What was good/bad about your anaesthetic?

[TheBigWhiteSyringe]

I work in the area of anaesthesia in a busy city hospital. Im always looking to improve my practice and bedside manner.
Unfortunately I rarely get the chance to follow up on patients and receive feedback on how they found their time in theatre.
Would you mind telling me what was good/bad about your anaesthetics or any suggestions you might have? Im hoping this will help me treat patients more effectively.

The rules on social media are pretty strict so in order to protect myself I've had to name change. I also may not be able to answer questions specifically relating to your care or treatment. But if I can answer I will.

Thanks in advance

I had a GA recently. Th anaesthetist gave me a spinal to deal with the pain after surgery. Unfortunately when I came round it had all but worn off

I had propofol and don't remember any pain from having it.

I am absolutely terrified of general anaesthesia - bordering on a phobia. i've had a few as a child, and one as an adult (an operation I chickened out of twice, sitting there in my gown I packed up and went home. I've been cancelling a gallbladder removal over and over again for 3 years now. If I could have a spinal it would be no problem, but apparently it's too high up and wouldn't be safe.

It's not that I genuinely think I will die under anaesthetic. It's more being terrified of the whole experience, mainly of losing consciousness in a way that's beyond my control. If I think about it too much, I'm frightened of going to sleep at night! I have to go to bed when I'm not too tired because if I'm so tired that I feel I can't choose to stay awake, I panic horribly!

Things that have helped: Lorazepam, temazepam. Information about how anaesthetics work - information and knowledge helps me feel in control. A very kind anaesthetist talked me through the whole thing and spent a lot of time with me (without making me feel stupid) and enabled me to go ahead with my op.

Things that have been unhelpful: diazepam, being spoken to like a naughty child, told off about wasting staff time (ias if I'm doing it on purpose), an anesthetist swearing under his breath and rolling his eyes.

I have severe emetophobia and had my first 2 surgeries last year, gynae surgery which I'm told can cause bad sickness, I was so so worried about myself being sick or another patient in recovery but they were so good, I was scared about gagging on the breathing tube and I was begging them to remove it as soon as they saw me stirring, they were laughing at me constantly asking was everything going to make me sick, every step I had to ask them several times before I believed them, they gave me all the antiemets going and put me at the end of the bay with the curtains drawn in recovery so I wasn't near other patients

I did have some crazy heart rates after both times and was kept in recovery for a while and have to have an ECG before my ops now

the anesthetsit who administered my epidural was the most calming, reassuring man who mad so much difference to what was otherwise a traumatic situation.
I was rushed in for an emergency C section at 28 weeks, all the staff were frantic, dh & I were petrified and in walked the anesthetist, he immediately called for calm & quiet.
Took control and despite the urgency treated me as a person and spoke to me explaining what was happening & why.
He over ruled the doc who said I would have to have a general and allowed me to be awake.
I will never forget this amazing man.

I like Lauren have emmetophobia and am due to get gallbladder removal. I'm terrified of vomiting.

Fingers crossed re the anti sickness drugs

helensburgh it worked a treat, no nausea at all, they wrote it in my notes and gave me every one they could max doses and I get that everytime now, I don't remember the tube either it was out before I came round

I was so do anxious about it

I recently had an esophagectomy at St Thomas's and the aneasathetist was fabulous . Calm , reassuring ,listened to me . Spoke to me beforehand . Instantly understood when I couldn't bring myself to confirm what op I was having .

Staff lovely when I woke up ,told me time and day several times without being asked which I so appreciated .

When I had a LA later I loved the warm blanket ,wished someone had warned me about the burning smell . Wished I had advice on how to treat wound on discharge .

But I love anaesthatists . But they've not helped my spelling !