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Original poster

How long does it take to get over a general anaesthetic?

36 replies

IBlameThePMT · 16/12/2009 09:59

Hiya, I had a minor-ish op on Monday, key hole surgery and was out the same day. I feel sooo tired tho. I know its only 2 days later, Im being a bit daft I guess expecting to feel fine. But does anaesthetic hang around in your system or something? I just feel so flat and tired. Any one elses experiences would be really interesting, TIA.

OP posts:

GloriaInEccentrica · 16/12/2009 10:01

i think it depends on the person. some people bounce up and carry on. i know after i had laparoscopy once it took a good couple of weeks of knackardness.

Original poster

IBlameThePMT · 16/12/2009 10:03

Two weeks?? Damn, Im bored already!

OP posts:

bellavita · 16/12/2009 10:08

I was ok for a couple of days then it seemed to hit me.... I had keyhole surgery to the knee. Lasted for a few days.

Hope you feel ok soon.

KurriKurri · 16/12/2009 10:08

Usually a good couple of days if not longer. Add to that the pain of surgery, the tension of waiting for it and getting through it. And (in my case!) the rushing around like a mad thing to get everything done before you go in!
All add up to making you feel tired afterwards. Don't try and do too much too soon

displayuntiltwelfthnight · 16/12/2009 10:13

I agree with above posts that you will feel worn out for a good fortnight at least. It takes only about 24 hours for is to go out of your sytem I think but you feel REALLY tired. I had keyhole surgery a couple of years ago and it really knocked me for six!
Make sure you take the recommended pain killers for the first few days and paracetamol after that for a few days because even if you don't think you have enough pain to need them, you'll be amazed how much better you feel with a painkiller to take the edge off things.
I didn't feel like I was at my best for a good 6 wks tbh but I think I did a bit much too soon and also having 3 dcs to look after made the return to normality come that bit quicker! Depends on the surgery of course but don't expect too much of yourself too soon or you'll find the tiredness lasts longer!

Original poster

IBlameThePMT · 16/12/2009 10:16

Yes Kurri, I have been rushing around to get things ready for me to be out of action so probably was knackered anyway! So hard tho, this not doing too much. I have realised I am a total control freak and hate letting others do stuff for me! I stupidly picked up my lumpen toddler without thinking this morning when Im not meant to be lifting for 4 weeks ...hopefully it will be a warning to me to not be such a twit. But how do you not pick up your Dcs for a month?

OP posts:

expatinscotland · 16/12/2009 10:17

depends on how long you're out.

i had a short one for an ERPCs. and was pretty much over it right away.

had a 2.5 hour op and felt a bit groggy for a couple of days.

Original poster

IBlameThePMT · 16/12/2009 10:18

Thats interesting displayuntil...I have stopped the painkillers already since not really in pain, more just feel very odd tbh. Perhaps I should keep on with them after all then.

OP posts:

jeminXmashell · 16/12/2009 10:19

I had GA around 15 years ago and recovered quickly, but had an op around 6 months ago and felt crap for a few days...think it was an age thing that made the recovery slower second time with me.

Original poster

IBlameThePMT · 16/12/2009 10:24

Thanks everyone, all makes sense what you say, so Im going to take the advice to rest and go back to bed now

OP posts:

GloriaInEccentrica · 16/12/2009 10:25

also i think it might depend on how long you were out for.
i had an op once that lasted about 6 hours. felt weird for ages afterwards - like i was aware that i'd missed a big chunk of time.

displayuntiltwelfthnight · 16/12/2009 10:31

IblameThePMT - definitely keep on with the painkillers. I did the same as you but felt really crummy and it was my dh who suggested I shoulod be taking them and I was amazed how much easier I found things once I kept on with them.
Don't forget that although the holes on the outside are small, a lot was done internally with keyhole so don't underestimate how much work your body is doing behind the scenes to repair!
Take it easy and try and make the most of resting. I am just like you and found it really hard to let everyone else do everything but I should have just chilled out more because I didn't make the most of the chance to rest when I had it and I'm sure that's why it took me a bit longer to feel ok again.
Hope you feel great again before long but do be aware that when you do start to get back to doing things again, you may well find even just walking up to school takes it out of you to begin with so ease yourself back into things gradually

morethan1 · 16/12/2009 14:01

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

sandripples · 16/12/2009 16:51

That's all pretty useful stuff as I will be having GA in Jan for breast surgery - so thanks! According to my friends it does vary quite a lot, but the possibility of it lasting a couple of weeks is well worth knowing about.

