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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:
QueenofDestruction · 04/01/2022 00:21

I have had GA a lot - 21 times over the last 10 ish years and have never been sick. Most often I just slip in , at the count of 1 when they have asked me to count. I always wake up really thirsty

Nowayoutonlydown · 04/01/2022 00:26

@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!!

I had a gastric sleeve in 2020 (I wanna ask where you're going incase it's the same place- brilliant experience!)

So what I wanna say is its fine, you'll feel calmness before you're off. In my experience for my sleeve I was laid on a bed with separate legs, I had an anaesthetist on one side monitoring me, I had a blood pressure cuff on one arm, pulse being monitored on a finger- all in all 7 or 8 people around me but it kind of helped me feel calm knowing that I was being monitored really well whilst I was still awake.

I awoke in recovery, first thing to hit me was the feeling that I wanted to be sick (ask for propofol during the operation the night before when they go over your medical history) I didn't know to do it, and pre warning, if you're sick there's going to be a bit of blood- it's the only thing you'll have in your tummy! But its normal.

You shouldn't be in much pain afterward, you may have some trapped wind, but if you can sit upwards move your arms in a circular motion.
You might feel a bit out of it for a day or so, but surprisingly you'll feel pretty good considering the operation you've just had!

Ps. You'll have worse stretch marks than the scars from your operation. I can barely see mine (and I've just checked to be certain- I think I can find 2!)

Wishing you all the best, some days it'll be hard, but it will never not be worth it for the life you'll gain after your op !!

Dasher789 · 04/01/2022 00:29

Iv had two GA in the last 5 years. The first one, I was very nervous. The man put a needle in my arm and I remember saying is this what will make me fall asleep and he said no. I don't remember anything else until I woke up. The second time, I remember counting from 5 to 3 Grin

When you wake up, you will probably fall asleep again or feel dozy for a few hours after. But its such a peaceful feeling like you have had the best sleep. They give you painkillers etc so you are in no pain when you wake up. Its quite relaxing!

Good luck with your op OP.

CharlotteRose90 · 04/01/2022 00:31

I’ve only had one for gallbladder surgery. I was absolutely petrified, cried my eyes out in the waiting so much that the surgeon and nurses were round me hugging me and saying it was ok etc. For me the needle was fine didn’t feel it etc, what got me was the mask they put over your face when you go to sleep. It scared the crap out of me and I was pushing the poor man away with it so much the surgeon said just hold it above her face don’t put it on. Then I was out 😂. Waking up I won’t lie I felt sick as a dog and had a banging headache. Luckily you should have a nurse next to your bed like I did and she noticed straight away as I was nearly heaving and gave me anti sickness meds. I was fine after that but I slept solidly for about 24 hours when I got to my ward. It might of been the morphine though.‘you will be fine and in good hands I promise.

Pinkandpink · 04/01/2022 00:32

I had one about 30 years ago getting wisdom teeth out. They gave me a pre med before. I thought going under was bloody marvellous. It felt like I was asleep for minutes. After the op I Woke up but fell asleep again soon after.

Pinkandpink · 04/01/2022 00:33

Getting the anaesthetic, they asked me to count to ten, I got to four lol

Endogal · 04/01/2022 00:34

Not at all! When I woke up it literally just felt the same as waking from a dozy nap in front of the TV if that makes sense? Sort of half asleep and half not for a few seconds then I was perfectly fine afterwards! I

RiskyCookie · 04/01/2022 00:36

@nonotquite I had a gastric sleeve in April last year.

The GA was fine, you're not under very long for a sleeve. It's like a lovely sleep. The drugs before hand make you feel a bit woozy but only lasts seconds before you're out.

When I came round I had a dry mouth and felt cold. Soon went though!

Good luck. Smile

Lentil63 · 04/01/2022 00:40

I have never been sick from GA.
My experience has always been feeling sleepy (very short lived) and then waking up and it’s all over! Never sick. Good luck!

Lalliella · 04/01/2022 00:46

I’ve had 9 I think and they’ve all been fine - just close your eyes and in a few seconds you’re asleep, then what feels like a few seconds later you wake up! I didn’t have any sickness or after effects at all. Hope all goes well OP.

Jericha · 04/01/2022 00:52

I had ga for emergency surgery and I was sooooo frightened. I remember being told to count and I got to (what I thought) a high number thinking "well they've fucked this up" then I woke up and they'd done the op and were just waiting for me to come to. The only negative was I stupidly thought after nil by mouth tea and toast would be lovely like it was after a spinal, but my throat was so dry it was really hard to swallow!

