Bad reaction to general anaesthetic

Hi, I discovered that I had negative reactions just like you, and my GP said ‘next time ask for non morphine based anaesthetic.
The next time, for my op, I did say this and they used something else and I was fine.Hope this helps.

PinkCosmos I'm sorry that no one has been able to answer your questions. so far. Why do you think this has surfaced after six years? The best way to put this to rest would be to contact the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) at the hospital, telling them what you've told us and ask for someone to go through the notes with you. I'm not sure from what you describe that you had a bad reaction to the anaesthetic, more perhaps that you took longer than usual to come round but nonetheless, it would help you to talk it through with someone who can explain.

It is not unusual to wake up with a catheter, split lip, sore throat and have a drip.

It is often stated with day case operations that you may have to stay in overnight, usually due to the effects of anaesthetics rather than the op itself.

. There would not be a record of these symptoms as they are not that unusual.

Anything with morphine makes me throw up so I ask for non-morphine based pain killers and anaesthetic. Never seems to cause problems but doubt if there is anything officially recorded

I’ve had bad reactions to GA’s in the past, the last being in 2015. I needed a GA last year and when the hospital asked about any previous ops, I was able to tell them about it. They said anaesthesia has changed a lot in the past eight years and this time I was fine when I woke up. I did have a sore throat but that’s pretty unavoidable as it’s due to the tube that needs to be put down for your breathing while you’re unconscious.

You could wear a medical alert bracelet with details on it in case of an accident.

I always have a bad reaction to GAs. I tell them each time, they tell me it'll be no problem, and then I wake up, am delirius for up to 48 hours, constant vomiting and wetting myself.

I know post GA sickness is common, but I have an extreme response. The worst bit of an op for me. I'm resigned to it now, but I just wish they'd warn the ward staff, because it's a lot of work for them and given that most hospitals are understaffed...

My 1st surgery was 13 years ago and my most recent was 3 months ago. Reaction last time was the worst by far.

GagaJo DH has similar reactions to your.

18 months ago hed went into hospital for urgent bypass surgery. He had the main op, followed by 3 more to deal with complications.

We found the hospital very amenable to our worries about his reaction to the anaethetic. It was written in his notes and referred to before each operation. I do not know what they used, but he certainly had no serious vomiting issues, However he still remained only semiconscious for several days after each op. Which worried the doctors more than it worried us, because we were used to it.

Theexwife

It is not unusual to wake up with a catheter, split lip, sore throat and have a drip.

It is often stated with day case operations that you may have to stay in overnight, usually due to the effects of anaesthetics rather than the op itself.

. There would not be a record of these symptoms as they are not that unusual.

A split lip and bruised arms are unusual; and an unscheduled overnight stay in ITU is very definitely unusual!

It would be considered an 'incident' and an incident report should have been made and in the OP's file; whether or not this was done is another matter. I see the GP has no record.

I would definitely check with the hospital.

I had a GA when I had two teeth extracted a few years ago. I hadn't had it since I was a child but remember DM saying that she thought I was never going to wake up. I mentioned this to the anaesthetist beforehand and he told me he would halve the dose - I woke up 8 hours later on a bench in the surgery. Everyone else had gone home except the receptionist and poor Mr A. Receptionist was talking about phoning an ambulance as she had to leave. Mr A took me home and I slept for a further 18 hours, woke up for dinner then slept again for another 12 hours. I wasn't ill at all, just couldn't wake up. Like you it concerns me a bit that I could end up in hospital for some reason and be comatose for 3 months from the anaesthetic.

When you know if you have to have a GA ... just let them know ... I usually feel / or have been sick ... they usually understand & can give an injection to stop this , although everyone is different

You can request for even major surgery to be done with a local anaesthetic these days, if you are concerned about undergoing general anaesthetic. It’s not for the faint hearted (like me), but it is an option for planned surgery.

I had epidurals for my hip replacements but had a sedative beforehand to knock me out as I didn’t want to be aware at all. I have felt sick after other anaesthetics but was fine after these. I wonder if these have less adverse reactions. I seem to come round very quickly, sometimes hearing the nurses sounding surprised.

AreWeThereYet

I had a GA when I had two teeth extracted a few years ago. I hadn't had it since I was a child but remember DM saying that she thought I was never going to wake up. I mentioned this to the anaesthetist beforehand and he told me he would halve the dose - I woke up 8 hours later on a bench in the surgery. Everyone else had gone home except the receptionist and poor Mr A. Receptionist was talking about phoning an ambulance as she had to leave. Mr A took me home and I slept for a further 18 hours, woke up for dinner then slept again for another 12 hours. I wasn't ill at all, just couldn't wake up. Like you it concerns me a bit that I could end up in hospital for some reason and be comatose for 3 months from the anaesthetic.

The dentist went home and left you unconscious in the care of the receptionist?

Thank you all for your responses.

I was more worried that they said I wasn't starting to breathe on my own. I could have ended up with brain damage or something worse (dead)

As a few of you have said, it could be an reaction to morphine.

I will contact the PALS at the hospital - which I wasn't aware of.

Thanks again

I had day surgery years ago for a sterilisation operation and had a bad reaction to the GA and was kept in overnight. When I had major reconstructive surgery six years for cancer once again had a bad reaction to the the GA but was in a different hospital/trust. I had follow up surgery a year later and mentioned the bad GA reaction to the anaesthetist who immediately checked my records for the relevant information and change the GA medication. What a difference? Woke up without nausea and vomiting and was eating a meal within hours of the operation but I couldn't tell you if it was morphine based or not but let the anaesthetist know and they will do their best to alleviate adverse reaction as a subsequent operation had just as good a recovery.

AreWeThereYet it must have been many years ago if you needed a ga at a dentist. I’m not sure they are permitted to without proper resuscitation facilities. My dentist sent me to hospital for back root removal but even though I was in the normal hospital theatre didn’t need a ga. I’ve had implants done bone removed and other dental work without a GA so I think you have been very very unfortunate to have experienced this.