Feeling very weird after general anaesthetic

[scaredofhospital]

I've had a laparoscopy this morning under a general. I've been feeling very drowsy and also dizzy on standing, feel like I will faint when I stand and try to walk. I've had cup of tea and biscuits but just feel so strange and unsteady when I walked to the toilet. Is this normal? I've been hours but still not right to be able to walk out of the hospital. I just want to go
Home. They've advised me to lie back down and more fluids and rest etc.

It feels like a sensation of falling, a bit like I'm drunk, when I tried to walk slowly to the toilet. I
The lady in the bed opposite me had her op after me and has already gone home, she walked out fine and seemed really steady on her feet. What's wrong with me?

Nurses are so kind, telling me to take my time and just rest, no rush etc, but I had my op at 9am, surely I should be able to get out of here by now? It's only meant to be a day case procedure, I feel bad I'm taking up a bed.

Why can't I just walk out of here? Is this normal? I feel so pathetic. 😔

Fair enough, I'm not medically trained!! I also had my ops privately and never saw another patient once after three different operations so I've no idea if I was normal or not in terms of recovery.

I’ve had a few general anaesthetics and always feel OK the first day but then it hits me like a brick for a few days afterwards.

Make sure you have plenty of rest.

GAs affect people totally differently. I’ve had lot of them, and after the first two, I knew I threw up afterwards with that particular mix, so was able to warn them at the pre-op stage next time, so they could add an anti-emetic.

I usually throw up and feel like you on waking from GA so get given additional meds which do help. If you've not much experience with it, I'd say there's a reaction like an allergy like I have.

I actually look forward to GA, feels like the best sleep in the world on waking but I also suffer insomnia/frequent waking.

Reading and remembering how emotional I feel after surgeries. I’d say it was very normal.

Last one I was only sedated in theatre but it took me a full 48 hours to even get out of bed once I got home. Give yourself a break x

For me, it’s the morphine. My blood pressure drops and I feel incredibly dizzy and not at all myself. Try to rest. It’s interesting that because you are young and fit and usually healthy this has frustrated you. This isn’t mind over matter, this is your body’s reaction to the drugs and a reminder that we all react differently. Go gently and don’t be disappointed if you end up having to stay in to be monitored over night. I had to after day surgery once and at least I now know I cant tolerate morphine of any kind so in subsequent, bigger, ops I’ve recovered much quicker.

I came out of GA absolutely convinced the dog wanted an ice cream. The dog had never shown any interest in ice cream.

Got home and waited impatiently for the ice cream van to arrive. I then practically barged small children out of the way. Came home with it, presented it to the dog who took one lick and wandered off.

I laughed out loud at this

My dog had surgery a couple of months ago and when I went to collect him, the veterinary nurse remarked on how well he seemed after the GA. She said, "he has already been eating, which is really surprising so soon after surgery".

I, on the other hand, was not at all surprised to hear this and I told her as much. That dog is an absolute gannet.

I am home now and I still feel so weird. Disoriented and confused. Asked my daughter to put the "Christmas lights" on in the bedroom, I meant night light. I’m drifting off to sleep feeling sedated with the liquid morphine they gave me then waking in an anxious panic, it’s still having a weird effect on my brain 9 hrs after I came round from my op? Is that normal? I still can’t eat, my partner brought me toast and it’s sitting heavy I feel like I’m going throw it back up Today I’ve eaten a grand total of 4 digestive biscuits and 2 cups of tea in the hospital after my op, why am I not starving? I have zero appetite despite consuming about 250 calories at best today
. My head keeps going dizzy too when I move it side to side.

😟 what is going on? Is any of this remotely normal? My anxiety is spiralling.

Sorry that is just the ramblings of my brain, may not make much sense

GA affected me for a couple of weeks I had to stay overnight for what was meant to be a day op. I have naturally low BP like you and was healthy fit. Just take your time and have someone watch or be around you to check on you. Sleep, rest, eat a little and keep fluids going and you should feel bit better in 24hrs tine

Oh wow a couple of weeks! Gosh I wasn't expecting that.

