What is general anaesthetic like nowadays?

Two years ago I had a GA for my shoulder. I was taken into a little room with lots of people who were talking to me and trying to get me to relax. I was really tense, actually scared. I was put on oxygen but wasn't breathing deeply enough so they had to calm me right down so they could get me into a state where they could put the cannula in to start things going.

Next thing I remember is waking up about two hours later with a lovely young lady sitting next to me in the recovery room who kept telling me off for crossing my legs and then being a rubbish driver when she eventually wheeled me back to the ward.
 
The GA is fine normally, sometimes it feel like a burn is traveling up your arm. No pre meds though these days.

The worst part is while your asleep they stick a plastic tube down your neck to help with your breathing. When you wake up the tune is gone but your left with this horrible after taste in your neck/mouth that made me feel sick for a few days.

The best part was waking up and being put on the happy drugs. I was absolutely delirious.
 
Dis86 said:
You had the farts yet from being inflated? I smelled like an actual corpse for 3 or so days!
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Took a couple of days before my bowels started working, the op paralyses them temporarily so added even more to the discomfort. Was a moment of celebration when the wind started coming lol.

The shoulder pain was pretty uncomfortable, apparently as the gas disperses it rises, causing pain in the upper body.
 
2004typer said:
Had my appendix removed two weeks ago.

In the pre-op room was put on oxygen for a couple of minutes before the pain killer was injected via a canular (think is was Fentanyl as far as I recall, slight stinging sensation as it went in).

Anesthetist then said we are now going to put you to sleep, and within about 5 seconds was under, next memory was then waking up in recovery about 90 minutes later.

Was reasonably pleasant, didn't feel a thing through the operation, and the painkiller did a great job.

No nausea at all, most discomfort was from the gas they inject into your abdomen for the surgery I had, was like a balloon for a few days.
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Same thing for gallbladder with the gas. I still had some elasticated trousers and shorts - had surgery in early Aug when it was hot, from my fatter days. I lost 3 stone between wearing these to the op.

Another thing was it was painful to go from sitting to standing as you use your abdomen muscles to do this.
 
Droolinggimp said:
Never had it but is it really like, you close your eyes and wake up the next second having the op in between. Crazy.
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They distract you a bit while giving you the GA and that'll be the last thing you remember.

Then you wake up groggy plus any side effects of your operation. I had some vague confusion then vomited blood into a kidney bowl and then the pain kicked in. Stayed overnight then got packed off with a literal sack of paracetamol suspension. Not even the good stuff.

Might as well be magic, lights out whether you like it or not.
 
I had an eye op in January and they were telling me they don't use GA anymore and it's more of a mix of local and some other drugs to send you to sleep. Any ideas what it all was? I was a bit worried because they made it sound like they keep an eye (lol :rolleyes: ) on you and keep topping up. I had visions of them failing to top me up and waking up halfway through my procedure! But in all reality it was exactly the same as GA in that I had a tube in the arm, didn't even bother counting.. and bang wake up in recovery. I think they were saying that new concoction was brought in because of Covid, maybe people weren't reacting well to GA who had had Covid or something? It also was a quicker recovery. Besides feeling absolutely starving I just felt like I woke up after a decent kip. Not bad at all. My eye was hell for weeks though, not fun :(
 
I had a nose op to correct a deviated septum in 2009, and when I woke up I felt epically sick and couldn't stop retching. Every time I sat upright my blood pressure dropped through the floor and I had to vommit. Persisted for 6hrs or so afterwards. I'm told that there's some sort of anti sickness drug they can give you to lessen the effect if you suffer from it like that, but they never offered it to me.. :rolleyes:
 
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I've had 4 General Anaesthetic operations in the last 9 months, each one i've been admitted to theater, then they fit the canula in your hand (or sometimes in your arm) and then they inject a small syringe of white stuff into the canula that knocks you out within 20 seconds, you just feel really tired very quickly and cant keep your eyes open, then next second, your gone ! there is no headache or any other side effects that i felt at all, and there's never been any pre op drinks or anything (other than not eating or drinking before it) one of the operations, i was under for 11 hours which left me quite sleepy and tired afterwards for about 4 hours, but my most recent one which was only 2 weeks ago, i was only under for an hour and woke up afterwards and was fine within 30 minutes, no tiredness or anything after that one, but your not allowed to drive for 24 hours afterwards, its the law apparently so you will need collecting.
 
I counted to 10 but did 2-4-6-8-10 as fast as I could -Had both carpel tunnels done in one go.
When I woke up I have never had such a pain -The youth in training did right wrist and consultant did left - it was left that hurt.
Had it done again.
My first GA was a rubber mask and they dripped Chloroform on it - when woke up I was sick as a dog -That was in 1951 - I have had quite a few since and local ones. All painless.
dLockers said:
Be a real man and do it awake.
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I did have one awake but had local - It's great fun watching surgeon cutting into your manhood for a biopsy - He did have to use a magnifying glass as it went into hiding.
 
