To be worried I made a fool of myself?

[Tobeinlondon]

feeling a bit mixed up about this and hoped someone on here could help

last week I had an emergency electric cardioversion in A&E. I have no idea what the name of the medication was , but I was told it was an anaesthetic/sedation where I would still be awake but sort of asleep and wouldn’t feel the pain. it was a white liquid given through a syringe into my arm (it looked like milk) if that helps at all

The last thing I remember was seeing the medication getting inserted in the cannula, then I remember feeling weirdly calm, then I don’t really remember anything until the thud of the cardioversion. It wasn’t sore but I remember feeling the thud and feeling my whole body suddenly jolt- it was like being booted my a horse but without the pain. I can remember that, so I was obviously awake to some degree but definitely not with it.

anyway, the cardioversion worked thankfully and im incredibly grateful for the help. But the thing im a bit uncertain about is my reaction afterwards. It was as if I was drunk, and I was babbling utter nonsense and im worried I was being really annoying or bullish/obnoxious. I remember getting really emotional and telling the doctor that they were the best ever, and hugging all the nurses and thanking them for fixing my heart. In fact I remember pinky promising the doctor something (no idea what) and telling them to always believe in themself because they were the best person ever 😶 But I was definitely being annoying and loud. I’m usually a really quiet reserved person so that reaction really unsettled me and I’m worried I was that difficult patient that everyone was thinking FFS shut up, or that I was being loud and bullish. It’s weird because I felt as if i had no control over what I was saying and because I can’t remember parts of it my brain is filling in the gaps

the staff were all so helpful and kind to me and im really worried I’ve made a full of myself or was rude or annoying towards them

It lasted about 45 mins or so, I went for a sleep and suddenly was a lot more with it again

I know nobody can say for sure because I don’t know what medication I was given, but does anyone know what my reaction and behaviour normal? Or will the nurses/doctors have been thinking FFS stop acting like that? I just hate to think I was behaving difficultly towards people who were being so kind to me.

You were probably given propofol and your reaction to it is perfectly normal. Please don't worry about it, just be glad you are better now.

Just to add, I’ve heard of people being like that after general anaesthetic but that’s definitely not what I had so I think that’s why I was so uncertain

it was honestly like one of those videos where people get their wisdom teeth removed and wake up completely out of it and are talking utter nonsense, and im absolutely cringing thinking about the parts I can’t remember in case I said anything really embarrassing or ridiculous!

Medical professionals won’t care or even remember how a random patient reacts to medication. Let it go 💐

Oh goodness - I’m sorry but your description made me laugh. Please don’t worry, I’m sure patients often go a bit bonkers when under the influence of anaesthetics etc and it sounds like you were awfully nice and jolly rather than aggressive or obnoxious. I’ve had a few general anaesthetics and always want to tell the anaesthetist how fab he or she is and how much I like them or possibly even love them. Fortunately the anaesthetic takes effect before I manage to say anything!

It’s very common to have a drunk/ high like feeling after anaesthetic. The staff will have seen it lots of times before, so please be reassured.

That's so normal. I was talking to a nurse about this last time I had anaesthetic. She said it's very common and just very entertaining and sweet for the staff on the receiving end. You've got nothing to be worried about

They’ll be well used to it, op. It won’t have raised a single eyebrow, don’t worry.

Honestly dont worry. I once tried to hug my surgeon after I woke up from a GA and told her I loved her. I also got confused after a wisdom tooth extraction and in my sedated mess accused him of extracting a giant 2ft tooth from my mouth without my consent. I remember all of it vaguely. Everyone was so nice to me. You can’t help it, it’s the medication! Not your fault

Thanks for all the reassuring replies, feel a lot better now!

just in case I’ve explained it badly in my OP and in case it changes anything, it definitely wasn’t a general anaesthetic, it was like a really really deep sedation. The doctor called it an anaesthetic-like sedation.

just in case that changes anything at all!

Also I am not sure what they gave you sorry, but after I had a bad experience with Fentanyl I ask them never to give it to me anymore. I got this locked in experience where I could hear and see but not move for hours. I now have morphine even though it makes me itch like crazy. I asked them what it was from my notes and told them I never wanted it again. GA when you wake up you are sleepy and babble but sedation is very much like being very drunk I do think they are a bit different I had different experiences on them both

I think it's quite normal with some of those kind of medications - ketamine is another one that has the same effect I think. I'm sure the staff found it nothing but sweet. Who doesn't want to be told that they're the best person ever?

