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’ve been told on my pre op call not to stop, and have paperwork stating that too.

And I’ll just sit worrying instead. This is how I process and cope with things.

I am terrified of needles and requested a gas induction on the booking in appt and again as I was admitted. I have no contraindications for it but was refused. They did use numbing cream on me which helped and all I can say was it was quickly over.

For me it was like a black shutter coming down in front of my eyes.

I don't remember anything else until I woke up in the recovery room. I did feel a bit sick but the nurses were on top of that instantly with another drug via the cannula.

I was left with a very sore throat and oddly the side of my tongue was numb for a few days.

Can you ask for the numbing cream? I know it makes me seem like a HUGE baby, and even though I’m on Mounjaro, I really struggle with needles

Also I’ve never felt nauseous, shaken or forgetful after. When I’ve woken up I’ve always been instantly wide awake and chatting away.

Yes you can ask for numbing cream, but it really doesn’t hurt. I faint at needles and didn’t faint at either insertion for my general. I’ve once had them gas me with a mask so I’m out for the needle too.

Gas inductions are risky and needle phobia isn't a indication. If that's the case cream can be put on on the ward, we have cold numbing spray we can top it up with before doing the drip too.

100% I'll happily go borrow it from the children's ward for any patient

Another dumb one

how soon after coming round will I be given my phone back etc? I want to be able to let my dad know as soon as I’m able to - he’s not my emergency contact or the one picking me up as he can’t drive, and he’ll be at home, but I don’t want to trigger his atrial fibrillation through stress!

Children’s ward 😩😩😩 something about this is genuinely making me feel like a kid again, I think because it’s just entirely unknown

They put a needle in, said count back from 10 and I think I got to about 8 then woke up later and was so convinced the surgery hadn't happened, it felt so quick I told the surgeon he was a liar 😂😂😂😂😂 you don't remember a thing and it's so quick

but you aren't doing research - you're doing google searches which are throwing up unfiltered (slightly random) ideas that (completely understandably) you're not able to evaluate properly yourself. Quite a lot of what you've read on this thread so far is nonsense/irrelevant to you and unless you know quite a bit about anaesthetics/surgery it's really hard to tell what's useful to you and what's not (so this thread also doesn't really count as research). You may also have spotted that at least two of three anaesthetists who've posted on the thread so far have slightly different approaches to some things, both of which will be completely safe and routine and which will work well in our own hands and but just emphasises how much individual assessment and speaking to the people who'll actually be looking you after is important.

I would really just try and relax. Follow the fasting guidelines they've given you. Take your normal meds unless they've told you to omit anything. Pack a simple bag (maybe including some basic overnight things just in case). Write your questions down if you're worried about forgetting something. They will give you any other advice that's useful to you, based on your history and the exact operation they're planning for you.

Once you wake up your pretty with it too op

You usually get your phone back once you leave recovery and go back to the day case unit/ward and your property will be returned. How long that is can vary due to many factors such as how long it takes you to wake up and be comfortable, able to sip water etc. Also can be affected by spaces in the day case unit to accept you back. If you know your dad's number to call you can ask the recovery nurses if you can use their phone to call him- I help patients call relatives all the time.

i don’t know it off by heart, can I write it down and ask them to give him a quick call to reassure him? Him being home by himself is another thing stressing me out, in case he goes into AF

It’s easy to say that but I’ve literally only met this consultant once for a ten minute appointment. He didn’t even know what Mounjaro was and was more focused on that

the mounjaro makes no difference at all to the surgeon. It's relevant to the anaesthetist and they will make sure they look after you safely.

I've had a few, most have been like having the best sleep ever but with a couple I got an impending sense of doom as I was going under that made me genuinely feel like I was going to die and never wake up from the anaesthetic. Obviously I did not die but it was unpleasant and I still felt the doom feeling a bit after I woke up.

I’ve had a few, l think it’s only natural, fear of the unknown.The procedure is over so fast.You can request for the cannula (to administer the anaesthetic)to go in your forearm, rather than hand, which l personally find is more comfortable.When l’ve went to have the procedures, only memories are, lay down on bed, see the anaesthetist take my arm and that’s it.I didn’t count or see a breathing mask, was completely out of it, straight away.When l wake up, no recollection, didn’t realise anything had been done.OP, it’s the thought of having it, once you get there, it will be over before you know it.

This. The anaesthetist knows what they are doing and you can absolutely trust them.

I think this is it - the complete fear of the unknown, and the worry I’ll build myself up for it only for it to not happen

I've had two fairly recently. It's a doddle! Both times I remember trying to keep my eyes open so they would know I wasn't under yet! But of course they are well aware of when you are unconscious and when you're not. Both times my last memory was of trying to keep my eyes open and then the next thing I knew I was in the recovery room with the nurses telling me it was all over. One, when the procedure was a little longer (a couple of hours) it felt like I had been asleep and I had definitely been dreaming, which surprised me. With the shorter procedure it felt like no time had passed.
Once you're awake they usually give you a quick drink of something sweet - apple juice or ginger ale, then help you get dressed and then they'll put you in a wheelchair and put you in your car to be driven home and that's that!

It’s completely instant. You won’t even feel yourself falling asleep. You don’t need to worry about it. Honestly, you’ll be laughing at how nervous you were after you’ve had your operation. There really is nothing to worry about. Just relax and enjoy the best sleep ever!

Yes you can write it down- ask the nurse who goes through your admission paperwork to write it in your notes so the recovery nurses have it.

Do you have a friend or other family member that can call your dad every couple of hours to check he's OK whilst you are away from him? That might put your mind at rest a bit.

You will also get aftercare advice on the day from the nurses that discharge you. Also ask for a sick note when you are being admitted to give the surgeon time to write one before the surgeon starts operating- if it is a long list it can be tricky for the nurses to get a sick note from the surgeon if they are operating and continuing the list long after you are recovered and going home- this largely depends on where you are on the operating list.

Okay, I’ll do that - or will they ring my mum as soon as I wake up so she can let everyone know? It’s stuff like this they’ve not been through - the way they made it sound was like she wouldn’t be told I was awake until I was ready to go home.

I’ll see if anyone can be with him but it’s unlikely. I’ll ask for the sick note when I’m being admitted.