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 cannot stress enough how little anyone will care what you look like. Nobody will notice or care, at all, if you are gorgeous, hideous, fat, thin Or anything in between. They simply won't care, they have done procedures on thousands of people, you are just a body to them. Sorry but it's true.

As for the anaesthetic, you will conk out super fast and wake up with no feeling of any passage of time. You will be a bit woozy and might talk a bit of rubbish for a few minutes. I've been knocked out about 8 times for a number of procedures, and it's only a bit anxiety producing the first time.

Oh, and you'll feel totally normal by the next day.

I know they won’t care, but I do care about my appearance and I feel totally unlike myself. Some may say it’s vain, but after losing a huge amount of weight I had come to take pride in all of that sort of thing and now I feel totally disconnected from how I feel on the inside and how I look.

I was prescribed electrolytes one time but it was ahead of a very long surgery.

You care because you care about what other people think. That's how caring about your appearance works, and it's why even the most uncaring of us combs our hair and wears clean clothes before we go out.

I wouldn't say vain so much as having main character syndrome.

The reality is you don't believe me and think others will notice. They won't remember you, and you will make no impression on them, good or bad, provided you are polite and all goes smoothly.

But you're clearly going to keep pursuing this, so sure, as you wish.

I don’t think it’s main character syndrome to have lost a lot of weight and so I want to look nice?

Wow @RainSoakedNights 87 posts on this by yourself😳

I’m not sure what your point is? I’ve spoken with several people about my experiences and worries?

It is absolutely main character syndrome to think anyone gives a toss how you look except you when you are having a procedure done. And yep, you do think that, which is why you care.

Anyway, you do you.

If it's not on the sheet of pre-op preparation instructions then I suggest you ask the hospital.

It says clear fluids, but doesn’t define them which is why I’m asking!

And me, wish I could have one every night 😆

Fluids you can see through ie transparent with no pulp or bits or milk, like clear apple juice.

Some hospitals permit sports drinks.

But if you are in any doubt and you don't want to ask the hospital why not just stick to plain water?

It's only for a few hours of your life.

I don’t have a contact number for them - only ENT secretaries who are very busy and tend not to get back. If you can’t answer the question why be rude?

I'm not being rude, RainSoakedNights.

There should be a phone number on your operation paperwork and your surgery appointment letter.

Consultants' secretaries are not the right person to ask.

No-one on MN can tell you what your hospital's protocols are.

If you feel you can't manage without an electrolyte drink in the hours preceding your operation, then you need to ask the surgical department for advice.

Again, no need to be rude.

I didn’t say I can’t cope - I asked as I tend to have one and people down thread have mentioned that staying hydrated is important. I’ve not had my confirmation letter yet, it’s just been confirmed over the phone. My town’s post is awful and I can expect to receive it at the weekend, id imagine.

Clear fluids are usually lemonade, apple juice, tea or coffee without milk, squash (not blackcurrant), bovril

Yes - you will need to stop Mounjaro for a few weeks prior to the operation as it’s a vomiting / choking risk.

I’ve had the pre-op call and they’ve said to continue on it as their risk assessments state the risk of vomiting is lower than the risks of stopping and starting again

Clear fluids are water, dilute squash/clear juice, black tea/black coffee.

SipTilSend | Centre for Perioperative Care

(I'd ignore the sips til send bit until you've seen your anaesthetist on the day or the pre-ass nurse specificially mentioned it though).

that is not standard UK advice.

This is interesting. You’d think if the fluids etc are such an issue they’d just get an IV in you when you arrive and hydrate you that way, but I guess that has its own challenges!

When you receive the letter with written confirmation of your operation date, you might receive a more detailed information sheet about pre-op fasting and what you can and what you can't drink from the night before.

In the meantime, if you Google the name of your hospital trust + fasting guidelines + day case surgery you might find a PDF or a web page that will give you a better idea of what your hospital says your can drink in the hours before your surgery, for example this one below:

https://www.nlg.nhs.uk/resources/adult-fasting-guidelines-when-and-what-you-are-allowed-to-eat-and-drink-before-your-operation/

I should be surprised if your paperwork does not include similar information.

that would be totally unecessary unless the oral route is contraindicated for other reasons. Taking PO fluids is better tolerated, probably physiologically better, and completely safe for most people. For the people for whom it's not, separate advice will have been given.

Not lemonade! Anything fizzy = Cancelled.

Clear see-through squash including blackcurrant is allowed in most places I've worked.

When you talk to the preop nurses they can clarify