience. Good luck