General Anesthetic/ Surgery?
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Have you been under general anesthetic before? How long did it take you before you felt normal again- did you feel woozy for a while? Do you dream during it? How much do you remember from it? Is it just like being asleep?
Does anybody have any general tips for before or after surgery? I'm having some surgery on my knee tomorrow, and all being well I should be home again by tomorrow night!
I'm really freaked out because it's my first time having any surgery or general anesthetic! I feel like such a wuss- I think it's a fear of the unknown type thing
Any answers or advice would be appreciated- thank you in advance.
Does anybody have any general tips for before or after surgery? I'm having some surgery on my knee tomorrow, and all being well I should be home again by tomorrow night!
I'm really freaked out because it's my first time having any surgery or general anesthetic! I feel like such a wuss- I think it's a fear of the unknown type thing
Any answers or advice would be appreciated- thank you in advance.
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ive had about 20 odd major opertaions due to my disability, longest ive been under was 12 hours i think
You will prob get an injection for the anesthetic(i seem to always have to have the mask, as they can never find a vein)
It can take a good while before you start feeling "normal" again, it normal takes me a good night's sleep and then im fine,
Personally ive never dreamed, you just feel yourself falling asleep(which is a very werid feeling) and then ur back awake again(which again is very werid)
I never dreamt through any of mine and it is just like being asleep...personally I love it lol that could just be that I'm used to it though
Good luck,and try not to worry(as hard as it is)
AJxx
I don't ever remember anything from the time I go to sleep to waking up afterwards, no dreaming or anything.
Afterwards I usually just feel a bit drowsy for a bit but after a sleep I feel fine.
My only problem with them is my oxygen levels tend to drop quite a bit and I take a lot of waking from them. But once I have been on oxygen for a few hours I have no other problems.
You have probably already been told not to eat before your surgery but seriously don't! I had a sip of water once and I was so sick (and right in front of a camera crew too!)
Felt a bit funny for about 24 hours afterwards.
I felt cold afterwards, and was taken back to the ward and told to 'sleep it off'. Due to my hospital phobia however, I purposely stayed awake and was discharged at 7pm that day.
The after effects were pretty horrific though; I was out for the count for the next few days and even a short walk exhausted me.
The most debilitating part is the exhaustion afterwards, IMHO. The anaesthetic itself is nothing. I was given a pre-med beforehand which made me feel slightly tipsy, so I didn't even feel the usual anaesthetic rush/ falling asleep sensation that most people describe. Literally I was 'there' one moment and 'not there' the next.
Ask your anaesthetist for a sedative beforehand. It feels nice and makes the administering of the actual GA a lot less scary.
When my little brother was even littler he came off his bike and smashed up his hand. He was really distressed so the hospital decided to give him a general so they could stick a couple of fingers back in their sockets.
When he went to sleep he was screaming about not wanting them to touch his hand while he was asleep ... and he was still going on about it when he woke up. He had no idea that he had already been asleep and it was all over and done with.
You can just drift a bit.
I had no aftereffects other than a slightly sore throat from the tube.
Honest you'll be fine. It's natural to be nervous. First time I was nervous, second time piece of p....
I was scared when I was wheeled into the operating surgery. One of the nurses held my hand as the surgeon asked me to count down from 10 to 0. I probably got as far as about 7!! I don't know how long I was under, but I woke up in bed feeling groggy with the lady in the bed next to me asking how I was lol. I didn't dream or anything. Only remember counting down the numbers and then waking up.
I had a gynae op a couple of years ago - in and out the same day. I was absolutely terrified and my blood pressure was quite high!!! However, I remember the theatre assistants talking to me and then not a single thing until I woke up in the recovery ward. I felt a bit woozy for a while but after a good nights sleep was pretty much ok - just a bit sore. You shouldn't be too bad as you won't be 'under' for long. I know exactly how you feel - fear of the unknown - but you will be fine. Its just the waiting that's the worst bit - too much time to think. Good luck
I would be the same as you though, I am terrified of the idea of being put under general. I would probably insist on staying awake if I could get adequate pain relief. Bit of a wimp me. :eek:
Just got back in- surgeon said that surgery appears to have gone okay so far (touch wood) and all the nurses were so nice. I think my biggest fear was the whole 'count backwards from 10' bit before they do the general anesthetic, and so I got a bit agitated when I thought it was coming. The anesthetic guy was so fabulous- one minute I was freaking out and hyperventilating (I felt like such an idiot but the nurse told me that they get a lot of that kind of thing. I was fine until they started sticking pads and stuff on me!) and the next minute I was waking up! I'm so pleased that he just went ahead and did it without me having to count. I didn't even tell him that that was the bit I was worried about so maybe he just knew! The nurse afterwards said maybe he did tell me to count but I forgot about it.
I do still feel a bit funny so hopefully this post has made sense! Just wanted to say thank you for your replies- they really did help.
AJxx
But I won't be scared if I have to have another operation. That's one less phobia!! Hurrah!! :):)
Glad to hear everything went well for you.