Question:
I've never been under anesthesia before & have some questions
I am so afraid that I will have a hard time with the anesthesia. I've never been put under before. My mother has a bad time with it. She gets sick to her stomach after she comes to. How will I know if this will happen to me? Is there anyway of preventing this? I think that it would be the worst having a reaction to the anesthesitics & vomiting right after the surgery. Also what is it like right after you come out of the anesthesitics? Are you aware of what is going on? I don't want to wake up & wonder what the heck happened to me & am wonder if I'm still alive. I know that sounds silly but I wanted to just get an idea of what it is like & what to expect. Thanks! — Allison T. (posted on February 9, 2002)
February 9, 2002
Hi Allison!
Your fears of being put under are normal for someone who has never
experienced this before. I am post op, but I have had two previous
surgeries, (C-Section & gallbladder) and I was put under for both. With
my C-Section, I came to and was in a little pain, but was not ill in the
least. I never experienced even the slightest nausea. With the gallbladder,
it was a different story. I was not in pain as much as I was nauseated. It
was very strong, so I told the nurse. She told me at that time that it was
probably my pain medication, and she changed it to see if that was the
problem. Within an hour or so, (maybe less) that feeling was gone, and I
did very well except for the soreness when moving that is to be expected w/
any surgery. As far as when I woke up in recovery...A nurse woke me up both
times, and asked me a couple of questions to make sure I was all right. I
was quite groggy both times and zonked right back out again, so I don't
remember much about recovery. Apparently, it was not too horrible of an
experience, or I would remember?? Who knows. Take care!
— ScatCat
February 9, 2002
My WLS was my third time under general anethesia. I had my gallbladder
removed and a tubal ligation done previously. Still, it was the scariest of
all of my fears. I had the normal fear of not waking up after surgery and a
particularly pervasive fear of waking up DURING surgery. The way I got
these fears down in perspective was to talk to my surgeon pre-op and
express them honestly to the anethesiologist when I spoke to him before the
surgery. He didn't lie and say there were no risks, but when he gave me the
tiny numbers of people who actually have problems, it put me so much more
at ease. I never got sick after anethesia, tho there were a few times I
felt nauseated. I had a headache for a couple of days after surgery. That
could have been from the anethesia but I suspect it was more of a caffeine
withdrawal issue. No one can guarantee that you will have NO complications,
but your odds are vastly in your favor that you won't. Speak to your
doctors.
— Donna L.
February 9, 2002
Allison, there have been major improvements and advances in the area of
anesthesia over the years. Most anesthetic drugs these days are very
short-acting, and move out of your system quickly, making the sometimes
extreme nausea and vomiting that people used to experience, be almost a
thing of the past. In most hospitals, someone from the anesthesia
department will talk with the patient and do a pre-anesthesia interview.
This is the time to share your fears and concerns, and also to tell them
about your mother's problems with nausea/vomiting....one of the standard
questions is, "Has anyone in your immediate family had any problems
with anesthesia in the past?" I have had multiple surgeries, and I am
still amazed each time that when I wake up in the Recovery Room, it seems
as if it has only been seconds (instead of hours) since I heard the voice
of the anesthesiologist telling me that I was about to be going to
sleep....it really seems like only the blink of an eye, and for a moment
you find yourself doubting that anything at all could possibly have been
done to you....then, fairly quickly, you will feel some pain or discomfort
at the surgical site and you will realize that you have indeed had surgery.
The staff will quickly give you some pain medication, and then move you to
your room (or sometimes to the ICU depending on the preference of your
surgeon) as soon as your vital signs are stable and you are able to talk to
the staff. When you first wake up, you will hear noises and conversation
around you, but may find that it's a little hard to talk right away. Just
try to relax....as your "head clears" from the anesthesia, you
will be able to talk with the staff and let them know what you need. There
will be a nurse by your side during your entire Recovery Room stay to
monitor you closely....just take advantage of the pain medication and sleep
through this experience. Good luck!
— Diana T.
February 9, 2002
This is a very valid question, and do not underestimate the fact that you
are genetically related to your mother and will have a similar reaction.
Basically, I wouldn't worry about being put under. (You just wake up a few
hours later with no memory.) But you should definitely warn your nurse
that getting sick after surgery runs in your family. They should be able
to pump some anti-nausea meds into your IV so it's not as bad. Also, make
sure someone walks you to the bathroom for the first few days. Sitting on
the toilet is where most post-ops tend to get sick and some faint and get
hurt (like I did).
— Terissa R.
February 9, 2002
Diana is right. The anasthesia has improved greatly over the years. I was
put out for surgery in 1973 and again in 1989 and I was sick afterwards
both times. But when I had my gall bladder out in 2000, I was not sick at
all. Even the times I was sick, it wasn't all that bad and I was given
some anti-nausea medicine which helped a great deal.
— garw
February 9, 2002
Genetically, you can say that again! Both my wife and her dad try to get up
and leave the recovery room coming out of surgery! They both have to be put
in restraints:( Tell them of your family problem and they will work to
prevent it. I was REALLY scared, and it wasnt bad at all..... down 115
pounds.
— bob-haller
February 9, 2002
I'd never been put under either. It was the fastest nap I'd ever taken.
One minute I'm talking to the anesthesiologist and the next I'm in a dreamy
state waking in the recovery room. 4 hours had passed. If you feel
nauseated when you wake, the nurses can give you something in your IV that
will take care of it right away. Don't hesitate to ask!!
— Goldilauxx B.
February 9, 2002
Allison, you can request nausea medication before the surgery, and they
will either give it to to you(it's orange) to drink, or they can give it
through the iv. It really helps a lot of people with the post-op nausea.
Good Luck, Donna in AL
— Donna S. C.
October 8, 2002
i had my surgery on 09/19/02 i too worried about the anestetia, but all
went well no probs from it other than everything i drank especially water
tasted different, youll do fine think positive i know how you feel, good
luck to you.
— JOAN D.
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