What is it like having a general anaesthetic?

[lazarou]

I'm having one next week for some dental surgery and I'll only be out for 45 minutes, but I'm really nervous.
I'm also a little bit concerned about when you actually fall asleep. It says on the info they have sent me that I will be given an injection to make me feel sleepy and then I will be taken to theatre and given the actual anaesthetic. I assumed the first injection was the pre-med, but then I read that you have to ask for that.
Naturally, I've been googling and reading horror stories, and now I can't think about anything else.

its completely fine!! what kind of surgery are you having? Are you having your wisdom teeth taken out?

lazarou its fab, you just drift off. Have had lots over the years, you just feel little sleepy when you come around.

Good luck, you will be fine

i had one in october and i was terrified!. From what i can remember they did something to numb my hand, then put the needle/tube thing in my hand and told me to count back from 10, they were just chatting to me, one minute i was talking and the next thing i knew it was all done! i really cant tell you how frighted i was beforehand (nearly ran out of the hospital 30 mins before the op!)but honestly it was totally fine

I had my wisdom teeth out under GA
I saw a lovely anaesthetist beforehand (first thing in the morning on the day) who answered all my questions and promised to give me superstrength anti sickness medicine cos I tend to feel sick with injections

I dont actually remember the falling asleep part, ?? due to the pre med.

Afterwards I felt quite faint but do not know if this was due to the GA or the surgery itself iyswim

I had one giving birth to dd1 (had emergency section and the epidural wouldn't top up and I had to be knocked out asap so they could get her out)

I had a mask put on my face which was odd and then you are out for the count

did not feel sick afterwards, althogh I did have a small person to take my mind off matters

I had a GA for my wisdom teeth (all 4 at once). I was terrified but it was fine.

I woke up properly as I was being wheeled back to my room and I was instantly very wide awake and felt fine, it was nothing like waking up from sleep.

Dont worry about it. I had to have an op a few years ago and felt really frightened beforehand.

They put a needle in my hand and asked me to count backwards from 10, got to 7 and the next thing I knew a nurse was calling my name and it was all over with.

Thanks for replies. I'm having an op to expose a tooth up in my gum that never came down. I had my baby tooth for years but it always looked a bit odd, so i had a veneer put over it, which eventually snapped off, taking my baby tooth with it. They are going to put a brace on my teeth and hopefully the brace will pull my tooth down into the right place.
I hope to god my wisdom teeth don't decide to come down at any point, the movement might make them want a piece of the action!

I had one last year when I had my tonsils out and it was fine. I expected a mask to be put over my face, and to be asked to count but none of that happened, it went in through my hand and I had no idea I had been put out until I came around. I was sick a few hours afterwards which apperently is common with tonsillectomies, as you swallow lots of blood combined with the fact that I may have had too much morphine when i came around- well, if they ask if you want some more, who is really going to say no . It did wipe me out for a good week afterwards though, I was really srprised at the fatigue it left me with.

i find it rather blissful.

you get an IV in your hand. everytime i've been out, they gave me something to make me really loopy.

then told me they were giving me something to make me sleep and i was away within seconds.

then you hear someone waking you up telling you it's over.

just tell them you're very nervous - it will also show up in your blood pressure they take pre-operatively .

i get sick afterwards and have a medical condition that needs monitoring and different drugs to managed during GA.

but just make them aware of everything beforehand.

I've had 4 GAs (for knee ops and having my appendix removed). I love the sensation of going under. Its nothing to be scared of, just go with it.

I had one for the first time last year; then a second a couple of months later.

i was really nervous about it, esp as knew I couldn't have anyone with me so DH would have left meearly in the monring. I told the anaesthetist adn he was lovely.

I though I would feel woozy and have a drifting off feeeling, but I didn't have that at all.

They wiped my skin over and put in a tube thing. They then inserted the needle into this to administer the GA. I was chatting to the nurse one minute - and that was it. Next thing I knew I was coming round in the recovery room, with another lovely nurse taking care of me there.