It was propofol which is an anaesthetic.
They really won't remember or care.
Please don't worry x

They've seen hundreds of patients recover from propofol since your visit. The majority of them will have behaved exactly as you did. They haven't given you a second thought

The only thing that would have jumped out at them, if it had happened, is instant recovery of your normal demeanour.

Hope you're feeling better.

I had similar when having a colonoscopy. I can round a bit while the camera was still in me. I could see the monitor in front of me and I wanted very seriously to know what a dark object was that was moving around. The person scanning said it was carrot and I shouldn't have eaten it so late before the scan. I burst into tears and kept sobbing how sorry I was and asking them not to be cross with me.

I was fine once returned to the recovery room and given a biscuit and some squash.

I followed the instructions very carefully after that though!

I had twilight sedation to have wisdom teeth out and I sung like a canary, OP. They discharged me immediately and I broke away from my friend and was galloping free through the wards. Finally she got me to the car park and this creepy bloke spotted me - faced smeared with blood, cackling like a hyena - and tried to get me to go for a drink with him! I remember shrieking at his departing back, "How desperate ARE you??"

I was sober by teatime, he is still a creepy twat no doubt. No shame attached to a little temporary babbling, I expect the nurses find it quite endearing.

Nurse here. No need to worry at all. We deal with all kinds of behaviour and it wasn't for long. But most importantly, you had been heavily medicated so obviously not your fault if you even were in any way annoying. I think you sounded hilarious!

Honestly, chill, it's all good xx

I understand what you're feeling @Tobeinlondon, the memory blanks, lack of control and your imagination filling in the blanks is horrendous. I had a op a few years back, I remember speaking with the surgeons, a vague memory which feels almost false of someone sat with me telling me I was in a lot of pain and then nothing until I woke naked in my bed bay again. So disorienting, I still have the gut fear of what I said or did in the memory blanks.

But, I do just remind myself that it's just another day for the medical professionals who attended to me and I'm sure I wouldn't have been the worst they had seen or dealt with.

OP, please don't be embarrassed, I had a similar situation when I was in theatre delivering my DS. Until reading this thread, I never knew what they gave me as I completely blacked out and have no memory of my DS being born. They administered something into my cannula, as apparently (DH told me after) I screamed out in pain when forceps were used. I was out within seconds and came round to my DS crying and was so disoriented. My DH also told me I'd told the doctor to fuck off and then delivered a very emotive speech about the wonderful work NHS staff do. I haven't given it a second thought, I'm sure they haven't either!

I'm interested to know that it sounds like I was given propofol though, there was no record in my medical notes of anything being administered!

Whatever I had to get appendix out I reacted weirdly. I believe people do and I really wouldn’t worry about it! After a c section and no sleep I was convinced the midwife was a prison wardener when she let me go. Perhaps she shouldn’t have I was back in hospital in under 24 hours. I really wouldn’t worry!

I came out of an anaesthetic after a D&C for a failed miscarriage asking the nurse if my boobs were bigger. When she said no, I said they performed the wrong surgery because I was in there for implants!
I didn't remember a single word of this. The nurse told me, when I came out of it fully, while laughing and reassuring me it all went well.
They see it all. Please don't worry...

Would have been Propofol as others have said but don't worry sounds like a perfectly harmless reaction anyway!!

I had major surgery in the summer that meant I had to spend 36 hours in something called 'overnight intensive recovery' - basically, I spent the whole of one day and most of the next in the recovery suite of the operating theatres.

I obviously would not be in a rush to be in that position again, but it did make me REALLY want to go and work there. I honestly could write a short book on some of the things I heard patients say and (attempt to) do. It was hilarious, except I apparently was the only one who thought so, as none of the staff working there took a blind bit of notice of any of the patients' ramblings and wailings! So yes, they are clearly very used to the effects that anaesthetic has on people and I really wouldn't worry what you may or may not have said 😁

I had oral sedation for that thing where they put a tube down your throat to sample your stomach. Apparently I was swearing at them! Don't remember that but its pretty funny.

I had exactly the same as you on Tuesday this week. I don't remember anything at all, thank goodness! I don't think I 'woke up' afterwards in the way you describe - I didn't really wake up properly for a couple of hours afterwards, although I was aware of things around me after about an hour. My husband was with me - I will ask him, and report back if he says I was being overly affectionate or inappropriate in any way.

It's weird how people are so different isn't it.

General anaesthetics are mixtures of drugs, not a single drug. There isn’t a firm boundary between “general anaesthetic” and sedation. You were given a drug that can be used alone for sedation, or as part of a GA formulation.