What's general anaesthetic like?

[paddyclamp]

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

I've had GA twice. I asked the anaesthetist if he wanted me to count to ten. He laughed and said "if you like," and that's the last thing I remember.

The waking up wasn't hugely pleasant. The first time (post nose-job) I found myself mid-conversation as I came too, babbling about who-knows-what. I then became very tearful, asking the big hairy porter wheeling me down the corridor if he'd "hold my haaaannnnd." I felt sick as a dog for at least 24 hours afterwards, and threw up a few times.

On the second occasion (emergency cs) I was a bit calmer, but I remember seeing a man in the bed opposite in the recovery ward, and wondering if he'd had a cs too. I didn't have any of the nasty after-effects apart from feeling tired; possibly progress in anaesthetics in the 12 years between the two GAs.

You'll be fine!

I've had one which was an emergency op, v. early in my career, and I was interrogated by my boss about which drugs he was using as I went off to sleep. This all happened just after I had to remove my underwear in a room full of people I knew as I'd forgotten to take my underwired bra off (metal and surgery don't go well together). Don't remember anything at all about recover and remember waking up on the ward to be told that I'd better shut up as I was countering embarrassing rubbish.

I've given about 5000 anaesthetics so can also talk about the doctor side of it. TBH (as a fit and healthy person myself) I would worry more about what the pesky surgeons are getting up to than the anaesthetic but it is always hard to be rational when you are scared.

If you want some good quality information the Royal College of Anaesthetists has a whole subsection of their web site dedicated to patient information. There are also some lovely leaflets for kids.

www.rcoa.ac.uk/index.asp?SectionID=4

ha ha! So glad I thought I was the only one who actually quite enjoyed the experience.
Went under ga after giving birth, haven't slept properly in years now... so maybe I'm just looking at it as my last restful sleep in years!

No side effects here.

The actual going to sleep bit is fine, nurses are lovely beforehand, if you're nervous they will quite often give you a sedative. I am one of the unfortunates who gets as sick as a dog afterwards, even with anti-emetics - the only thing that seems to help is putting me on a drip as I can't even keep water down afterwards. Bleugh!

All done! Was absolutely fine!!! Everyone was lovely, told them how scared I was! ..... They gave me something to relax me beforehand which was great, and I don't remember being put under, next thing I knew I was in recovery! .... No nausea as yet so fingers crossed I got away with it!

Oh good, glad to hear it went well.

I had my first GA 3 weeks ago now and really didn't like the dizzy/woozy sensation of going under, but I'm not sure if that was the anaesthetic or the sedative they gave me beforehand.

When I came round the first thing I remember asking the nurse was if I was still wearing my paper pants - she checked and said no! I was really shaky and shivery when I came around, but not sick.

Well done, best wishes for a quick recovery!!

What's general anaesthetic like?
-Thanks for all who replied.

I've had 3 before I remember just waiting for anesthetic to take effect was expecting to go all light headed the next thing you wake up all done seemed like afew seconds nothing to worry about really you will be fine

ZOMBIE THREAD...

I didn’t hate it but I didn’t like it, I was 10 at the time so they put numbing cream on my hand but it still hurt.when I got into the pre op room they distracted me with a where’s wally book then I remember pins and needles all over my body.at this point I was crying but the doctor said th calm down.They put an oxygen mask over my face and the injected it into the cannula.All of a sudden I was in the recovery room.they brought me to my mum and dad I was all loopy so I shouted at the top of my voice “hi mummy hi daddy “ . No sickness for me I was just very tired for a few days after.

I didn’t feel myself fall asleep or anything like that. They just started counting and the next thing I knew I was awake again. I was very worried about it beforehand but it was fine. Good luck!

I had two at the end of last year. I was under for longer the first time.

I was really nervous but it was so easy. I was out for a few hours the first time. When I was back on the ward my mouth was so dry and I was very sleepy but not unpleasantly so. I just felt relaxed. There was no pain, no sickness, a bit of nausea but it passed before I called the nurse.