When I was having surgery a couple of years ago an anaesthetist came to see me in the morning, and discussed a general. I said I was worried about the intubation. He said it's the most risky part (he wasn't a reassuring chap) and did an assessment to see how likely it was to go wrong with me.
Within minutes he had a senior person through, and they both said I needed special care. They said they'd place a tube down my windpipe, and a separate one down my stomach, whilst under conscious sedation. Both said I would remember it and I would feel considerable pain. They demonstrated by pulling my oesphagus forward, which hurt like hell.
They said I'd need this for all future anaesthetics due to the alignment of my jaws and teeth.
Understandably since then the idea has terrified me and both surgeries (that one and the next) I pushed for, and got, a spinal instead. This still I frightened me but not as much - I felt more in control.
I've never heard of that since, is it a normal procedure?
Also - when they give you a spinal, do they add some sort of sedative or morphine? First time I had continual infusions of midazolam but the second time I was assured no sedatives (as midaz sent me into a psychotic type state) but I did feel very odd. Told the anaesthetist things I wouldn't normally dream of, and felt very cuddly/snuggly? I wouldn't dream of taking sedation again - I was shaved and all sorts under that stuff, and watched by half a dozen students through a view panel. Awful.