anesthesia - Open to All Other Health Topics Message Board

jen288 · 07-01-2002, 10:25 PM

I was wondering about anesthesia. I might possibly have to have surgery soon and am not scared of the surgery but am terrified of going under the anesthesia. I am a huge worry wart about my health as it is. Could anyone tell me about and experience they had going under anesthesia or know what the procedure is like, how do the put you under.
I have been told you get very dizzy to its just like falling into a deep sleep. What does it feel like when you are waking up and the anesthesia is wearing off. sorry my question mark button doesnt work lol
thank you for any info

nanna02 · 07-02-2002, 12:13 AM

Hi There Jen!

If you do have to have surgery , firstly , make sure you ask as many ??? as you can about the procedure, and in hospital they should send an Anaesthetist around to see you..- ASK QUESTIONS!..
My experience was very good !!..I've had 2 ops so far .. 1 more soon..
I was trundled into theatre, the staff laughed and made jokes with me.. then told me what they were going to do.. then I knew no more.. woke up.. didn't kinda know where I was at first , but could hear my Daughter and husband talking to me so that was nice to know they were there.. I could smell the glorious smell of Tropical Flowers they'd sent me, (sitting on a shelf above my bed, I discovered later) .. I said something a bit rude like " I'm as Dry as a Penguins'Chuff! " .. my daughter told me later .. she was laughing at all the funny things that come out.. then eventually you just wake up properly and that's it!!.. After that it's to be seen how you are. So, Jen, good luck and don't let it worry you ..It's worse to worry..get informed !!... belle NZ xxx

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A Friend!

Lady^ · 07-02-2002, 09:22 AM

I love anesthesia! I've had quite a few operations in my day and have never had a bad time with the anesthesia. They will hook up an IV in your hand or wrist and then usually they make you a a bit dopey and relaxed while they are prepping you for surgery. Once your prepped they will put another drug in the IV which will put you to sleep. Alot of people talk while they are sedated and say all sorts of crazy things. I had my tubes tied a month ago and when I woke up the doc said I had asked the anesthesia guy if he'd come home with me. He was kinda cute but I think that I asked him to come home with me cause his drugs made me feel so good.

When I wake up I usually just sort of, well, wake up. Depending on the surgery you may have pain when you wake up and if so the nurse will probably give you a pain pill. I used to wake up and burst in to tears (I have no idea why) but I don't do that any more.

There is also a "Twilight" anesthesia which is used sometimes. This drug doesn't put you to sleep but you don't feel anything or remember anything. It's used if you need to be awake for some reason. For example, if you have an endoscopy done they need you to be paritally awake cause you have to swallow a small camera which lets them look at your stomach and esophagus.

Jay Tor · 07-02-2002, 10:00 AM

My experience with general anesthesia hasn't been as pleasant - nausea and vomiting [dry heaves] for a few hours post-op. However, my last surgery was a few years ago before the new anti-emetics [anti-nausea, anti-vomiting] like Zofran were widely used.
[url="http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/uspdi/202424.html"]http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/uspdi/202424.html[/url]

Generally, if you're sensitive to anesthesia - something that can only be determined by experience - the longer you're under, the worse your reaction is likely to be. The newer, shorter acting anesthetics [i.e. Versed] usually produce less nausea/vomiting.
[url="http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/uspdi/202372.html"]http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/uspdi/202372.html[/url]

Check with your family if any of them have ever experienced any general anaesthesia side-effects. If yes, get the name of the specific meds and tell your surgeon and esp. your anaesthetist.

Orlando's Girl · 07-06-2002, 07:14 PM

Hey there! I've had two ops so far. Both times the anesthesia went well. The first surgery I remembered going into the opperating room and then I didn't remember anything after that. When I woke up, I just sort of woke up! At first, you can be a little confused, but then it all comes back. Sort of like sometimes when you wake up at a friends house, and you don't know where you are. Anyway..... the second surgery I made sure to stay focused so I could remember everything possible. They wheeled my bed into the opperating room, and after a few minutes the person will put a little breathing mask over your mouth and normally tell you to count backwards from 100. You normally only get to, like, 91. hehe. Then you just fall asleep basically. Try not to worry about it(I know it's easier said than done)! Good luck, and let us know how it goes!

Mal

[This message has been edited by Orlando's Girl (edited 07-06-2002).]