Snugglybuggly · 04/01/2022 00:54

Just like dreamless sleep

WeNeedToTalkAboutBruno · 04/01/2022 01:04

I had to go under for stitches after giving birth as my blood pressure was too low to do anything else. Had an injection in the leg I believe. Had a bit of a scare with the low blood pressure so remember being quite keen they put me under so I didn’t have to think about it any more and I could just wake up and it be done. Which is exactly what happened. Remember them saying I would start feeling sleepy and then I woke up in a different room! It’s quite nice waking up and all the horrible stuff is done!

42isthemeaning · 04/01/2022 01:08

Hi Op, I was very nervous about my keyhole gallbladder removal, but like the other pps I was out like a light and then felt that I'd immediately woken up again with someone calling my name (they weren't saying it properly - it's Polish and difficult to pronounce!) I was babbling total nonsense. I actually reached out and hugged the nurse as I somehow thought she was my dd who was 10 at the time. I worked for a few years in an anaesthetics department in a hospital and the anaesthetists were the loveliest, smartest and kindest doctors I've ever worked with. They really know their stuff!
What I would say is that you must be very careful to look after yourself for a few weeks after the operation. I hurt my back really badly after going back to work ten days later and gently moving some desks around in my classroom. I was told that this was linked to having had an op and trying to do too much too soon. Surgery and anaesthesia really do affect your muscles, etc.
Good luck op!

Stigsmother · 04/01/2022 01:15

It's like nothing, literally!
I've had 3 or 4 now, and the first couple of times I was alarmed because the anaesthetic going into my hand felt very cold, next thing I was awake, so no time to worrySmile

LessTime · 04/01/2022 01:24

I've had a few and I look forward to them 😅 I've come out of them feeling like I've just woken up from a lovely deep sleep. I generally don't even feel too groggy.

Weesiewoo · 04/01/2022 01:48

It feels great. The first time I was so nervous because I had never been in surgery before. I've probably had about 8-10 surgeries and I actually look forward to it. Best sleep ever. ☺️

Hop27 · 04/01/2022 02:10

I was so nervous for my first I burst into tears in pre theatre. I've since had 3 and I'm less nervous. The theatre team keep you distracted by constantly asking you what your having done, your name and DOB and you get distracted watching all the staff busy around you. The last thing I generally remember is the anaesthetist or nurse stroking or holding your hand. Then you wake up.
Sending hugs, it's stressful thinking about it but the reality is completely fine. Good luck with your gastric sleeve OP!

1WeekTillChristmas · 04/01/2022 02:17

I was put under a couple of months ago, and it was much less scary than i thought
I barely remember them giving me meds through a vein and i was literally asleep

Upon waking, i felt fine, I asked for a mask and they told me as i had an oxygen mask on i couldn't have one yet
Felt groggy but not sick or ill at all

ElevenOG · 04/01/2022 02:19

I've had 2 GAs, both glorious. Fell asleep instantly which was good as I was panicking I'd count down to 1 whilst still awake and they'd just start operating (a concern I overheard in the waiting room by a super anxious patient which I then couldn't stop thinking about). For the 2nd operation I was really anxious so they let me meet the surgeons first and made sure only minimal staff were in the room when I went in so I didn't panic. I talk absolute bollocks when I wake up and even got told off for swearing. Only had a sore throat afterwards due to tubes etc.

Furries · 04/01/2022 02:22

I’ve had three GAs. The first time, as I was coming around, I remember worrying that I’d missed my operation because I’d been napping! The nurses reassured me I’d made it to my appointment.

The second time, I apparently spoke a load of rubbish in recovery - the nurse gently teased me the next day - not offended, the crap I came out with was funny!

The third time, I called my sister from my bed. Have no memory of it, but again I was supposedly quite funny.

It’s definitely a weird feeling, knowing that you’re going off to sleep with no control. But the whole team will be fantastic. You might not even notice that they’re fantastic before or after. But that’s because they are so good at what they do. I was nervous as hell, which my anaesthetist noticed straight away (my legs were going nineteen to the dozen under the blanket, I had no idea!)

You really will be very well looked after. Wishing you all the best for your procedure.

Furries · 04/01/2022 02:29

And reading through this thread has made me realise how great anaethiatists are - unsung heroes!

1WeekTillChristmas · 04/01/2022 02:34

@AdditionalCharacter

I walked into theatre and had to climb up onto the table

Flickflak · 04/01/2022 02:41

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Rangoon · 04/01/2022 04:42

Honestly, just as soon as you are thinking this is never going to work you go out like a light. I always felt fantastic when I woke up - I think it's the relief of waking up. The best part of the six weeks recovery from bunion surgery on both feet was waking up with pain blocked from the ankles down.