SantaClausImWorthIt · 16/12/2009 16:54

I had a short one for an ERPC too - and it totally knocked me out for 10 days. I felt really swimmy and distant - as if the world around me was a film that I was in, and it wasn't quite real.

Had to call the GP out in the end.

Milliways · 16/12/2009 18:36

I have had a few operations, always done on a Monday & I always feel awful on the Thursday (supposedly that is the time when the last of it leaves your system?)

Hope you feel better soon.

expatinscotland · 16/12/2009 18:59

it does vary by person, sandripples.

like i said, i was 36 when i had a short one for ERPC and was up and about as soon as i woke up.

but had 2.5 hour one when i was 25 and fit as a fiddle and was seriously loopy for a few days.

worse, about 5 days later, my bladder quit working!

i couldn't pee for anything!

the surgeon was a friend of my ex h's and mine, mainly my ex h because they were ice climbing partners.

so the ex h rang him when i couldn't void my bladder and he told me sometimes this happened, and i needed to go to hospital and have a catheter.

you can better believe i resisted that!

nurse said sometimes the organs just don't wake up so well.

also, never underestimate constipation after GA and stay on prune juice and dried fruit and plenty of water until about a week after the GA!

MiaWallace · 16/12/2009 19:26

Really worried after reading this thread. DD (age 4) is due to have a general anasthetic on Monday to remove two teeth.

Worried that she is still going to be feeling groggy on Christmas day

Original poster

IBlameThePMT · 16/12/2009 19:41

God please no to constipation!! I am main lining senokot so hopefully wont have that to deal with too

Although everyones experiences are different it doesnt sound too unusual to feel fairly floored after an op under GA so guess its normal. Will try to go with it and not fret then. Back to bed I guess!

Mia, perhaps being young she'll bounce back quicker? Hopefully she wont be under too long. And I cant think of a better thing than loads of pressies to perk her up! Good luck, hope shes not too groogy after x

OP posts:

EldonAve · 16/12/2009 19:44

me - usually a week

whethergirl · 16/12/2009 20:05

I had general anaesthic a few weeks ago and I felt sooo tired for at least a week afterwards, I wish someone had warned me about that. I was also on strong antibiotics and painkillers so wasn't sure if that was contributing to the tiredness.

MiaWallace I think your DD will be fine by Christmas day, don't forget kids bounce back a lot quicker than we do. Just let her sleep as much as she can, I could have done with a bit more sleep when recovering but you know what us crazy grown ups are like! And the adrenalin of Christmas excitement will definitely overpower even the strongest of anaesthics.

Milliways · 16/12/2009 21:23

MiaWallace: DS had a tooth removed under GA aged 3 (accident!) and was right as rain within 24 hours.

alypaly · 16/12/2009 21:42

IBlameThePMT....dont forget your body has had an operation. So inside ,it is in shock. Which can be very tiring and you should always take it easy after a GA. Even after a tooth removal they say to take a day off work as your body has received an insult and has to get back to functioning normally.also depends on the GA and other drugs too. pain killers can make you feel a bit spaced out too.

aliasdictus · 16/12/2009 21:54

The anaesthetic only takes 24 hrs or so to be removed from the body, other drugs such as pain killers may last longer but the effects of surgery on the body, both physically and hormonally can take several weeks to recover. Adult daycases should usually feel 90% by a few days, children seem to bounce back without a care in the world and usually 90% in less than 24 hrs and 100% very soon after.

snickersnack · 16/12/2009 21:57

MiaWallace - ds had a general earlier this year, and by evening (op at 11am) you would not have known he'd been in hospital. He was absolutely back on top form.

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