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AIBU?

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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:
opalbutterfly · 03/01/2022 22:41

That should be I’m sick when I wake up

TheDaydreamBelievers · 03/01/2022 22:42

I have had GA twice. Once was done by drip - I had a painful line put in back of hand, was lying in a bed, all was explained to me, asked to count backwards from 10. I felt like I got to 4, closing my eyes at 6 and then went to sleep. My mum reported I only got to 9. The second time (november 2020) was done by injection but they had pre numbed my hand so no pain - I had a lovely anaethetist repeating "you just take a breath, go to sleep and I will take care of you".

I did not have nausea either time. Second time I was given anti sickness meds prior to wakening but no idea about first. Both times I woke up in bed pretty calmly and had a wee drink, went back to sleep for a bit then woke fully.

LeSquigh · 03/01/2022 22:42

I have had a few GAs in my time and they have all been LOVELY. It’s such a nice feeling going into one and then you wake up all groggy and it’s still quite nice. The last one I had I did throw up an hour later but only once and it’s the first time that’s happened to me.

Crinkle77 · 03/01/2022 22:43

I had a GA a few years ago and found it very frightening. The staff were so lovely and reassuring. One them said don't worry we'll look after you and pointed out that my stats were 100 and he said you can't get better than 100% I was asleep pretty much instantly after being given the anaesthetic so didn't have any time to think about it.

SquidGame · 03/01/2022 22:43

I went in to emergency surgery a couple of years ago in tears because I was so scared. The Anesthetist was lovely and put me at ease. Once they start administering the drugs you just drift off into a nice haze and then a deep sleep

ClaireEclair · 03/01/2022 22:44

I’ve had two ops under GA. The first time I was terrified but the team looking after me were lovely and the anaesthetist told me it was like having a big glass of wine. And it was. It was a lovely feeling. The second time I was totally relaxed about it and it was just as nice lol. Obviously you have no idea what’s going on and when they wake you up it just feels like you closed your eyes for a second. I felt a bit disoriented for a little while but was able to go home soon after and was quite sleepy for a few days after. It’s totally fine though. I would do it again tomorrow if I could haha!

Crinkle77 · 03/01/2022 22:44

Oh yes and I was also given anti sickness meds.

TangfasticsAreFantastic · 03/01/2022 22:46

I remember the anaesthetist saying "you'll get a funny taste in the back of your throat" and me saying "oh yeah, that's..." was meant to say disgusting but didn't finish the sentence as I was out!

Next thing I knew I was being wheeled back along the corridor after my op.

Felt totally fine and wide awake for hours then suddenly realised it was dark as I'd fallen asleep totally without warning. I can see why they say you should have someone with you afterwards!

Good luck OP. It is daunting if you've never done it before.

TenoringBehind · 03/01/2022 22:46

Going under is the best feeling ever. Drifting into the most wonderful deep sleep.

I tend to react badly afterwards and am sick, but by then I don’t care because I know that I’ve survived and had whatever procedure it was. Last time I was very sick afterwards, but that was a reaction to the morphine I was given for pain relief.

nothingcanhurtmewithmyeyesshut · 03/01/2022 22:47

Though once I apparently recognised my physiotherapists voice when I was coming around and excitedly called out to him to come and look at the giraffe on the ceiling. He was dutifully impressed and ribbed me about it for months.

(There really was a giraffe btw, the recovery ward was obviously used for children and had animals painted on the ceiling.)

Twilight7777 · 03/01/2022 22:50

I’ve been under general anaesthetic many many times, they usually count back from 10 and by 7 I’m gone, that’s how quick it is, you wake up feeling groggy like you've overslept. It’s just like falling asleep.
If you are worried about being sick ask for anti sickness drugs to be administered as I always ask for them, also it might be worth having a sedative before you have the GA if you are feeling panicky.

waterlego · 03/01/2022 22:50

I had it twice in my late teens for a minor procedure and absolutely loved it. Like other posters have described, ‘going under’ felt lovely. I felt really comfortable and safe. Woke up feeling very well rested and relaxed. On the second occasion, I was woken by a nurse in the recovery room because I was snoring loudly and she was worried the other patients nearby might be disturbed 😂

100problems · 03/01/2022 22:55

I've had loads and concur, the anaesthetists are always lovely. I may have told one I loved him very much Blush

My only issue is that I have low blood pressure that makes me a bit of a nuisance patient afterwards until they get it under control.

Flowers024 · 03/01/2022 22:55

OP firstly best of luck with your surgery and recovery thereafter.

I have emetophobia as well and was quite concerned about the nausea - I’m not going to lie, both times I’ve been under GA, I have woken up feeling sick. BUT I said to anyone and everyone that would listen that I have this phobia and (the second time) that the first time under GA made me nauseous, so it was very clearly in my notes to give me anti sickness meds post-operation. I recall waking up (completely out of it-but not in a scary way don’t worry) and being asked by a lovely nurse how I felt, to which I uttered ‘sick’ which was all I could muster and before I knew it they were pumping anti sickness meds through my cannula. I did feel sick again when back in my room but because I was still so out of it from the GA, I wasn’t petrified of throwing up like I would have been had it been nausea on a normal day. The sickness did soon go and the first time under GA, eating helped. Don’t forget, not everyone will suffer the same side effects - you honestly may be fine!

As for the ‘going under’ aspect, as other posters have said, it’s not scary, the anaesthetist will calm you and chat to you as the GA is being administered, it’s really quite relaxing. I think my nurse accompanied me the second time as I was a bit nervous - they’re there to make you comfortable and look after you at the end of the day.

Best of luck Flowers

ElectraBlue · 03/01/2022 22:58

I have had several without any issues. The anaesthetists are always very friendly and calm and they will chat to you to make you feel better.

