General Anaesthetic

(However, there were mitigating circumstances - they could not find a vein (yeah, figures - I was being treated for severe anaemia) and so the anaesthetic did not enter my bloodstream fully or take effect properly.)

One time, I had the pre-op to relax me, and I was in the theatre chatting to one of the nurses. She said "I bet you don;t remember this conversation after the op" "I bet I do" I said, and when I came round, I did.

Basically, my tip is: Lie there, and go "mmmmm nice". chill.

I could also feel the anaesthetic pouring up my arm, but to be honest I rather liked the feeling. I remember the anaesthetist counting, and seeing my heart trace on the monitor; then it reached my shoulder and I was out like a light - the next thing I knew, I was back on the ward, groggy and drooling.

Oh and then I had the epidural when I had my baby but I guess that's different. It was pretty cool though.

Would the pre-med stop me from screaming with terror and embarrassing myself?

probably, yes. That's why they give you it, to make sure you're pretty damn relaxed.

Bring on the isolated forearm technique.

Come to think of it, no, that's a silly idea. They'd have to knock me out to stop the gagging and swallowing.

I just equate anaesthesia with Mini-Death.

Doctor: So, you've come to Cologne for the Carneval?
Me: yeah, my bad luck, I guess. I just...
Nurse (6 hours later): Mr. Meeder, how are you feeling?

Doesn't sound too bad in theory.

But creeping death, icy arm, coming too at the wrong time, screaming uncontrollably. Mmmmm.

My sister has a great fear of general anesthesia and so has refused it (she has had only minor procedures done), which has caused her considerably more suffering in my opinion. I for one am happy to take advantage of the drugs.

Icy death Trayce! Dying arm!

When vets put animals to sleep, is it just a giant dose of anaesthetic they give them?

It wasn't much fun for her, but she's glad she had it done.

But when I did wake up I was always convinced that I hadn't gone under yet and once or twice I think I even said 'you know I'm still awake right?' before they announced that they were finished. Lots of puking afterwards, but I think it was mainly the hospital smell - once I got home I was always fine.

(not that I know what that actually feels like - as yet at any rate)

I do remember looking forward to it though, I was laughing and joking with the dentist. Then the needle went in and I went ape-shit.

not very common with most anaethetics, except ketamine because it works by a different method, which is precisely the reason why they dont use ketamine on humans anymore

I've been under general anaesthetic about 5 times in the last 3 years and, in actual fact, was under it yesterday morning! And being completely unconscious for however long you're completely unconscious for surely has to be a singular and odd experience, both physically but even more mentally?

If you haven't had it before then you should know that you don't feel drowsy and then fall into unconsciousness, you become unconscious instantly and, weirder yet, you don't gradually become conscious, you open your eyes and you're conscious. Even though I've had it so often in the last few years I always forget that's how it works, but nothing surpasses the first time it happens - you are literally in one room and then what feels like instantaneously in another one, it's like time travel!

I've never had any unpleasant side effects, though the last but one time I had extremely vivid dreams for months after it. This time, I'm typing this approximately 22 hours after I woke up to go into hospital and I'm physically tired but mentally I'm 100% awake - hence why I'm typing this approximately 22 hours after I woke up!

you don't feel drowsy

did you not have any kind of pre-op shot?

Because of the pre-op meds, I had a GREAT time! I was high as a kite being wheeled down to theatre.

Yeah, I've had only pleasant experiences with general anaethesia, or at least as pleasant as can be expected for something involving a forearm cannula and possibly a urinary catheter. Much as Tom D describes, basically. I can think of... seven instances IIRC, dating back to the mid-'80s, such that it feels like techniques had been largely perfected even back when I was a wee bairn.

did you not have any kind of pre-op shot?

No. That might be because the procedures I've been having done did not entail being under for particularly long periods. It might be that's how this particular hospital handles these particular procedures - they are considered the leading hospital in London for ryem.

You're literally lying in the theatre while the anaesthetist asks you your name, what procedure you're undergoing and waves a consent form under your nose and asks if that's your signature on there. Then they stick a cannula in the back of your hand and get you to breathe in oxygen, the curiously pleasant icy feeling begins to creep through the veins on the back of your hand and lower arm and, boom, you're on a bed on another floor of the hospital.

I still haven't had any sleep after 26 hours though.

The one time I had it I couldn't piss properly for about 36 hours afterwards. Highly unpleasant.

I was high as fuck from morphine or similar after the operation so not sure if that was part of the problem, though sadly they measured that dose quite well so it didn't last long. I remember asking the nurse to pass my iPod and putting on Global Communication.

xpost hope you're on the mend anyway

I'm typing this approximately 22 hours after I woke up to go into hospital and I'm physically tired but mentally I'm 100% awake - hence why I'm typing this approximately 22 hours after I woke up!

i had a similar experience after having been put out for a heart ablation in late september! to the point where in the follow-up i asked the cardiologist 'do they give you a stimulant post-anaesthesia? because i was literally awake for 30 hours after'

he claimed not to know

the one time i did not have a pre-op coincidently was the one time i had an bad reaction upon waking and couldn't stop shaking.

(xps) I had morphine after a hernia operation years ago and was apparently on another planet when my family first came to visit me!

(xps) Yes different people have different reactions and it obviously it's dependent on what you're having done and how long you're under.

yeah for sure.