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Original poster

Can a general anaesthetic make you feel depressed?

43 replies

perceptionreality · 15/05/2012 23:20

I had one a week ago. Now I feel depressed, paranoid and anxious. I am afraid to open the curtains. I do have a lot going on with dd1 lately but nothing new.

Then I remembered this happened the last time I had a GA. Anyone else had this?

OP posts:
Realitea · 14/06/2018 08:21

There is also a link between depression and inflammation. If the body is inflamed from an operation it makes sense. There was a doctor on radio 2 talking about it and it made so much sense. I had a nasty wisdom tooth removal and had awful anxiety afterwards for about a year. I am convinced it was a result of the operation.

Fozzy225 · 09/09/2018 20:45

I had an op about 18 months ago now and immediately after I experienced extreme depression. I later was diagnosed with clinical depression which I believe was brought on by the anaesthetic. I felt claustrophobic, terrified and also didn’t feel like me anymore. Days went on followed by weeks i just didn’t feel in reality and was profoundly sad and afraid. I just tried to carry on with my life trying everything to get out of it from exercise, antidepressants, i saw a phychologist and had blood tests a month after. I wasn’t deficient in anything. Eventually after around 5 months later i got better from Reading some self help books about depression they gave me so much hope. But before that no one would believe it was the anesthetic, the surgeon, gp , anesethetist and even close friends and family just told me it was because things had got on top of me. But i knew it wasn’t it was from the op and I feel like this is a side effect that isn’t being recognised. Anyway i wanted to write to tell people if they were experiencing theses feelings that it does get better and talking to people who know about depression and will believe you can really help.

stopfuckingshoutingatme · 09/09/2018 21:52

Yes Flowers I remember weeping

M314n13 · 04/11/2018 16:48

As others have said, it’s an old thread, but one I’m grateful for. It’s reassuring to hear others have felt similar and the tearfulness and low mood will hopefully pass soon.

Issie61 · 12/12/2018 15:10

I had gallbladder surgery on friday am with an unexpected massive infection.so im 5 days post op,and i feel so low and am crying at everything ,is this normal

happysunr1se · 12/12/2018 19:16

It's a zombie thread, but yes Issie61 it could well be normal. My aunt had knee surgery and afterwards she was very depressed and actually very mentally distressed.

She thought "people" were coming to take her away. Locked herself in her house, refused to let close family in to visit. It went on for weeks. She had psych evaluations, readmitted to hospital.

Apparently post anaesthesia psychosis is a well documented phenomenon, especially in older patients (my aunt is late 60's), but no one warned us beforehand!!

She is back to normal now and doesn't remember that time at all.
Hope you feel better soon, take care of yourself.

M314n13 · 12/12/2018 22:37

Yes issie61, I absolutely understand how you feel. I was really low after my GA but it did pass so hang on in there xx

Issie61 · 12/12/2018 23:26

Thankyou so much

Issie61 · 12/12/2018 23:28

I dont think i have that just post op depression ,gimmie a knee replacement over this anyday.

staffiegirl · 13/12/2018 09:28

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Issie61 · 13/12/2018 12:02

Thankyou

Missingstreetlife · 20/12/2018 20:27

Definately, 3rd day after anaesthetic notorious for post op blues.

TrickyD · 20/12/2018 20:33

Our former GP pointed out that it is brain poison, and required a week off work for every 15 minutes of the anaesthetic.

brizzledrizzle · 20/12/2018 20:33

If you had morphine as pain relief at all then that could contribute to feeling tearful and down.

Inmyownlittlecorner · 20/12/2018 20:38

@Issie61 I’m 3 weeks post gallbladder surgery & I was so anxious for days afterwards. I don’t think I expected the healing to take this long.
I’m feeling relatively back to normal now.
Wishing you well asap x

YankOnTheShelf · 20/12/2018 20:40

If I have to go under I always try to get propofol. It's really minimal side effects, at least for me. No grogginess at all as you eliminate it so quickly.

leghoul · 21/12/2018 00:54

You'll always get a mix of drugs depending on the anaesthetist and the type of operation. You can say if you've had a bad or weird experience before though.

Missingstreetlife · 21/12/2018 20:44

They may also give adrenaline which some people react to
I always ask the dentist for no adrenaline in local anaesthetic because it makes me anxious and next day I feel drained.
They give it because it hastens and intensifies drug effect, like some pain killers contain caffeine, or obvs if they need to antidote sedative or your heart needs a jolt

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