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CaptainKimura said:
I had a GA back in 2013.

No pre med for me. Wheeled into theatre, cold sensation that travelled up my arm as they injected the anaesthetic, and then woke up after the procedure. All in all, it was a rather enjoyable experience.
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This is exactly the same experience that I had a few years back for wisdom teeth extraction. The cold arm sensation was quite strange, but felt fine after.
 
Devilman said:
When I went under general back in the early 2000's there was no "pre-med" tablet / drink and other than a slight burning sensation travelling up my arm as they injected the anesthetic, I didn't feel a thing.. Woke up a bit groggy for a few minutes in recovery and was fine after about 30mins :)
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have had a few and exactly the same as this ^^
 
I've had a few general anaesthetics in the past few years and have had zero issues. I've actually found it quite a pleasant experience. They wheel you in to the pre-op room, put the catheter in, and (assuming you haven't yet removed your hearing aids) have a nice chat with the nurses. Then the anaesthetist will let you know they're about to inject the anaesthetic. You do the backwards counting and get about half way there....and then you wake up in recovery hungry and thirsty.

I've not had a bad experience yet. I've probably had 5+ in the last 10 years.
 
Scam said:
I had an eye op in January and they were telling me they don't use GA anymore and it's more of a mix of local and some other drugs to send you to sleep. Any ideas what it all was? I was a bit worried because they made it sound like they keep an eye (lol :rolleyes: ) on you and keep topping up. I had visions of them failing to top me up and waking up halfway through my procedure! But in all reality it was exactly the same as GA in that I had a tube in the arm, didn't even bother counting.. and bang wake up in recovery. I think they were saying that new concoction was brought in because of Covid, maybe people weren't reacting well to GA who had had Covid or something? It also was a quicker recovery. Besides feeling absolutely starving I just felt like I woke up after a decent kip. Not bad at all. My eye was hell for weeks though, not fun :(
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It could have been what they call "deep IV sedation" here. I've had it numerous times here for oral surgery (in an oral surgery and not a hospital). Deep IV sedation is very similar to being under general anaesthetic in that you don't usually feel like you've experienced anything (and have a similar "go to sleep" feeling) but you're not brought to the brink of death like you are under general where you don't experience any pain, and so local anaesthetic is still needed. The benefit is that you're still able to respond to the surgeon during the surgery. I've sometimes very briefly "woken up" during oral surgery, which has caused the surgeon to have to add some more drugs to my IV. A few seconds later, I'll "go back to sleep" but still remember when I "woke up".
 
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I look forward to a GA. I absolutely love the floaty, away with the fairies feeling you get for a few seconds before going under.

It also instantly switches you from nervous to IDGAF mode
 
Got given something for nausea, then injection with the GA, still woke up nauseous as **** and feeling like I'm dying, then they gave me morphine and I felt good
 
I think we have (or had) an anaesthetist on here. While they couldn't (and wouldn't, I'm sure) give medical advice it would be handy for general insights should they spot this.

From my own knowledge (I have a lot of surgeries): General anaesthetics have evolved quite a lot since 20 years ago. They do still use propofol (milk of amnesia lol), but there are a lot of advances in the inhalant agents and other associated drugs. Basically going to sleep is generally easier, less hard on you, and easier to recover from.

Personal opinion, anaesthetists are rock stars but surgeons take all the credit. They are highly educated and specialised doctors who will tailor your anaesthetic (induction protocol, drugs used, recovery) to your specific health, needs and case. They always come around for a chat before you go to theatre - that's your time for questions, and to explain any queries or issues. You can opt to have a pre-med, or not. Generally that's midazolam, diazepam similar. If you're very nervous it's wise to accept the offer. I was told that going under GA in an anxious state was bad for you, as your brain instantly shuts off and your body stays (basically) in the state you fell asleep in for the duration of the anaesthesia. That means high cortisol, high BP, high anxiety etc. A pre-med before induction (sleep) alleviates this, as well as making you feel better - and the theatre staff's job easier.

Waking up should usually be fairly rapid and trouble free. You'll usually receive drugs under anaesthetic including fentanyl or simliar to combat any immediate post-operative pain. Any post-surgery nausea can be dealt with (ondansetron or similar usually), and grogginess is best combated by moving around as much as possible, deep breathing and generally trying to 'shake it off' without doing too much obviously. Again, your medical team are your friend and are the best (only) people to advise you. I'm just speaking generally and relaying my own experiences.

TLDR: Use mustard, it's all a man needs. You'll be fine (but good luck anyway)!
 
I wish cervical smears are done under GA or sedation. As I am not textbook in that department and find them extremely painful. I have mine at hospital after the, then practice nurse was very heavy handed and caused heavy bleeding and severe pain the following day.

If smears were done under sedation, perhaps, the uptake of them will be higher as many women who had a similar experience to me, never have another smear.
 
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