What's general anaesthetic like?

[paddyclamp]

I'm having it on Fri...have never had one before...am a bit scared :s

ItS fine but of a funny feeling as it goes up you arm abd you feel all relaxed and then you are woken up. I've had two both fine just a but wheezy after but that's my asthma.

You'll be fine

Fine - you go to sleep and wake up on the other side...

Was very very sick for three days afterwards. Sorry, doesn't happen to everyone I don't think!

One moment they are putting something in your drip, the next you are in recovery. The oxygen mask suddenly being there was what I found most disconcerting (they put mine on after I was out).

Be prepared for the day 3 blues...cried like a baby, no idea why

When I have them the person giving it (I could never do their job - the spelling confuses me too much) asks me to count backwards from 10. I am always CONVINCED I'll make it, but about halfway through my head suddenly feels very light, then very tingly, then...I'm awake and it's all over.

I get quite sick afterwards too, and I always have a v sore throat from the tubes (sorry). If you can get some calippo type lollies (the ribena ones are my fave) then they are really soothing and easy to eat/drink. Everyone will be really nice to you but it's fine to be scared - tell the nurses if you're worried beforehand, they will have had nervous people before.

I don't think I'm gonna be out for long....I take it they give you something for nausea if you feel sick?

Yes, they'll give you stuff if you feel/are sick. Some people are more prone to it than others - I'm a real chucker

YY to all of the above but the actual bit where you go under is so nice! There will be lots of people in the pre-op room but I've always found that there is always someone near me chatting away and making sure you're ok.

The waiting round bit is the worst. You'll be fine when you get there.

I've had 3 GA's. All were very similar.

White liquid in the syringe, injected into the cannula on you hand... Count down from 10 .... Personally never made it past 8(!!!). Then you're awake.

Unlike the others above, no nausea here, just discomfort from the actual part being operated on.

Good luck

Same as everyone else - only sick the last time (4th) but i was 'out' for much longer and hadn't eaten for a long time plus some of the painkillers can make you feel sick too. just be honest with them about how you're feeling and they'll help you through it. the last time they didn't even count down or if they did i don't remember but i was really scared as a major op so they were just chit chatting away to me to distract me i think.

Good luck

The anaesthetist cracked a joke, I started laughing, and then I woke up on the ward.

No sickness either.

Not worth stressing about, you'll be fine.

Good luck

Lovely! No nausea here.
Anaesthetics have changed so much in recent years. People have much fewer side effects.

My mouth tasted of onion when I woke up afterwards and I kept drifting off to sleep for a couple of hours once they brought me round.

No sickness (made me hungry), but I did behave like a 5yr old apparently! Guess it affects different people in different ways!

I love the feeling you get in your legs as they start to go all relaxed and then this lovely calm sleepiness washes through you.

I have found that when they put me on a drip I recover much quicker. They have done that the last two times and it really made a difference.

Hope it goes well.

Never been sick with them but did feel but wired and insomniac the night after . Am about to have another one today so can report back if any different side effects.

It's brilliant - had two and loved them both. You wake up feeling like you've slept a day. Its only good if you like losing it mentally though, I'd say. Second was for a longish op and I vomited once after, but even that wasn't a mega stress.

I've had it twice and quite enjoyed it!

It is strange and disturbing, and unlike sleep, there is no sense of the passage of time at all.

It was like I had ceased to exist for the whole period of time. And I ended up asking myself where was I while all that was going on?

Thanks for all the replies! ... Think my problem is that i watch too much House / Holby City type of programmes where everyone who has a GA seems to suffer a cardiac arrest!!!!

Have had several, wierd really I quite like the feeling, but have never been sick have just come around feeling a bit groggy nothing else, but other family members are different so its not the same for everyone. Try not to worry it will be over before you know it.

The nil by mouth annoying - am typing this waiting to go under and would kill for some coffee

I rather enjoy them

Very quick and easy to go under, and I've never even felt sick afterwards (but if you do, ask for meds). I do have strange dreams whilst asleep! The worst part, really, is the tiredness - you may well feel run down and tired for a week or two after, depending how long you are under/what the op is.

Good luck - and Gig, who hopefully is now under and soon to get coffee!

If you are nervous (like me!)ask for a sedative while you are waiting to go down to theatre, it really helps me. It's true you wake up and feel like you have lost an hour of life or something and I didn't dream anything.

Can't say I enjoy them!

Oh paddyclamp step away from the telly box!

You will be fine. Believe me it's extremely rare anything life-threatening happens.