I did feel very woozy and tired for quite a while afterwads. I went home the same day, but, especially the second time round, it knocked me out for a good while. And then I hadn't realised that it would affect me tiredness wise for a few days afterwards.

The thing I didn't expect was the extremely dry throat. First time it only lasted that day; second time a few days and it was very sore. Very dry and sore - drink as much water as you can, sip after sip.

I do feel a bit more reassured now, thanks. Can you believe I came up here to do some coursework at 7pm and I've spent most of that time googling GA's.
To make it worse, I have to be there for 7.30 am, and we have to take the kids as well. My parents are on holiday that week and if I postpone my op I will drop to the bottom of the waiting list.
I've got a wedding to go to in May as well. I'll look a right state with a face full of metal and a missing tooth. Still, if I get drunk I won't care.
I feel like a right dickey doo dar worrying about this.

I found it a totally unremarkable experience.

I had my first GA aged 25 for a short operation to remove a metal plate from my ankle (it has been put there under epidural). I was soooo nervous. But I remember nothing. I was in the prep room, a mask went over my face, I blinked and was in the recovery room waking up. I felt a bit cold and shaky for two minutes. The nurse had to remind me to breath a few times as I was kept holding my breath (I do this when nervous). Within 15 mins I was having a cup of tea and an hour later I went home.

I had no after effects. I didn't feel ill or tired or anything.

I loved having a GA, only had one once but it is so weird its good iykwim. I remember the needle going in my arm/drip and then being told to count backwards from 10, i think i got to 7 then woke up in the bed, as others have mentioned the only strange bit is no feeling of the time in between.

I think what I am most dreading is lying flat on the bed, because I have asthma and lying flat when I'm nervous makes me a bit panicky.
I have asked if I can have that numbing cream they put on your hand before they put the cannula in. The last time i had a cannula it was before I was induced and that was awful.

I have had about seven or eight GA. I didn't mind them at all, in fact the first injection had the rather enjoyable effect of making me happy and relaxed.

Lazarou...Regarding the cannula, ask for a local first, i had one when giving birth to my dd and i am not squeamish but it really hurt and the MW cocked it up, but when having my section, the cannula bit i was dreading the most, but the guy who did it give me a local first and i was in complete shock as to how painfree simple and quick it was.

My dd had the numbing cream and it was pretty useless tbh, ask for a local first.

I've had 3 GA and the very best bit, I found was when I woke up again! You know that feeling when one of your lo's wakes you up and you really really don't want to, but you have to? Well, when you've had a GA, you don't have to wake up! Tis complete bliss, that you are expected to nod back off for as long as you like!

You'll be fine, by the time the theatre nurse has asked you a question about yourself to keep you calm, you'll drift off to sleep, before you've had time to answer!

Pucca, the mw I had faffed around a lot with the cannula, and when I went for my consultation about this op, I told the doctor how painful I had found it and she said that the anaesthetist would be much quicker and more skilled at putting it in.
I am also not looking forward to wearing one of those hospital gowns. Last time I wore one I don't think I did it up right and the surgeon had to do it for me. My arse was probably hanging out. That was the same operation during which I had to get up and go and have a number two. I said to the surgeon ' i bet that happens all the time' He said 'no, you're the first'
So, on top of all the worry I must also remember not to make a fool of myself.

IME (and I've had a few) going under is a doddle - as previously described: count "10, 9, gone!" - coming round can be a bit rough but you gradually feel better all the time, kind of like waking up with a hangover.

Well, today was the day. I dragged myself reluctantly out of bed, got the kids dressed, left at 6.45am, got there at 7.30. Sat in the waiting room and was told there were no beds and I would have to wait a while. Then I saw the consultant who told me I wouldnt have my op until about 10.30, so I sent my dh off with the kids. 9.30 the theatre manager told me my op was cancelled because of the lack of beds. It's rescheduled for the 29th, so now I have to psyche myself up all over again. Brilliant!