I'd planned to go back to work after 1 week, nurse told me today that was optimistic and to allow at least 2 weeks. I'm going to be climbing the walls by then 😖

I woke up from my GA in the recovery room and wet myself 🙈 the nurse then moaned at me about her colleague not being there to help her. The lady opposite me on the ward couldn't stop puking.

Go easy OP ❤️

Just sleep and try to relax, everyone responds differently. Don't push yourself to eat food, drink plenty and eat what you feel like

I spring awake but then can't sleep for 48hrs and am wired
My dad is the opposite and just wants to sleep for 24hrs

I've had several GAs, and for at least 3 of them I have already been in hospital with significant health issues first, so gone in already pretty unwell, and having not eaten properly for a long time.

The first 2 made me VERY sick after so I now have antiemetics routinely before

I always feel extra bad i think. Typically I have an extra night or 2 in hospital after compared to what may be nornal. (but then I havent had these same procedures going in healthy and strong like most might).... Last operation was a day procedure for most, but I ended up with 2 nights and 3 days in hospital. Previouse one most people would be home in hours but (due to other complications) I was in for nearly a week.

I've also wet the bed the following night. I have all sorts of issues including V low blood pressure and low oxygen sats etc, so I end up on far more regular routine checks.

Anesthetic can affect people differently.

Be kind to yourself while you recover, let others take care of you, and take as long as it takes to start feeling better, meanwhile you can watch day time TV / netflicks / write Xmas cards, or whatever.

Hope you feel better soon.

I struggle with general anaesthetic. Always wake up crying. If they try and make me move my head in the first few hours I throw up. And I usually can't physically stay awake for the first few weeks. I last had one ten years ago. Couldn't wee either for several hours, so a same-day procedure usually means an overnight stay for me.

OP stop using the liquid morphine for pain. It causes low blood pressure, disorientation and lack of appetite/nausea in a fair amount of people.

Consultant anaesthetist here - I have seen pretty much every single thing that can happen during and post an anaesthetic in my career! From people singing when they wake up, to people who get a bit fighty and many people who cry. An anaesthetist has given you a cocktail of medication for your anaesthetic alongside painkillers, anti sickness medication as well as having surgery which has a huge impact on the body after. It is very very normal to feel like you do and hopefully you will feel back to your normal self over the next 24 hours or so.

Hope you feel much better soon!

Dude, it's up to the OP whether she feels she needs that much pain relief. She's just had surgery.

I had very little appetite for around a week after having GA and generally felt a bit weird - like being in a bubble. I was fit / young (at the time) / healthy. Just try and rest up and I hope you feel better tmrw

I think you could do with some proper food and a good sleep.

You've had 4 biscuits and some sugary tea so your sugar levels have been up and down but nothing really to fuel your body. The morphine, anaesthetic and procedure will all have affected your hormone and sugar levels too.

If you have any soup or toast with peanut butter, something easy to eat but with a bit of nutrition to it.

Then sleep, sleep is magic, it is healing and it will help.

When you wake up in the morning have a good breakfast like scrambled eggs and give yourself a break, take it easy if you can.

Sounds normal…. Low blood pressure, low blood sugar maybe, your body’s had a trauma and lots of drugs. General anaesthetics can make some people weepy too. Give it time. Be kind to yourself.

the day after the first time I had a GA, I took advantage of being off work & scheduled an interview.
I'd no idea what to expect from the GA; I was still quite woozy & the panel thought I was drunk.
I know hospitals can feel as manic as a mainline rail station, but try to relax & accept it will take time to be back to 100% & back on your feet.

I am out of it for days after a GA. I fell asleep standing up in my kitchen the day after the last one.
Feel really spaced out, like my feet are really heavy & i'm dragging myself around, I just basically have to sleep it off for a few days. Hope you feel better tomorrow OP.

I was exactly the same! Sobbing as I came round with no understanding why I was so upset!

OP my friend had an op, she was first down and last out. Her op went really well, anaesthetic was correct but she was very similar to you, no actual issues with any part of the treatment , just in recovery.

It's no judgement on you or your health that youre having a different reaction to the other patients. Give yourself a break.
I hope you made it home, lots of rest and relaxation.