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!

You're not falling asleep, you're being made unconscious with medication so what's happening physiologically is not the same as when you are naturally falling asleep.

I often become agitated and can be rude, verging on hostile/aggressive when I come round from anaesthetic, it's apparently fairly common. Nothing you can do about it though, but if that's your reaction it's worth knowing what it is and that you can't help it.

Don't worry about feeling/being sick either, I remember coming round once retching and feeling really sick but the doctor came and injected something into my hand and I was fine immediately

I’m worried I’ll look like a baby being so worried over such a minor surgery - the consultant said it’ll literally be half an hour for very minor issues! But I’m terrified 😂

Something that surprised (and really reassured) me was that they put a strip on my forehead, and I asked the anaesthetist what it was for. She told me that it measures your brain waves, so they can constantly check if you’re completely out of it. If there are any changes they can top you up immediately so you don’t have the experience of waking up mid-surgery but not be able to move to alert them that you’re awake. This was a massive fear of mine, so it really put my mind at rest.

Best sleep of my life 😂 To be fair I was having a minor procedure and I wasn’t nervous. I was asked to count down from 10, was gone by 7. The best way I can describe it is a feeling of heaviness overtaking your body for that one second you’re aware you’re going under. Then the next thing you know you’re awake in post-op!

I think this might be why I’ve been told to take my hair extensions out! To be honest I just want to be through the other side and have it all back, I don’t feel like me!

The GA will got into your hand when you are lying on the operating table (well it did for me, i walked to the operating room and got on the table myself) My arm began to feel warm as it worked its way up.

I didn't have a mask on, the injection was done as I was lying down on the operating table. I dont know if they put a tube or mask on afterwards as I was fully out by then. If they did it was all removed by the time I came round.

My vision started going a bit blurry/wobbly then next thing I was coming round after the op. No recollection of falling asleep at all.

I was pretty worried about having it, just usual nerves post kids. But it was absolutely fine. If I had to have one again I would be much more relaxed next time round.

I've had several GAs.

They put a canula into your hand which is a bit uncomfortable, but doesn't hurt. The GA does in through the canula - you can feel it going in as it's a bit cold, but within seconds you're asleep. It feels like seconds later you're awake in recovery. Generally you're on oxygen for a while afterwards as this helps your body get rid of the GA, sometimes you also have an IV drip going through the canula in your hand & you may also be hooked up to a machine monitoring your heart rate, oxygen levels etc. You will be offered pain meds, depending on the op this could be through your canula or tablets.

Usually they will explain to you what to expect when you're admitted for your op.

I've had 3 generals since being an adult. It's nothing like falling asleep. You'll feel the needle go in, they'll ask you to count back from 10, the last I ever is 8, and then you're waking up in recovery. You don't feel like you've been to sleep. Just closed your eyes and opened them in a different room. You may feel a little woozy. It's nothing to worry about at all.

Honestly I was given some medicine first to make me feel relaxed. The worse but is being wheeled to the operating theatre because of the fear of what will follow. Then they put a mask on your face and you fall asleep. Next thing you know you are in recovery room. You won't feel anything during the operation. I felt tired and slept quite a bit over next 24 hours. If I had to have another one I wouldn't be scared next time.

I think because I’ve never experienced it before I can’t conceptualise the fact it’s instant - because I struggle so much with sleep. I know it’s not the same as that but I have nothing to compare it to

In my (relatively limited) experience, anaesthetists are amazing at being kind and reassuring. I usually come round talking gibberish and drifting in and out of sleep, plus very tired for 48 hours, but we're all different.

I got my first one earlier this year for a lumpectomy. I was also nervous about the lack of control but honestly, it was lovely. I don’t know what the relaxant drug they use is but I’m wish I could have a supply at home!

For me it's varied depending on the time I was out for. When I've had a short straightforward procedure (which yours sounds like) I went out like a light and immediately conscious again like someone had flipped a switch and couldn't believe they'd actually done anything. For a 5 hour major op I was a confused mess for hours afterwards drifting in and out of consciousness

It didn't really feel like anything tbh. I was somewhere one minute, and then the next thing I knew I had been magically transported to somewhere else. Then I felt a bit tired.

Yes from what ChatGPT is telling me (I don’t have anyone else to ask!), because it’s such a short procedure it’s not as bad

It was one of my worst fears - I get sleep paralysis, and was worried it would be similar. When the anaesthetist said he was about to put the anaesthetic in, my heart rate jumped so much, that everyone turned to look at the monitors. He then asked to me count back from ten, I got to 7 and then the next thing I knew, someone was putting socks on me. I had to ask them if the surgery had been done, because it felt that instantaneous. There's no getting sleepy and drifting off, it's like a switch. I was terrified, but wouldn't be again, because it was absolutely fine.

Had one recently, walked into operating theatre, lay down. Was just the anaesthetist and the nurse, they asked if I was nervous, they were like you will feel a small prick and that’s the last thing I remember. Woke up and don’t really remember much apart from nurses being like you’ve had a major operation over and over, I think I was trying to get up/feel the operation area and possibly rude? It’s very blurry. Then they were trying to give me pain killers and I could not have been more confused by what they wanted me to do, as they were waving a syringe in front of my face I think wanting me to plunge it in my mouth for the meds? When I was more “with it” they passed me my glasses and I was very apologetic to them for how I was acting and they were like don’t be silly and then I got wheeled back into my room then I got ice cream which was amazing 🤣

I haven't had any problems "going under" but it can take me a while to actually get over them. One I was sleepy for days, but that was a long time ago and more recent ones were not as bad, maybe anaesthetics have got better over the years.

I’m also really worried that I’ll poo during it. Don’t ask me why, I just am!

I’ve had 2, and 2 twilight sedations. For me I’m awake and the anaesthetist is talking to me and doing something with the cannula and the next thing I know I’m awake in recovery. It’s instant and a bit disorienting to me to “suddenly” be in a different room with no memory of time passing. Usually then I’ll try to move my body to get comfy and something will hurt so that reminds me that I’ve just had an operation.

A recovery nurse will be right there with you looking after you. They’ll do your obs, talk to you, get a doctor if needed, wipe your drool from your mouth if necessary, and things like that. They’re used to patients being out of it or confused or anything else like that. After 5-10 mins of being awake you’ll start to feel a lot more like yourself.

Good luck for your operation OP.

Had an emergency C-SECTION under GA with my eldest DS - his stats dropped and everyone feared the worse. I was frantic and wanted him born asap so I grabbed the mask and took a huge inhalation. Next thing I knew he was in my arms (absolutely fine, thankfully) and DH was assuring the midwife I’m always a nightmare to wake up. Rude. Anyway, nothing to worry about at all, hope all goes well.

I recently had one for cataract surgery. The only issue I had was when the anaethsatist tried to put the cannula in the back of my hand. He couldn't do it and it was so painful it made me cry. He managed in my arm no problem.
My recovery was fine although I had a slight abdominal pain when I woke up.

This! I had the most amazing sleep both times. Surgery as an adult, 18 months ago.

Was really hungry when I properly woke up. Nurses gave me coffee and cake, was great!

If you do then a nurse will clean you up before you’re awake.