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!

It is a very, very minimally invasive procedure, it will be really quick and need very little support.

The nurses will sort everything out on the day and will give you all the instructions you need - you don't just walk in off the street and get onto the table 😃

Don't worry about anything at all.

Shouldn’t be an issue with bra to and from. With all the wires and monitoring bras are not kept on.

I know - but im still terrified. When I say I’ve never had anything medical, I mean it. My first ever hospital appointment was my consultation for this issue, I’ve never had a blood test, I only really went to the doctors for my sinus issues. I’m a real newbie to this and maybe being a baby but it’s scary to me!

You should get paperwork from the department telling you how to prepare for the procedure before you come in and what to bring with you.

I've had a short op under GA (gynae) and a long hip replacement op under spinal block with sedation and for both I was asked to change into just a gown - so no bra and no knickers. But for the hip op, I did ask for a pair of their operation knickers as I needed to wear a sanitary pad.

I doubt they would let you wear a wired bra under the hospital gown in case you needed to be given a 12 lead ECG. If you don't have paperwork phone the ward to which you are being admitted and ask them to clarify. You can't go by ChatGPT.

I had a reasonably short surgery so no breathing tube, catheter etc. They just injected and I was under. No time to count. I was out in less than a second. Woke up about an hour later. Not at all woozy. No pain as they'd loaded me up on pain killers. No problems whatsoever. I was so nervous about general anaesthetic but it was honestly a breeze.

I had one 2 weeks ago. Walked to the anaesthesia room just outside the operating room (but I guess you could ask for sedation if you're really nervous), they were really friendly and chatty - usually 3 people in the room. One nurse popped the oxygen mask on, the other had my hand to the side which already had the cannula in. It felt a little cold going up my arm, then I woke up.

I hope yours goes well, there's really nothing to worry about.

Oh you can wear a normal one to and from hospital. I don’t know why ChatGPT thinks you’re going to be swollen all over and unable to wear normal clothes home.

We normally like everyone just wearing theatre gowns then we know there’s no metal (underwire) in them and we can put monitoring on. Pants I always overlook. Unless you’re having a gynae procedure obviously!

Don’t fast any longer than you’ve been advised to. Fasting is to ensure than you are not at risk of aspirating stomach contents. If you fast for too long, you will be dehydrated, which raises surgical risk. Many hospitals now encourage clear fluids until quite soon before surgery, for this reasons. Do check the specific guidelines through and hope all goes well.

Oh my god I’m not asking if I can wear the bra during my procedure!!!

The paperwork I’ve had is minimal. It literally says I can take paracetamol as needed (for pain caused by the sinus issues) and to keep taking my Mounjaro. That’s it - nothing else. That’s why I’m asking ChatGPT because I have a million and one silly questions that I can’t keep calling up with

I've had several. I barely felt anything more than just a regular injection feeling when the needle went into my hand, then felt a slight, odd cool feeling going up thst arm. Then lay down, remember being asked a couple of questions, just random questions like, what is your favourite drink 😄 and no sooner had I answered the second question that was it, I was zzzzzz 😅 I didn't feel any pain from the needles/drip etc. Just a teeny prick, no dizziness. Actually quite enjoyed it 😄
It was afterwards that was the worst thing, post op, as I felt very dizzy and nauseous, no doubt due to the pain relief meds

Ah, fingers crossed I’m the same! He literally said it’ll be a half hour procedure so I’m hoping that bodes well for recovery too

Yeah it’s really odd. It keeps telling me I can’t do skincare because of my wounds - but it’ll be all internal? I’ll wear nice pants, just in case then!

Out like a light, gone. You won't even know. Then you wake up after a good sleep. Absolutely fine.

I’m not going to eat for the sake of it - I’ll keep drinking but that stops when I wake up the next day anyway. It’s just food

It depends on what drugs your anaesthesiologist gives you.

I’ve had surgery where the last thing I remember was waiting in the waiting room to be called in. The next thing I remember I’ve woken up in recovery and I’m in shock, I was freezing and shaking. It’s never happened since and I have had a lot of surgeries.

I’ve had emergency surgery multiple times remember being wheeled into the operating room and waiting.

I’ve had a lot of elective surgery. There was never ever a time I felt out of control or whoozy. I think I’ve only ever been given a sedative before a surgery and remember the anaesthesiologist’s assistant giving me a foot massage. I was told it was because he was looking for a vein. It’s never ever happened any other time. But it was pleasant.

When they ask you to count down you don’t feel like you’re out of it. It’s not like being drunk or falling asleep - it’s instant. One moment you’re there and the next moment you’re in recovery.

Don’t worry about it. Just make sure you don’t take any supplements or any cough medicine anywhere near your surgery date and tell your anaesthesiologist if you do. Also, don’t wear any nail polish. The anaesthesiologists need to check your nail beds during surgery to ensure you’re receiving enough oxygen.

What do you mean by supplements? My paperwork says a multivitamin is fine, I’ve been taking that like normal?

OP chatGPT is not a useful resource for this sort of thing. The anaesthetist will decide the safest way to do the anaesthetic when they've seen you/ looked at your medical history. Wear pants. Bras are generally off in theatre to allow for proper monitoring... of course you can wear whatever you want when you're not in theatre. It's fairly unstimulating surgery and not usually particularly painful. Don't fast for longer than they tell you - it won't reduce the risk of aspirating and will probably just mean you feel worse. You're getting a slightly random scattering of answers based on very different types of anaesthetics and procedures on here...we tailor things to the patient and procedure in front of so not everything you're reading here is relevant. (DOI: anaesthetist)

That’s a really good point about you not realising time has passed, in that way it’s not like falling asleep. They always talk to you op, I don’t think you’ll get the one set of staff who doesn’t!

I just have nobody I can ask the stupid questions to, because I can’t be phoning the hospital every time I think of one

And yes, my nails are coming off this week. Gutted as it’ll be the first time since 2020 that I’ve not had them done!

You don't need to add another six hours of fasting. If it wasn't safe to fast from midnight they would have asked you to fast for longer.

I would stay off ChatGPT - it won't tell you what your hospital's protocols are and it's not in any case a reliable source of information.

It’s been quite good for some things - like way to expect in general and reassuring me that the recovery will be pretty easy. But then other things it’s pissing me off - it’s saying I can’t use retinol for six weeks after in case it irritates my scars? Just stuff like that, which I feel stupid for asking about but I need to know

I'm surprised they are going ahead with you on Mounjaro. Many surgeons are reporting food still in the stomach undigested days after eating in patients on these drugs and an increased risk of pulmonary aspiration. They usually get people to stop injecting at least two weeks before the scheduled surgery.