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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:
MavisMcMinty · 04/11/2023 13:49

I absolutely LOVE general anaesthetics, and anaesthetists are the loveliest, funniest doctors of them all - it’s easy to be lovely to patients for a few minutes before knocking them unconscious.

I always ask them to “push it (the drug!) in reeaalllyy sloooowly, please” as I love that feeling of dropping through the trolley as I lose consciousness. They always laugh and comply.

Fionaville · 04/11/2023 13:51

I've been under a couple of times. Always have the niggling fear that something will go wrong. It's a natural concern (plus I have health anxiety)
They know what they are doing. Tell the anesthetist your concerns on the day. They will reassure you.
It is over before you know it. One second you are counting, the next you are awake in recovery. It's not like being a sleep where you are a bit conscious of where you are. You are completely out of it.
The first time I must have been having a lovely dream because I woke up in recovery and said "I've won the lottery!" and tried to hug the nurse!
The second time I was more groggy, I came round like I'd had a lovely nap, but then went back to sleep for a bit.

Spidey66 · 04/11/2023 13:52

I've had 5 or 6. I love them!!! I love the feeling of the pre op sedation going through my veins (it's a bit like the feeling of having a glass of wine and it going through your body) and the instant sleep to wake up later and you're all woozy. The only thing I've not liked is feeling sick after but otherwise they're great!

MavisMcMinty · 04/11/2023 13:53

Just to add that much as I love anaesthetics, I ALWAYS wake up crying afterwards, so don’t be alarmed at any reaction you may have.

PrincessHoneysuckle · 04/11/2023 13:59

It's bloody lovely

Peekingovertheparapet · 04/11/2023 13:59

One of my besties is an anaesthetist and she’s actually such a lovely calming presence to have around. As a person she’s probably on the more anxious/overthinking side herself, but that just means she has everything under control. I feel enormously comforted to have her with me if we are doing anything active/physically risky.

I also absolutely love a GA. It’s such a weird floaty experience and utterly surreal, and for me the after effects last a few days. I remember feeling ultra zen for a while after my last.

I think that every time I or the children have had an operation we have had a chat with both the surgeon and the anaesthetist on the day, you have to reaffirm consent and there is an opportunity to ask questions.

Peekingovertheparapet · 04/11/2023 14:00

Oh yea, just like @MavisMcMinty i come round crying. Last time I remember saying ‘I’m ok, I’m totally fine but I just need to cry for a bit’

HoppingPavlova · 04/11/2023 14:06

Best sleep ever. Am always so pissed off to be woken by recovery nurses saying my name trying to get me to wake up when I am having such a blissful deep sleep.

QueenBitch666 · 04/11/2023 14:08

I love a GA! I've happy many and never had any negative experiences
You'll be fine Flowers

Vegemiteandhoneyontoast · 04/11/2023 14:11

I've had GA a few times and it's become apparent that when I come round I'm seriously manic. If there's a next time I need to make sure those around me know this, in order to stop me injuring myself.

notthedressiwanted · 04/11/2023 14:14

Op, I'm sorry for your loss.

The last GA I had, I woke up and stated "no wonder Michael Jackson loved it so much"! 😂

Voteva · 04/11/2023 14:26

Best sleep ever!

Expect to feel suddenly exhausted/sleepy 3 days later as your bones release more of the drug.

LibbyL92 · 04/11/2023 14:33

I’ve been out 5 times and the more I’ve had it the more scared I am. (More so of not waking up)

it’s a weird feeling, a feeling of heaviness, but yet a sense of going into a deep sleep.

as quick as you fall asleep you are suddenly awake.

when you come around it’s such a deep tired feeling, drowsy but so relaxed if that makes sense? And you keep (well I do) drifting back off into a lovely sleep. And it’s amazing because in that moment you know you can because you have no where else to be.

I always have a bit of a sore throat afterwards but I think that’s down to the breathing tube they insert.

each time I’ve been out put out, I’ve been hugely looked after.

