Can you tell me what happens when you have a general anaesthetic for surgery

[iQuitToday]

I am due to have surgery in a couple of months and I am terrified. Never had surgery before and the thought of being put to sleep panics me.

it a pretty big op and will be life changing for me so in my best interest to have the surgery but at the minute I can’t see me going through with it. How do you feel after the anaesthetic wears off?

Another here with fond memories of all my GAs. Also I may just have been lucky but several of the anaesthetists were rather hot, which was a bonus. I worked with one once for a creative project and I remember him saying that it’s not really sleep, it’s more like you’re just not there for that period, which may be the scary thing existentially, but I think it’s quite cool and explains that feeling of time skipping. It really is like you close your eyes pre-op and are suddenly transported to post-op with no sense of the transition. I hope you can ease your panics and discover that it’s nothing like what’s terrifying you. And fingers crossed for a hot anaesthetist if that would help!

You may see the operating theatre. I have in 3 of my 7 ops. I was wheeled in on the hospital bed and then once asleep moved to the operating table.

@iQuitTodayI was terrified before my first one but I actually like the sensation of being put under anaesthetic! You will usually have one or two people talking to you, in my experience they’ve always been really gentle, funny and check your name and date of birth a few times. They’ve always asked me about my work, if I have pets or other life topics whilst I have a cannular put in then they talk you through what is happening (for example “we’re just giving you a saline flush so your arm may feel a little cold sensation”) then they’ve always told me when they’re putting the first bit in (always forget what it’s called) and normally say that you’re going to feel like you’ve had a couple of glasses of wine or similar. I love that bit, I go all warm and sleepy then I’ve always been asked to count to 10 in my head and I don’t think I’ve ever made 5 😂 you’ll wake up in recovery where somebody will be checking your obs (blood pressure, heart rate etc) and I’ve always been offered pain meds (I also usually have a bag of fluids through my cannular as my blood pressure drops after anaesthetic). You’ll probably feel sleepy and a bit groggy. Once you’re stable as in consistent normal BP/HR etc they’ll arrange for somebody to come and take you to the ward.

I’ve only ever had good experiences. Friendly anaesthetists and operating theatre staff and lovely nurses in recovery.

Good luck, you’ll be fine! ☺️

Anaesthetist. What op is it and I can be more specific?

Generally you get checked in on arrival by our assistants. Connected to monitoring 3 stickers on your shoulder, BP cuff and probe on your finger. Small plastic straw into thr back of the hand. We give you a fee mins of o2 to wash out the air from the lungs then use the drip to drift you to sleep. The anaesthetic is cold as it goes up the arm that's v normal and nothing to worry about. Keep you asleep, give you pain killers and antisickness and wake you up when it's finished. You'll hear us say open your eyes, take a big breathe and then we will take the tube out your mouth. Often you won't remember thus bit with hindsight. Take you to recovery where you'll stay for 40min-few hours depending on the op. Most people that are relatively young and fit are back to normal within an hour of waking

I last had one when DDs were small, work was stressful, and it felt like the best sleep of my life. A nice rest. Also when I just had sedation - midazolam - for another procedure, and just had a lovely snooze. And the healthcare professionals were so lovely and caring. I hope it puts your mind at rest.

Just to clarify, lots of hospitals have irritatingly got rid of anaesthetic rooms to save space so it's not uncommon to go to sleep in theatre now (especially the emergency theatre itself as that's safer), there's not much difference just a few extra people and marginally more noisy as a result

I've only seen counting 3x in 10yrs of being an anaesthetist... (by kiddies that want to "win"/stay awake)... you're welcome to but it doesn't normally happen anymore

Yeah that's somewhat of an insult to our job!!

I’ve had a few surgeries lately, and people have described it pretty well. I would say the only differences are that I had a mask over my face as I was going to sleep. I panicked and felt claustrophobic first time, so second time they let me hold it myself over my face and I remember saying “I don’t think it’s working” before I woke up in recovery a few hours later. As someone else said, they usually chat to you and I’ve not counted to 10 in years. The staff are all really lovely, and it’s genuinely not scary, although I know the unknown part of it will be. I hope your surgery goes well

I thinks it’s natural to have some nerves and I’m sure the majority of people do. In my experience though anaesthetists are the kindest most compassionate doctors I’ve ever met and will spend as much time as you need to explain everything and answer any questions, however random they might be. I had a operation a few weeks ago which I was extremely anxious about and honestly I think I fell in love with my anaesthetist, he was so calm and reassuring it made so much difference to how I felt. He chatted to me and the next thing I knew I was in recovery not realising I’d even had my op!

The only thing I find is after a GA I am so wide awake I cannot sleep a wink the first night and it takes me a few days/week to get back to sleeping normally.

I've never been asked to count to ten. I don't think I'd want to, I want to concentrate on enjoying the few seconds where all the pain goes away before I lose consciousness.

Thank you @Destiny123your post is really reassuring. It is spinal surgery. Will anaesthetist be there the whole time and do they stay until I come around properly?

There is really nothing to be scared of - GA is fantastic!

100% we never go more than about 10 steps from your head (to our drug cupboard) from the minute you meet us in theatre to when we pass you over to our recovery nurses.

Technically you're probably the safest you'll ever be under GA as you're so closely monitored.

Once you're asleep you're likely to have an additional drip put into the inner wrist that let's us monitor your BP more accurately and take blood tests to check on you. A lot of spinal surgery is performed with you on your tummy so waking up with a swollen face isn't unusual it its a long op. They often put tiny electrodes in your arms, legs and scalp once you're asleep and these monitor the motor functions by a specialist electrophysiologist.

Ive had a few GA's over the years, and as others have said, you get asked to count down and are out cold before 5

Waking up can be quick, one time I woke whilst they were removing my breathing tube, which was a bit disconcerting - nothing major

Sometimes Ive woken tearful, other times been grand , one time I woke calling my DH all the old bastards under the sun - believe me, the recovery room team have seen and heard it all before

The one bit of advice I would give, is give yourself a few days after to fully recover. You may feel 100% but you can still be "under the influence " so to speak. My last one, DH was working away so I was dealing with everything , and drove 3 days later. I fell asleep at the wheel. Luckily no harm to anybody - it was fleeting - but scary as shit

I love a GA. Great sleep 😴

I work in spinal theatres. The anaesthetic process can be long (but you will be unaware!) as they take such good care of you and ensure you have adequate vascular access for blood transfusions and or fluids which can take a while, You will most likely be on your tummy for the operation. They can put in a urinary catheter depending on the length of surgery and also can implant an epidural at the surgery site before sticking you up, for pain relief post operatively. Spinal cord monitoring is also done like someone else Said earlier. They never take their eyes of their monitoring equipment and work closely with the surgeons. Some of the spinal
cases such as a deformity correction can be long so make sure your loved ones don’t worry if you are away all day. Good luck x

I had surgery for cauda equina if you want to ask anything

I've had GA twice in my life and both times I woke up feeling really tearful, but not understanding why.
Someone suggested to me about drinking extra fluid once you're awake to "flush away " the residual anaesthetic, but I don't know if it's recommended.

Everyone has to wake up whilst we are removing the breathing tube, it is a safety thing to ensure that when there's no tube in your airway you can re-protect your own lungs from vomit/spit etc. It's just variable how much people remember of it happening

Theres only 2 ways to anaesthetise people - gas which you get rid of by breathing it out into the atmosphere. Or intravenous, which drifts from the veins and is metabolised

Drinking won't make any difference what so ever to getting rid of the anaesthetic, but also won't do any great harm. Being emotional is v common