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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:
Vapeyvapevape · 03/01/2022 21:36

I’ve had lots of GA’s and each time I’ve been determined to fight it and see if I can stay awake for as long as possible- failed each time Grin.

The last one I had , I felt the liquid go in , remember saying ’oh , here we go’ as I started to feel sleepy and then I woke up!

It’s such a lovely feeling and anaesthetists are always the nicest doctors ( I worked in the hospital so had a few to compare them to)
You really will be fine, hope it all goes well x

laralou28 · 03/01/2022 21:36

@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!!

It's a weirdly nice feeling and when you wake up feels like you've had a lovely sleep. Only thing that happened when I woke up was I was crying for some reason!
2TurtleDovesInARow · 03/01/2022 21:39

I had it as a child. I remember feeling ridiculously drowsy...then waking up. That's it.

Hannah8514 · 03/01/2022 21:39

As others have said, the process of being put under is really really quick. I was asked to count down from 10 and don't remember getting as far as 9!

Waking up I felt really comfortable and relaxed. Like, probably the most comfortable I've ever felt. Then after a few minutes I started to shiver really badly even though I didn't feel cold. Gradually, I started to feel a bit weak as I came round but once they made me eat and drink something I was fine.

Strange feeling but overall positive experience with GA.

CombatBarbie · 03/01/2022 21:41

I react to GA so get given the anti sickness stuff too. Personally, as a person who struggles massively to sleep properly, I love it, feel like I've slept for an age!

Going to sleep, it's generally the anaesthetist making random conversation then just instantly falling asleep. But if it's your first time, they usually ask you to count down from 10.

QOD · 03/01/2022 21:41

It’s the best sleep over ever had. You literally blink and wake up. No inbetween, no fidgeting around, blink wake up

Rubyupbeat · 03/01/2022 21:42

I've only had a ga once, 5 years ago.
This sounds weird but I loved it, the nurse was talking to me as the drug went in, I didn't even feel it reach my shoulder, next thing I was being woken up so gently, then wheeled to my room, where I felt enveloped in warm fluffy clouds.
I would never be scared to have another ga.

BillyAndTheSillies · 03/01/2022 21:45

My last GA was for my Gastric Sleeve back in October 2020. I'd been nervous for every other one before, but this was my first experience as an elective procedure and I danced on to that table.

The staff always talk you through the process which is so calming.

Doingtheboxerbeat · 03/01/2022 21:46

I am a lover of GA 😳. I'm normally gone by the time I reach 8 counting backwards from 10 and I wake up feeling magical. I've had it about 5 times.

Nemorth · 03/01/2022 21:49

Had one in November, my first. Like you I was terrified of it...I shouldn't have been. Was amazing!!!!! Recovering from my op less so.

LadyMaid · 03/01/2022 21:49

I echo the others. Best sleep ever.

Been under 3 times.

However on one of the occasions I actually dreamt I was in a meadow with my then 2 year old, we were playing ring o ring o roses.

VashtaNerada · 03/01/2022 21:51

It’s so weird! But in a good way Grin It felt like one minute I was chatting to the anaesthetist, then the next moment everyone had vanished and the room had changed. It’s so bizarre! I felt fine after, I really did. And I think anaesthetists are the best and nicest people in the world.

Dyra · 03/01/2022 21:51

I've had 4. 3 as a child, 1 as an adult. Apparently while I was coming around as a child I was upset, but for all 4, once I was awake I was fully awake. Never any nausea, though I do get a little hypothermic.

I did counting down as a child from 100. Never got past 97. As an adult, they told me I'd be starting to feel a bit woozy. I agreed with them, and then woke up when someone told me to. Great fun. Hope to not need any more in my lifetime, but if I do, they're not so bad.

AdditionalCharacter · 03/01/2022 21:52

@ZSquid you poor thing! I don't think I could have coped with that. I've had to climb onto the table twice, but for elective C sections not GA.

My blood pressure always drops when I'm getting ready to have a GA. Perfectly normal so I'm told.

LeQuern · 03/01/2022 21:52

It’s the best sleep in the world. Heavenly! And they often give a whacking great dose of a painkiller (morphine in most of my cases - I’ve had a few GAs), so you wake up super comfortable and cozy - that feeling can stay for a good while. I’ve never had nausea.

Couple of things - you may already have the cannula put into your hand before you go down to surgery. For me, the cannula is the worst bit. Hate them (doesn’t hurt… just makes me a bit squeamish).

And there can be quite a strange smell in the recovery ward (where the nurse will be waking you - the sound is like it comes from afar and gets closer). It’s iodine and antiseptic I think. Very specific to that part of a hospital!

Remember, the anaesthetist is EXTREMELY well qualified and experienced. It’s their job to put you to sleep, monitor you and wake you. It’s all they do and they are very much listened to by the surgeon. You’ll be in very safe hands. They want you to go home!

Good luck.

Holothane · 03/01/2022 21:54

I’ve had as an adult and had a great time after the first which was 30 years ago, today no sickness when waking. I’ve loved chatting about the medical history side with all my anaesthesiologists.

GrolliffetheDragon · 03/01/2022 21:54

@HandScreen

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.
Had a couple and this is what it felt like.

Then I wake up, still really dozy, talk nonsense at the nurse for a bit, sleep a bit more then I'm fine. It's quite nice really.

FlamingLama · 03/01/2022 21:57

I had one a few years back. Was bricking it but it was fine.....although apparently I tried to punch a nurse when I was coming round Shock I'm usually the most calm, placid person

Sarahlou63 · 03/01/2022 21:58

Ooh, I love a GA! Last one was 6 weeks ago for my bunionectomy. I was waiting for the 'see you soon' comment while I was in the operating theatre and was having a gander at the people around me - there were 7!

The anaesthetist asked me to count them and, pouff, off to sleep Grin

gabsdot45 · 03/01/2022 22:00

I had a gastric sleeve op last week. This was my first experience of GA or any kind of surgery. It was very surreal especially as I was in Turkey and everyone was speaking Turkish. I remember something being injected into my arm which stung really badly and I said it hurts, next thing I woke up from a lovely dream. I was very cold and the sheet under me was wet I felt very nauseous and like I'd done 1000 sit ups. They brought be back to bed straight away and I was able to get up and go to the loo within a couple of hours.
Good luck with the sleeve.

scorpiogirly · 03/01/2022 22:00

I’ve had it about 6/7 times. I love it. Try to relax. They will talk to you asking generic questions or ask you to count. You’ll think there is no way you’ll drift off, the next thing you know, you’ll be waking up in recovery.

Good luck with the surgery x

Fridaynight2021 · 03/01/2022 22:05

@laralou28 I had the same thing. I wasn’t scared or anything, just as I woke I was crying. I loved it, but I did find that bit strange.

Thewolvesarerunningagain · 03/01/2022 22:05

@HandScreen

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.
I agree with this. I’ve had a couple of GAs for different things and this has always been my experience. Also coming round is (very briefly) the happiest and most comfortable I’ve ever been. Briefly though of course. Sadly :-)
Iluvfriends · 03/01/2022 22:06

I had one 3 weeks ago.
Taken through to be prepared for surgery, needle in, mask on......."you'll be asleep in......" then i woke up, surgery all done.
I dont remember feeling anything going under, i just went.
When i woke up i thought oh good i'm awake, i made it.......no nausea or drowsiness. Only thing i had was a bit of a sore throat but a drink cured that.

paulhollywoodshairgel · 03/01/2022 22:06

I bloody love anaesthesia!! Especially the bit before you actually get put to sleep. I've never felt so relaxed and happy 😂😂 maybe I'm weird 🤷🏻‍♀️