One minute you are talking and then you will just go under without even realising it.

Then you will wake up in the recovery room with a nurse next to you.

Be aware if the fact that you might feel a bit dizzy/sick a few hours after the anaesthetic as the drugs start to wear off. Also don't eat too much/too fast straight away as that can upset your tummy.

Deux · 03/01/2022 23:00

I had the great joy of an amazing anaesthetist. While he was getting stuff ready he was chatting away and asked me where the most beautiful place on earth was that I had visited. So we had a chat about that. Then I felt something cold going into my vein and he said, just imagine you’re on that beach.

Oh my days, I had what seemed like a really prolonged super vivid and sensory dream about the beach. I could hear the sea, feel the sun, touch the sand. It was totally amazing.

Blossom64265 · 03/01/2022 23:00

Most people are perfectly fine with anesthesia. Some people might throw up once or twice. There are a very small number of people that react extremely poorly. I am one of those unlucky people. I have kept recovery rooms open long into the night because they couldn’t move me to a room. I won’t go into explicit detail, but I’ll just say that my early experiences with anesthesia were bad. The doctor’s and nurses still kept me safe though and got me through it and that is what mattered.

I now have pre-surgery meetings with anesthesia where we work out alternative plans because we know they are needed. I had a hand surgery done without any sedation, just a sophisticated blocking technique. We freaked the surgeon out when he walked in and realized the patient was just sitting there chatting. Also freaked out the recovery room nurses when I walked from the OR to recovery. I had my c-section done similarly without any pain medications, though I needed the gurney for that one. Other surgeries where I had to be out have involved taking special chemo meds in advance and shifting the profile of drugs they use during the surgery.

So none of that is going to apply to you because it’s extraordinarily rare that it’s necessary, but the point is that anesthesiologists are incredibly well trained. They have a huge arsenal of techniques available and they really understand the biology and chemistry of what they are doing. If anything goes wrong, they are totally prepared to adapt in the moment

TitsInAbsentia · 03/01/2022 23:18

@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?!
You'll be absolutely fine! Just let them know if you're feeling a bit anxious, they'll keep you chatting and you'll be coming round in no time at all - I felt like I came round from my last one so fast I was convinced they hadn't actually done/been able to do my surgery (gastric sleeve!) but they had.

The only negative I've ever found from a GA is that it can sometimes make me a bit weepy afterwards, but it goes after a few days.

Good luck!

seven201 · 03/01/2022 23:18

I've had 5 I think. Personally I do feel nauseous after but they give me anti sickness stuff that really does work. Perhaps ask for that if it will put your mind at ease? The last one apparently as soon as I came round I turned over onto my side into a ball. I remember seeing my surgeon in the recovery room and telling him how snuggly I was Blush.

Anotherbrokenairer · 03/01/2022 23:23

Nothing else to add except if it hasn't been mentioned already you may wake up with pain in your shoulders. It's nothing to worry able and very common, it's just the gas they use to inflate you inside dispersing. Your body will get rid of it. If they have a blanket warmer ask them to drape some warm blankets over your shoulders, it'll ease the discomfort while your body is doing it's thing.

mumda · 03/01/2022 23:23

Chatting to the person who takes you down will be calming. However I'm blind as a bat without glasses and they make you leave them in your room. I've walked down last time. Stairs! That was interesting. But the staff were lovely they just didn't want me to lose my specs.
I think I've been wheeled in once.

Someone will do things with the back of your hand. Quick scratch. And then when they're ready they'll ask you to count backwards from 100. You'll get to 97 if you count quick. Then you don't remember anything until you wake up.

Oldham's recovery room has a ceiling with beautiful warm looking clouds. Manchester doesn't. I wish they'd warned me about Oldham's ceiling as it was a bit interesting coming round to see a heavenly sky.

You stay in recovery until they're happy you're ok to move. If you're cold you'll want to mention it as they'll cover you up s bit more.
I don't really remember the being wheeled beck to the next ward on any occasion.

They keep an eye on you when you're back on the ward. I felt fine after a while and got up for a pee. Blood pressure dropped really quickly so I was put on the bed again and head lowered feet raised.

They take the thing out of your hand when you're ok to have it removed. That's the worst bit as I don't like needles at all.

Funniest thing last time was the pre operation check. No MRSA swabbing done but a question about what drugs I did. I laughed at that one but apparently that's the time people fess up to taking coke etc.

Rockmehardplace · 03/01/2022 23:26

Having a GA is my secret guilty pleasure. If I was some kind of millionaire with my own private dr I’d happily pay to have one every night! I love the feeling of going under!

PotatoGoblins · 03/01/2022 23:28

The best nap ever.
I remember being totally awake and with it as they took me down to theatre. They asked me to count backwards as the anaesthesia was started and I thought I could beat it 😂 I got to 8 and felt like I’d downed a bottle of tequila, think I dropped off when I slurred out 7 Grin
Waking up afterwards wasn’t very pleasant. I was really disoriented and vomited a few times - more common in women than men when coming round from GA or so I’m told!

opalbutterfly · 03/01/2022 23:28

The last time I had GA I told my anaesthetist about my history of being sick beforehand so they gave me anti-sickness drugs. However somehow these made me worse - whereas previously I’d been very sick but then it was over with instead I felt nauseous for 12+ hours despite drugs and had to be kept in for longer than had been planned. I could hear them discussing me as I was coming around (but unable to open my eyes!) as I also had other side effects. I think I’m a rarity though and you’re likely to be fine.

Grizzlydog · 03/01/2022 23:29

I live a GA, its like I've had the best sleep ever and I feel so energised when I wake up.