To ask you what general anaesthetic is actually like?

[RainSoakedNights]

I’m having functional endoscopic sinus surgery soon. As far as I can tell the recovery is going to be fine - a bit like a head cold (if anyone has experience of this operation though please let me know!). But I’ve never had so much as a blood test (I’m 26). I’m on Mounjaro so used to injecting myself but I still hate needles (I know, I know!)

Any experiences would be appreciated!

I had one and was really nervous. I hate the thought of being out of control so I asked anaesthetist to just knock me out without any woozy in between or counting down crap. He did just that. 🤣 I came round and was absolutely fine. I would have had no idea I had been unconscious at all.

I’ve only been under general once when I was 11.
I remember trying to hold my breath while they put the oxygen mask on me because it tasted horrible 😂 turns out… they knew I was holding my breath.
When I came round I felt really frustrated and “out of it” and kept trying to sit up. I then apparently demanded a Mars Bar (I was not a child who demanded anything usually).
I think I just felt a bit sleepy/lethargic afterwards.

Both generals I have had one at 22, one at 40 when I came round I burst into tears - this is apparently really normal.
My first I was a day case for all 4 wisdom teeth out, honestly can't remember much about the general more the eating after losing 4 teeth!
The second was for appendicitis but not rushed in so not emergency, again was home the day after more due to the abdominal surgery and being pregnant!

You won't see the needle going in. It goes into your hand when you're lying flat on the operating table.

It does hurt a little going in and then they tell you to count and you think "this probably won't work on me" (or at least I do, every time!) and then you're asleep.

It is the best sleep of your life. I love a general anaesthetic.

I've had it a few times, it's nothing to worry about. You will be injected and you then quickly fall asleep. When you wake up you will feel groggy for a little bit and that's it. You will wake up in a recovery ward and then you are moved to whichever ward you will be staying on. That was my experience anyway. Although I remember waking up after having my tonsils out wondering why everyone was looking down at the floor and it turns out my mum had just fainted. 😂

Like going to sleep. One minute I was awake and very nervous, then next minute I was in recovery being brought a cup of tea.

I have had GA twice and both times I woke up thinking I hadn’t had the op yet and the anaesthetic hadn’t put me to sleep yet. I was like helloooo I’m still awake and the nurses were like no love it’s all done 😂

This is one of my concerns - I really struggle to fall asleep. I’m also concerned about the Mounjaro and the breathing tube - charltgpt has said that because I’m not having a long surgery I might not have the full breathing tube into my lungs? It’s all a bit overwhelming!

I have had a few, last one was for hysterectomy, I was laid on the bed and the anaesthetist was messing with my left hand and the nurse on the other side of the bed asked me if I was going on holiday that year, I turned my head to answer her and the next thing I knew I was waking up 4 hours later!

im really hoping everyone will be chatty but ive literally never been in hospital before all of this with my sinuses! It’s really making me nervous

Like falling quickly into a deep deep sleep. They ask you to count down from 10, don't think I ever made it to 8 😃

Coming round is probably a bit slower. You might feel sick (I haven't done but it is common). You'll start talking before you're fully aware of what you're saying (I told everyone I'd had lovely dreams and asked many many times what time it was because I couldn't believe it had been so quick). Once you're conscious you're still very relaxed for awhile.

No driving for 48hrs.

This happens to me every time too!

You should have a pre-op appointment and that's probably a good time to ask any questions about the operation and the procedure that you're having done. Do the surgical team know you're on Mounjaro? They may ask you to fast for longer or possibly don't inject for a period of time before the operation.

Make sure you tell the anaesthetist you are on Mounjaro. They will choose the right airway options to keep you safe.

How easily you fall asleep naturally has no bearing on how easy it is to anaesthetise you.

I’ve had about 6 surgeries under GA. You generally taste weird metallic taste when the needle goes in and then you go really woozy and like you are being sucked to sleep. Then you wake up afterwards! It’s that simple.
Good luck!

They put the needle in (which you feel) and I had a sudden panic and said ‘I don’t think I really want…….’ Then the next thing I knew I came round…….
The in between is a void.
When I woke up I just mainly slept again, but I was on large doses of strong painkiller……

I’ve had it - over the phone. The new hospital guidance is to stay on it and let the anaesthetist know which I will do. Fasting guidance is still from midnight but I’ll fast from six PM to be safe

When I had my pre-op checks, they asked me to skip the MJ for the week of the surgery.

GA is like nothing .. you are awake… then waking up in recovery. I never remember falling asleep.

It isnt falling asleep though you are not in control of the sleep. They calculate your dose by your weight and maybe height so you will go to sleep, you might get a pre med to relax you before the aneathesia, you will be fine, remember and tell them you are on weightloss medication.

It's like being switched off. You're there, you have the pre med thing that makes you feel a bit swimmy - like being drunk but you don't feel ill - and then you're somewhere else, like no time has passed at all. Not like being asleep and knowing you've had a long sleep. I'm always really sleepy afterwards and they keep having to tell me to stay awake.

I love a GA.
I’ve had 2 major surgeries and the GA’s were amazing as I went off to sleep feeling so relaxed.

Waking up was lovely too. No post op’ issues, just sleepy and a bit groggy. No nausea. Sat up after a while and had lunch!

Anaesthesia is so advanced now, not like the old days, I don’t think you need to worry about a thing. The theatre medics know what they’re doing.

My best friend is an anaesthetist, they are very very well trained over many years so don't worry about anything. Tell them everything and they amend the dose to ensure you are kept asleep but are also safe.

@Squidgemoon I did that last week 😂 woke up convinced I had barely shut my eyes and asked the nurse why they changed their minds on doing the operation. She laughed at me and said it’s all done so I laughed too which then hurt and I realised that yes I had in fact definitely had the op!!

OP it is nerve wracking but honestly anaesthetists are the kindest, calmest doctors I’ve ever met - so reassuring and if you tell them you’re nervous will explain everything to you and answer any questions you have before the surgery. I was very emotional before my surgery last week and the anaesthetist totally put my mind at ease and was one of the best people I think I’ve ever met!!

Ive had it a number of times. You just drop off and then wake up in a different room. Sometimes im a bit out of it after, bit of nausea and emotional sometimes. But it wears off pretty quickly! Good luck!

They start the injection and then you wake up. It really does feel that quick.