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!

V v v difficult, particularly in day surgery which you would be. It requires additional ward monitoring and often has hang over effects which delay discharge home. We rarely even do it for children now

Fair enough! I’m just anxious, and worried that it’ll get cancelled on the day. If it does, I can’t see myself going through with it

Its not that short by surgical standards, it's very rare to be cancelled on the day

I've had 13 GAs. I can assure you it is nothing to worry about. The anaesthetist and anaesthetic nurse will look after you!

Everyone gets a single antisickness, individualised risk assessment determines if get additional, you don't need to ask

I’ve had it happen to two family members in the last two weeks - my niece had a routine surgery on her thumb cancelled and then my dad had an angiogram cancelled on Friday! They both happened on the day, after admission, at the same hospital im supposed to have mine at. I think it’s just each time I get relaxed about one aspect, something else comes along to stress me out

The one time I was out to sleep I could not wait for some bugger to just knock me the hell out because I was in so much pain with a broken bone. I was so excited to just sleep and not know the pain.

When I came round I couldn't feel my teeth and kept asking the nurse why they had removed my teeth 😂

I also felt like I was floating above the bed, but that might have been the morphine.

Twice -

Once for wisdom teeth pre kids. Didn't like the registrar doing the op when I got there the day but the anaesthetist was lovely. I came round nicely and apparently told them about a Scottish mountain walk I'd just done. Those on local were much less happy, I noted.

Second time was 'emergency' general anaesthetic for birth of DS. The reason for the inverted commas was because it was chaotic in delivery that night and from a clinical perspective they did not get their act together for the coming pre ecalamptic fit which I started on the operating table due to them failing to give pre op drugs. No problems with the actual anaesthetic though.

Would be very unusual. Outside of cardioversions and relocating dislocating bones which takes about seconds-minutes, everyone gets antiemetics whilst asleep

from a slightly different anaesthetist PoV (perhaps there are regional variations re. pre-meds).... It's definitely not routine for adults outside some contexts, but if someone asks I think most of my colleagues are happy to at least have a conversation and consider it. (would be a definite 'no' from me with mounjaro in the picture, but on a case by case basis am pretty sure most of us are happy to consider it for some patients even for day surgery).

Should I be stopping my Mounjaro? I’m so, so scared by this.

Angios aren't done in theatres and elective patients unfortunately need to be bounced for people having acute heart attacks so that's more likely than elective surgery

Emergency surgery is another kettle of fish and people often get delayed/bounced. Elective cancellations are rare and generally only due to overruns if a previous patient has been more complex than expected etc

I’ve had quite a few general anaesthetics and always wake up feeling reset.

My last operation was done under sedation and I felt the most relaxed I’ve ever felt. 10/10 would recommend.

The 48 hours afterwards can be emotional.

I’m just really stressed by it all. I think I just want it done now - I’m trying to think that in ten days’ time I’ll be home, on the sofa, being fussed. I just really don’t want anything to come up that causes an issue because if it’s cancelled that’ll be that - I won’t be able to work myself up like this again.

no. They have told you not to stop taking it. I linked the consensus guidelines on one of your other threads and those also say not to stop taking it. We are anaesthetising people frequently on mounjaro/alternatives and not routinely killing them - anaesthetists are sensible and good at weighing up the pros and cons of different anaesthetic techniques to keep patients safe.

National guidelines now say continue it

https://anaesthetists.org/Portals/0/Images/Page%20content/GLP-1%20RAs%20and%20GIPs%20infographic.jpg?ver=2025-03-11-152624-830

(If it was me personally I'd stop it at least a dose, but that's not the official rules

I was thinking of delaying my dose till the day of my op (I inject on Mondays) - but it then screws me over for my holiday in 6 weeks time. I love the stuff but I wish I’d not started it!

@RainSoakedNights Maybe it's an idea to step away from researching all of this and wondering about it all, and do something completely different as a distraction for a while?

As much as I wish I could, I just can’t. My brain won’t switch off from it and it’s just how I am about most things

Honeslty you have nothing to worry about about.

I’ve never felt woozy or counted down, you’re awake one second and asleep the next.

It’s a brilliant sleep.

I’ve had it 3 times. It’s lovely tbh like a brilliant nap.

The worst bit is getting a cannula or picc line - it doesn’t hurt it just makes me squeamish.

Then before surgery they tell you they’re putting you to sleep and to count to 10. You may notice your arm feeling cold like it’s being filled with ice water. Then you wake up after surgery. I’ve never got to 10 when counting I’m usually out by 3!

Honestly it’s just a gap in time. You’re going into surgery and then BLINK you’re out of surgery.

Oh, more stupid questions

will I get given specific after care info, things like when to start sinus rinses, etc on the day?

Mate I really think you need to stop googling. What if I say yes it is and someone else says no it’s not, that’s not getting you any further forward is it?

Ask the surgeons before theyll explain everything when doing your consent form

You need to talk to your preop nurses on what to do with your mounjaro as the last 3 hospitals I've worked at have different rules

You can step away, you are choosing to do this. You do have agency.