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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask what it's like to go under GA

199 replies

HerRoyalStressHead · 04/11/2023 08:46

I've never been under general anaesthetic and I'm due to have an operation on a herniated disc in my neck on Wednesday.
I know I always need more local anaesthetic than they think. Does that mean I'll need more general or is it completely different? In case you haven't gathered yet I'm absolutely clueless.

I had my preop and they said I'll be out for the count before I even count back from 10 to 6. But I've got this fear I'll get to one and still be awake.

What happens if I am still awake?
What if it doesn't work for me?
What if I wake up during surgery?
I'm panicking.

It's a big deal as its the forst time ill have ever been under.

They've said the op is an easy one
They've said that it'll be quick and over with before I know it. But what if there's complications? What if I don't get my grip strength in my hand back? What if I'm still in pain with my neck after? I know I should have asked the preop nurse all this but we were worried I wouldn't even be able to have the op as I'm waiting on an echo to confirm there's nothing structurally wrong with my heart and confirm doctors diagnosis of POTS. She said she'd phone me if things were not going ahead and I've not heard anything yet so I have to go under the assumption it is still going ahead and now all these fears have surfaced. Argh.

OP posts:
stemmedroses · 04/11/2023 08:50

I love a GA. There's no sleep like it.

I always think I am not going to fall asleep but I always do.

Your consultant will have a chat with you before your op so you can ask them all those questions then.

Oldthyme · 04/11/2023 08:54

Stop worrying. Just stop and have faith that the medics know what they’re doing.

The drifting off to sleep is a lovely feeling if you feel it at all. One minute you'll be chatting, probably to a hand holding nurse, and the next someone will be calling your name to wake you up.

I had major surgery this year and 12 years ago. My anaesthesia was a positive experience. In the 12 years since my previous experience, anaesthesia has come on a lot. For sure you won’t wake up during the process but you can ask for reassurance when you speak the the medics on the day of your op.
Get well soon OP.

MadeOfAllWork · 04/11/2023 08:56

I understand your fear, especially if you’ve not done it before.
Have you ever had a situation where you are watching tv or reading and you just close your eyes for a second and the program has suddenly ended? You dropped off and had no idea? It’s a bit like that.
They will talk to you and ask you to count back and you won’t get as far as 8.

I find coming round a bit harder. You will wake up in a room with staff in. I find that I hear voices first and it’s a little like being drunk.

DrinkingMyWaterMindingMyBiz · 04/11/2023 08:56

Best sleep ever. The last time I had a procedure which could be done under normal sedation I begged them for GA because DS was baby at the time and I was so knackered. I just wanted the sleep. (They said no.)

Good luck with it all, @HerRoyalStressHead. Please come back to let us know how it goes!

Tygertiger · 04/11/2023 08:56

I’ve had a few over the years. Every single time I’ve been talking to the anaesthetist (they are always lovely and very reassuring) and then ping, I’m waking up. I’ve never had a sense of drifting off, or of any time passing. For me, the part afterwards - in recovery, drifting in and out of sleep with lots of lovely drugs - has always been very pleasant.

They usually give you fentanyl before they put you under, which gives you a lovely feeling of having had a couple of glasses of wine. And tell them that you’re nervous. They will be very kind and reassuring. You will be absolutely fine.

GCAcademic · 04/11/2023 08:57

It's great, like having a lovely sleep. If you think you're going to be anxious going into theatre, ask for a pre-med when the anaesthetist visits you on the ward beforehand.

graciousmouse · 04/11/2023 08:57

Going to sleep is not difficult or traumatic. However coming round can be disorientating and not very nice (in pain, feeling a bit sick). Luckily nurses are lovely and will help you as soon as you wake up, give you pain killers etc.

grottyb · 04/11/2023 08:58

Second pp’s there’s no sleep like it!

TheYearOfSmallThings · 04/11/2023 09:00

It's lovely - I wish falling asleep was as easy and effective. 10, 9, 8......out......wake up and it's all over.

KellyanneConway · 04/11/2023 09:00

I’m glad others have had the same experience as me as I thought I was a bit of a weirdo enjoying the GA sleep, then waking up slowly in my own time in a pleasantly fuzzy way.

SoupDragon · 04/11/2023 09:01

Every single time I’ve been talking to the anaesthetist (they are always lovely and very reassuring) and then ping, I’m waking up. I’ve never had a sense of drifting off, or of any time passing.

