scared: general anesthesia

[hma1995]

I'm scheduled to get a breast augmentation in a little over a month, although I'm looking forward to it, I'm terrified about the general anesthesia. I've been under IV sedation before for a wisdom tooth extraction, but never full-blown general anesthesia. What should I expect? I'm asking this to anyone whose been under general for a longer procedure (2+ hrs)

[pUniCepts]

I was under for a few hours by inhalational anesthetic. They put a mask over my mouth and nose, told me to count backwards from 10. Think I made it to 7 or 6 before going under. During those few seconds, my peripheral vision slowly closed in, looked like TV static. Woke up a bit after surgery, felt groggy like I woke up too early in the morning, but not too bad.

[paiger0321]

I had a pretty nasty ankle injury that required a fairly complex surgery. Going under was the easiest part! As pUniCepts said, a doctor or nurse will generally have you count backwards from 10 and... that's it! You won't make it to 1. Anesthesiologists are extremely well-trained and practiced and most people have generally positive experiences. If you mention that you're a little nervous, I'm certain they've heard it all before and will be happy to talk you through things and calm you down. You will be a little out of it upon waking, but most of the time it's nothing too awful. Side note- dog was under for a few hours this morning for a dental surgery and he was trying to jump over the counter to get to a cat an hour later... can't be too bad. :P. Really though, OP, you're young and will probably bounce right back! Try not to worry about it and best of luck.

[mhockey9090]

Going under is the easy part lol. Just coming out of it you are wanting to get right up and go about but then it hits you that you are feeling out of it and sleepy still. You will have pain medicine or should at least for when you wake up to get you out and home. Dont wait to take your pain killers because you are not in pain because when it wears off for the first time it really really sucks. At least it did for me lol. This has happened to me both times i have been under but when i got up and woke up a bit i was puking for about an hour or so afterwards. Something about the anesthetics made me sick after waking up. I was told there is medicine they can give you to help prevent that. I havent had another surgery since than so i do not know if it works or not.

[CaliSun]

It's not that bad. I fell asleep quickly, and the next thing I know I remember waking up mid sentence throwing my body forward yelling, "What the ****, that sh*t was ****ing weird. **** that sh*t." The nurses grabbed me and shoved me back down on the gurney. Srs. Took a fat nap after. That's pretty much everything that happened.

[mhockey9090]

It's not that bad. I fell asleep quickly, and the next thing I know I remember waking up mid sentence throwing my body forward yelling, "What the ****, that sh*t was ****ing weird. **** that sh*t." The nurses grabbed me and shoved me back down on the gurney. Srs. Took a fat nap after. That's pretty much everything that happened.

Would of been cool to see that. Reminded me of this video.

[Magnumtripod]

It's not that bad. I fell asleep quickly, and the next thing I know I remember waking up mid sentence throwing my body forward yelling, "What the ****, that sh*t was ****ing weird. **** that sh*t." The nurses grabbed me and shoved me back down on the gurney. Srs. Took a fat nap after. That's pretty much everything that happened.

Lmfao

[CaliSun]

Would of been cool to see that. Reminded me of this video.

Haha to my knowledge that's all I said because that's when I snapped back into reality. Lord knows how long I was talking before that/what else I was saying.

I regret nothing.

[mhockey9090]

Haha to my knowledge that's all I said because that's when I snapped back into reality. Lord knows how long I was talking before that/what else I was saying.

I regret nothing.

Lol now i have been looking up these videos for the past 10 minutes. Look at what you have done now

[CaliSun]

Lol now i have been looking up these videos for the past 10 minutes. Look at what you have done now

this is one of my personal favorites:

[mhockey9090]

this is one of my personal favorites:

lmao. "Are you ok?"

[MadCatLady]

I've had a three general anaesthetics. They seem to give me weird f***ed up nightmares the day afterwards...other than that not too bad.