LWYRUP · 04/11/2023 14:39

On the day of your op the anaesthetist will come and talk to you. In my experience they are great at answering any worries and reassuring you.
my husband cannot be sedated. It just doesn’t work with him. (Same as our son, he was running down the ward after max sedation for his weight) he was worried with his gallbladder removal that the anaesthetic wouldn’t put him to sleep due to this. It did. (Also did with our son). So I wouldn’t worry that it won’t work as you need more local usually.
they monitor you throughout. You are in safe hands. Hope it all goes well x

VickyEadieofThigh · 04/11/2023 14:44

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.

Me too - I've only had GA twice and for both I have zero memory of being asked to count or indeed anything after being wheeled down to the waiting area.

I did have a bad reaction after my 2nd time, however. I'd got back to the ward (I was only in for a day procedure, so hadn't even had a lot of anaesthetic), had consumed the tea and toast and my partner had arrived to collect me when bang! I did a huge projectile vomit and keeled over. Blood pressure had dropped massively. They kept me in and put me on fluids all night - just me in an empty day ward!

ohpoowhatnow · 04/11/2023 14:56

I love the feeling of going under

MrShady · 04/11/2023 14:57

@Cranberriesandtea I mentioned the red hair thing to my dad
He's had some issues with local anaesthetic and I asked has he ever told them he's a red head. Nope! I mean the red hair is obvious on me but my dad is now bald....

Vegemiteandhoneyontoast · 04/11/2023 15:01

MrShady · 04/11/2023 14:57

@Cranberriesandtea I mentioned the red hair thing to my dad
He's had some issues with local anaesthetic and I asked has he ever told them he's a red head. Nope! I mean the red hair is obvious on me but my dad is now bald....

I had no idea that red-headed people need more anaesthesia. Why is that, do you know?

Original poster
HerRoyalStressHead · 04/11/2023 15:04

For those asking I do have EDS yes. (Type 3/hypermobile type, whatever you wanna call it)

I'm not a natural red head, I'm guessing it's the EDS that makes me need more local anaesthetic.

I really hope I have a good experience.

OP posts:
Vegemiteandhoneyontoast · 04/11/2023 15:05

Re the mention upthread about the injection being painful, I told the anaesthetist that and he said 'I'll give you a shot of the white stuff beforehand'. He did a teeny injection of whatever it was and my face went all tingly. I mentioned this and he said 'Yes, that's the white stuff' and as I was going under I somehow managed to slur 'Papaver somniferum', heard him laugh and say 'That's it' and then I was out.

MrShady · 04/11/2023 15:06

@Vegemiteandhoneyontoast it's to do with the gene that causes red hair apparently
I think it first came across as redheads feel more pain but then they realised local anaesthetic wasn't as effective so it wasn't they were feeling more pain, the local just wasn't working
There's also a saying that redheads are bleeders

Vegemiteandhoneyontoast · 04/11/2023 15:09

@MrShady that's amazing, it's going to make my head itch for while!

CaroleSinger · 04/11/2023 15:11

I love it. It's a timeless feeling. You don't have any memory of falling asleep. My last one was October. I watched them put the anaesthetic in the back of my hand then looked to my side to see a nurse. I asked her if they were getting me ready for the procedure and she said 'that was nearly an hour ago, you're in recovery now'. I didn't even think I'd fallen asleep yet. Like I say, you just have no memory of even going to sleep. Honestly you'll be fine, you won't even know it's happening.

Manadou · 04/11/2023 15:12

MrShady · 04/11/2023 15:06

@Vegemiteandhoneyontoast it's to do with the gene that causes red hair apparently
I think it first came across as redheads feel more pain but then they realised local anaesthetic wasn't as effective so it wasn't they were feeling more pain, the local just wasn't working
There's also a saying that redheads are bleeders

Old story about senior surgeon in theatre. I gather this patient is a bleeder. New junior doctor: He seemed quite nice to me, sir.

Natsku · 04/11/2023 15:14

The first GA I had was absolutely lovely, felt so pleasant drifting off to sleep. The second one was also pretty nice but there was also a touch of anxiety as I drifted off which wasn't so pleasant. The last one I had a feeling of impending doom and felt sure I would die, it was really quite horrid, but as you can tell by the fact that I've written this post, I didn't die. So really just to warn you there is a possibility of it feeling unpleasant but I think for most people, most of the time, its just the nicest falling asleep feeling.

You might feel sick when you wake up, just ask for medicine for it, no need to suffer.