General Anaesthetic

My recent op had a spinal with sedation. I was completely 'out of it'. I woke up in recovery feeling like I was waking from a particularly refreshing sleep.
What is it you're afraid of? The staff will be very kind and understanding. Best of all it'll very soon be behind you.
My mantra at these times is always 'this too shall pass' - and it will!
Good luck! Let us know how you get on.

Yes!
When I was having an op to repair a broken femur ( a few weeks ago) it was recommended that I should have a spinal - largely because the numbing effect would last for quite a while immediately after and therefore I 'd be more comfortable. I reluctantly agreed, worried about being awake but sedated during op.
Turns out the spinal was not an option ( it was explained that ageing means the gaps between vertebrae are sometimes too small to accommodate the injections). So it had to be a general.
It was fine. Happily oblivious to the whole process I woke up feeling not too groggy. I was very slightly sick, just once, and not particularly distressing!I
I had no after effects and have gone from strength to strength!
Good luck and best wishes for a speedy recovery!

I had the regular type of general anaesthetic via a port in my hand. Drifted off to sleep and when I came round in recovery it felt like a couple of minutes nap. It was just a short op to repair a fractured radius. I had another good sleep on the ward and everything was fine. Don't worry.

I've had a couple of GA's in recent years for a leg fracture and it's been fine. My youngest had a GA last weekend and we were back home less than five hours later, including a 90 minute drive!

Staff understand that patients are nervous and they'll explain it all to you on the day. Good luck!

I had a GA just yesterday when I had a lesion removed from my breast, and was absolutely fine. I went down to theatre at about 11.30, was back in my room by 2 and home by 5. Don't worry!

Try not to worry owletta I have had lots of GA for surgery,
Once administered, you are taken to the ‘theatre’ and once there, the anaesthetist will chat to you, and then suddenly, with no advance sleepy feeling warning, you are out of it.
The last time I had it done, he was telling me a joke and I never heard the punchline.
Then you come to in the recovery room afterwards, and when fully awake, you are taken back to the ward.
You will feel as if you have had a good nap.
The only thing I always ask for is nothing morphine based.
I took too long to come round otherwise and felt nauseous.
Your anaesthetist will talk to you before administering anything beforehand.

Tell the anaesthetist you are worried, be as specific as you can and they will reassure you. I was very worried about being sick afterward, I was assured that could be managed and no sign of nausea. It’s understandable that you are anxious, it’s an out of control experience, but in my experience staff are kind and understanding and do all they can to ensure you are comfortable.

I had a general anaesthetic for an ear OP. My fear was that it would not be enough and that I would hear the OP noises so I was more than ready just to be 'out' and I was.
Afterwards I was not too tired either.

What is it that you fear owletta?

I've had a few ops. The anaesthetist will come to chat with you beforehand, ask you some questions to confirm you understand what you are having done, check you over and ask you to sign a consent. You can raise any concerns you have then.

Some may give you a mild sedative to take the edge off before they wheel you down to theatre or you may be taken down and the anaesthesia given in the outer room of the theatre or inside the theatre.

Either way, it's a small needle prick like having a blood test but to insert a small catheter.

Last week, I was wheeled down with staff chatting to me all the time. I think they do that to keep patients calm. There was the anaesthetist again asking me if I'd like an intravenous gin and tonic. I can remember asking for ice and lemon and next thing I knew I was waking up in recovery with lovely nursing staff teasing me about the fake orange tan (iodine antiseptic) on my operated leg.

They will give you time to recover, check your blood pressure, give you a drink of water if you feel thirsty and once they are happy you are OK get your nurse to come and take you back to the ward where you can have something light to eat and drink when you feel ready if your procedure allows.

Mine was a quick operation. Yours may be longer but you will be in good hands.

I had a GA four weeks ago and it was absolutely fine, the anaesthetist was a lovely man and talked to me all the time he was preparing me. When it came time to go to sleep he said it would be nice and gentle and he was right, I just floated off.
The previous op I had a spinal anaesthetic as well as a GA and that was brilliant for pain control.

Indeed I too have had more G.A`s than I can count, and though there were a few minor complications... such as feeling nauseous on coming too....... back in the early days, it has been perfected these days.

My last one was on May 29th and it was a dawdle,the anaethetist and assistant talk you through whilst discussing all manner of pleasantries, and before you can even realise it you are safely in the land of nod!
It will seem as though you have just had a nice sleep!
You awake in the recovery room, where the Specialist nurses hover taking your obs(observations) every 15 minutes or so,and you suddenly realise the dastardly deed,your operation,is over and you are well on the way to recovery and home.

Whilst it is very new to you I appreciate your apprehension owletta............we always have a fear of the unknown,however please be reassured by all these G.N`s and the stories they relate which I am sure will be very similar to mine.

I wish you best of luck and peace of mind on the day.

It is easy for me to blithely say this but do not be afraid. In short, they inject you .......next thing you are waking up! You may feel tired or a bit odd for a short while but it soon passes.

I wish you well.

I ve had a few GAs over the years They are fine one minute your looking around the next you’re waking up I never have felt bad after them always raring to go and usually sit up asking for a cup of tea as soon as my eyes open
Good luck

Ask for a premed the last one I had was three diazepam I was very laid back after that .

GAs have been fine tuned over the last few years and you’ll be kept at just the right level of consciousness (or rather unconsciousness) so there’s little chance of sickness when you wake. It’s just like waking in the morning and you’ll be all cosy in the recovery room with a nurse by your side.

Had them a few times, you just blink out and back in again.

When you come round, the nurses will be there with the anaesthetist in shouting range to keep you calm and check your pain level. Some disorientation is normal amd they will give you something for that if you are distressed.

If they offer you more pain relief and you are hurting, take it. They have much better drugs in post op than up on the ward so don’t feel obliged to refuse!

I would like to thank the members who sent me messages about my op last Monday. As you know I was petrified of the GA but your kind words helped me enormously. Back home but still feel 'groggy'. Probably age!!

Good to hear that owletta. Wishing you a speedy recovery.

That's good to hear Owletta. I'm sure you'll be back to yourself in no time. Best of all - it's over!

That's good news!

My dd took a good few days to get over her recent GA, so it isn't necessarily age at all.

Great news Owletta.............nice to know our "words of experience" helped in some small way.

owletta I have 2 GAs in recent years and they were an absolute breeze- sharp prick in the hand and off you go when you wake up no nausea or dizziness just a pleasant sense of having had a nap.

When I had a GA a few years ago I was apprehensive, but woke up thinking it was the best sleep I had ever had, no sickness or ill effects at all. I hope you will feel the same. God luck.