I've only had one and this was my experience too. Like a PP said, I opted to have whatever the pre-med is because I was anxious.

Notsonifty50 · 04/11/2023 09:02

GAs are lovely. I think I've had 15 of them now - some for elective surgery and some for emergency surgery and they've all gone well. You will be constantly monitored by the anaesthetist and won't wake up during the operation. You drift off and the next thing you know someone is calling your name and you are waking up in recovery. All the staff in there are so lovely. I've always felt really well looked after and cared for by them.

Original poster
HerRoyalStressHead · 04/11/2023 09:02

Thank you everyone. That's really reassuring to read.

OP posts:
DramaLlamadodah · 04/11/2023 09:02

It’s like blinking for me. Bit odd but not unpleasant. I’ve had over 30 operations, never woken up or had issues with any of them.

Balloonhearts · 04/11/2023 09:03

They can tell if you're not as deep under as you should be. The anaesthetist will be sitting with you, watching all your vitals and administering more if needed. Waking up during surgery is vanishingly rare.

It's different to local anesthetic, that's more of a nerve block to numb an area.

As for what it's like, it's not really like anything, one minute you're talking to the doctor, the next you're lying in recovery. They tell you to count back from 10, you probably won't get to 7.

Cropcycle · 04/11/2023 09:03

The first time is the worst because you don’t know what to expect. But it’s actually really ‘nice’ imo. They will tell you when they’re going to put the GA through the canula. It doesn’t hurt. And I’ve never got to counting past 6 or 7 before I’m out. For me it’s like a nice fuzzy feeling for a few seconds then next thing you hear a nurse saying your name or saying something on the lines of ‘all done’. It’s like the moment of awareness when you know you’re just about to fall asleep.

These days you seem to wake up afterwards a lot less groggier and weird. In fact often you feel you can take on the world for a bit. Apparantly there’s some drug in the mix that gives you a bit of a feel good factor . My DFs partner is an anaesthetist and says they they’ve not known one not work. They monitor you all the time and adjust the levels of everything as things go along. They could tell if you needed more or less of something as they’re checking constantly. Good luck . Hope the op really helps you.

Sapphire387 · 04/11/2023 09:03

If you are very anxious, you can ask to speak to the anaesthetist beforehand. They will be able to reassure you. They do this literally day in, day out, and are specifically trained and qualified for it. It is very safe.

Morewineplease10 · 04/11/2023 09:05

I've had 2 GAs, both times out immediately didn't have any time to count.

And when you hear them call your name to wake you up I didn't want to be woken! It's the most perfect, dreamless sleep.

Its normal to be worried/anxious though because for you it's the unknown! So I would accept that you're going to feel some of that but hopefully a bit reassured too by what PPs have said.

Swirls346 · 04/11/2023 09:05

I was terrified and I'm a nurse so have seen people being put to sleep many times. It was fine! I was out of it sooooo quickly, before I had even time to be anxious to be honest. My heart did react to the medication but have been having arrhythmias since the covid jab so completely separate issue. Don't worry, they really do make you feel at ease.

Aquamarine1029 · 04/11/2023 09:06

I've had GA 15 times. It's brilliant.

ImCamembertTheBigCheese · 04/11/2023 09:06

I had one earlier this year. One minute I was awake, next minute I was waking up in the recovery area. They are professionals and will put you under, try not to worry.

AffIt · 04/11/2023 09:07

I have a friend who is a consultant anaesthetist and, in her words, you will never be more closely observed at any other point in your life than when you are under a GA! The anaesthetist and their assistant will be at your head throughout, monitoring your vitals and keeping you safe.

I've had quite a few GAs and, as others have said, always found them a lovely experience.

Theatre staff are very highly trained and experienced and will do their best to reassure you and help you feel comfortable.

IHeartGeneHunt · 04/11/2023 09:09

You get asked to count backwards, you manage about two numbers before you close your eyes.
And then you open your eyes, and you're in a different room and it's all over.

CyberCritical · 04/11/2023 09:10

I was told to think of something nice, I don't think I'd even got so far as formulating that thought before I was waking up again. I had no feeling of getting sleepy I was just out, then I was waking up.

It was pretty great.

MinnieCauldwell · 04/11/2023 09:11

Its great, I started to count and got as far as 1, next thing I woke up 7 hours later and high as a kite from all the morphine. I loved it. I was scared the Anaesthetic drip would fall out so the theatre nurse showed me that it couldn't and put extra tape on to make me less nervous.

Good luck and update us.