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!

Brill, thanks. Not like my hospital knows what they’re doing?

It would seem not.

Why don’t you save all the aftercare questions for after the surgery? Then you can get the hospital to tell you. they will send you home with instructions.

Seeing as they’ve sent me a leaflet saying it’s safer to remain on it, I’m going to trust them.

I don’t think they’ll tell me things like this? From what I can tell from what the woman on the phone said I’ll literally come round and be sent home without much help

no they don't. There are very clear guidelines for the perioperative management of patient's on mounjaro.

Then you may as well just trust them to know what they are doing with regards to your surgery and anaesthesia and follow their instructions, rather than asking an AI who definitely never has had a GA.

Please stop asking ChatGPT for medical advice.

No need to be sarcastic - as I’ve said multiple times I had never had a hospital appointment before my consultation with the ENT six months ago. I have lots of silly questions which I’m allowed to ask!

I'm sure it will all go fine. I had a GA a couple of years for gallbladder removal. Previously I had two as a child.

I personally always feel very, very nauseous when recovering from a GA. Not everyone does, but please be aware they can give you drugs to control that. So do tell the nurse if you feel sick afterwards.

Some people take St John’s Wort and that interferes with the drugs they give you in surgery.

Cough medicine was banned in my country for a while because a couple of people died on the table because it interacted with the drugs they give you in surgery.

But it doesn't actually know. It is gathering information from what is published on the internet, and not always interpreting it correctly (you won't have scars on your face after FESS so that's irrelevant). ChatGPT (and indeed most of Mumsnet) does not know your hospital, your surgeon or your anaesthetist. Write down your questions as you think of them, and then ask when you are at the hospital. Follow any instructions you are given, but for stuff like wearing a bra etc, hospitals know that not everyone knows what to do, and they will tell you if/when needed.

Yes I’ve heard about the night nurse and cough medicine - I hate cough medicine and don’t think I’ve taken night nurse in about a year so I’ll steer well clear for the next couple of weeks!

do you know when you can resume sleep aids etc after surgery? I’ve got a flight about a month after the surgery and it’s a stupidly early one, so I’ll need one the night before!

It bloody hurts when they stick the thick liquid through the cannula - I can tell you that. Also whatever mood you go under in you will wake up the same, it’s like a state of suspended animation. So when I went under excited to have some cosmetic work sorted I woke up talking ten to the dozen. When I went under because of something traumatic I woke up sobbing.

I think it’s natural to have a lot of questions for the first time though, and I can’t just sit and stew on them for the next fortnight!

You aren’t ’going to sleep’ you are being anaesthetised and they give you enough for your body weight so it isn’t within your control. I’m usually out within 3 seconds and then you are awake and the procedure has been done.

it takes about 10 seconds. It’s a lovely warm feeling going under tbh, like a heavy blanket over you. I’ve had lots and lots, one time I was sick upon waking but I’d been under a long time. The most recent ones I’ve had I’ve just really REALLY needed to wee very quickly which has been an issue because they didn’t want me to move for a while. But everyone’s different, I’m sure you’ll sail through

I've had six surgeries under general anesthetic. For some reason, anytime I have something wrong with me, I need surgery :(
The IV placement is the worst. It hurts. Most times they then take you to a sort of staging room, where they will tell you that they are injecting x to relax you, and then the next one to put you to sleep. These drugs are incredibly strong and you will feel it immediately. I max blink about 3 times and then was out.
You will wake up feeling like approximately 1 second has passed and there's no way they could have possibly performed the surgery so quickly.
You will be fine!
Follow the instructions not to eat or drink. I found it helpful to swish my mouth out with water if I felt thirsty, and sometimes the wait to get into the operating room is very long. I hope you get in and out early.
Do not be vain and lie about your weight. The anesthetist uses it to calculate dose. Weigh yourself the morning of the procedure and tell them the number.

I think they’ll be weighing me there - or at least that’s the impression I was given? I’ve been told very little about what to expect which is why I have so many questions!

Look on your hospital website there maybe patient information leaflets available for you too read. Your anaesthetist will see you before you come to theatres that will give you a chance to ask questions. If you have been told it’s ok to continue on Mounjaro that’s fine just remind them on the day.

Pholcodine cough syrup was withdrawn in the UK some time ago.

But it's not giving you useful or accurate answers in many cases. Yes, it's your first operation and naturally that is a bit scary for you. But it sounds like you are spiralling about all sorts of things that you might just have to accept not knowing right now. An incorrect answer from ChatGPT or Mumsnet is no more help than not knowing.

Yes, maybe. I've always been asked!

Exactly this! I don't understand the whole 'best sleep' stuff as I'm awake, then I'm out, then I'm awake again with no sense of the time loss.
I had a tooth out as a teenager and came around absolutely furious that they hadn't done it. I told them it was impossible as they hadden't had time to do it! The nurses and my dad could convince me otherwise

You should tell them when you go that you've never had surgery and are a bit nervous. They will be nicer lol. If you're asthmatic, take your inhalers. Also try no to wear nail polish as some places don't like it.