[IronCitGrl]

I've gone under for wisdom teeth, tonsillectomy and a Leep Procedure. I don't think any of them really take that long 45 minutes tops. The best part is when they push the medication through your IV and then everything feels SO SO good! You immediately feel warm and fuzzy all over. Next thing you know you are waking up and whatever procedure you have done is done! Sometimes it can make you feel nauseated afterwards. I never had that problem but none of my procedures were that long.

[Cara0915]

You'll be fine. I actually think its pretty cool to go under, you close your eyes
For what seems like a second and BAM you're awake and they're telling you everything went well and you're done!

[wakechica]

Been under twice.
1st time i remember because it was a planned general. Second one was for an op which was meant to be on a local + sedative but I started wriggling loads as they cut into me so they knocked me out.

I was a lot groggier after the second general. The first I was ok.

First was a British general anathestic, second one was in the USA and a longer op. It's not scary it's all quite relaxing really (I was a bit scared for the first one though, but it was all fine). I don't even remember having the sedative the second time, which is a bit worrying

[Dusthappy1]

I was under for six plus hours for my reduction/lift. Honestly I was terrified of being put under prior too the procedure, but it wasn't bad. When I woke up in recovery (before the pain hit and they started the good drugs (morphine woot!) I felt like I had had the best sleep ever.

Second time was a very short procedure but again, woke up feeling like I had a little nap.

[sgtpeppers]

I've only been under twice, but both times I thought it was fun and fascinating.

[mrshester]

I was put under for a t&a in the 5th grade and again to have my wisdom teeth cut out. T&a was kinda scary but I was a kid..woke up and could have sworn I was screaming for my mommy to come get me but they said I was only whispering "mommy"
Wisdom teeth went fine, and going under and waking up were the easiest part of it all, lol. I think I was out a couple hours because my teeth were so messed up that they had to take out part of my lower jaw on both sides to get to the teeth. Said I was their first patient to fall asleep and wake up laughing. Twas awesome LOL

[Wndrgirl]

I've gone under twice, the first for wisdom teeth and the second to repair my ACL and meniscus.


The wisdom teeth was bad, they tried to do laughing gas but i had a nasty reaction so they put me under. My younger brother got his out at the same time and they put him under because like the videos he couldn't stop talking, and he apparently told my mother a lot of things that he probably shouldn't have ever told her. (First time having sex, etc)

The second time was for the knee. I'm not a needle fan so once the IV was in it was great. Coming out of the anesthesia was fine, I apparently was having a blast because the next day I looked at my phone and there were a million pictures I had taken of me, my leg, the living room, my husband, but I had no recollection of it. They also did a total nerve block toy leg, which was hilarious. I ran my foot into a doorway and just stared at my leg bc I couldn't feel anything I just heard the noise. They warned me that I wouldn't feel a thing. And they were right!

[themyth2009]

I was under for almost 14 hours for triple bypass surgery didnt remember a thing except going to sleep and waking up. I had another surgery about 4 hours same thing. I am sure you are going to wake up feeling like and elephant is stepping on your chest so going under will be easy.

[hma1995]

yes i expect it will feel as though i have an elephant on my chest when I wake up haha. I've been under IV sedation, but that was only a partial sedation, and for this breast augmentation I need to be undef general, though I don't remember my tooth extraction under partial I was out like a lightbulb

[perfectdoll]

The worst part is the 5 or so minutes of waiting in between the time they stick the IV in and you actually go under. Having that huge needle just hanging out of my arm is so disturbing to me. But then they pump the drugs in and you're under!

Part of the drug cocktail that they pump into you makes you groggy when you awaken so it's really not that bad. You're really sleepy for awhile, then less sleepy, it's all a very smooth transition. The anesthesia also includes pain medication that should last at least 6 hours after the procedure so you have more than enough time to take your pills later. I only ended up taking my pain meds for 2 days though, it was a really easy procedure and I was chatty and slightly energetic by the end of the day.