Being "under"

[Ken Sington]

How weird is this? For the first time since I was a nipper, I had to go in to hospital for a small operation today under general anaesthetic. I was walked down to a theatre annexe, lay down on a trolley where I had a catheter inserted into the back of my hand and given an injection. A few tokes of oxygen from a mask, and I was gone. I knew absolutely nothing more until I came to in the recovery room about an hour later. Feels very that you can go out like that, entrusting your very being to strangers, who then get to delve around inside you.

[Yazza54]

It is mad. I'm not scared of much, infact I can't think of anything immediately ..apart from going under.

Especially the thought that some people can not go fully under and are awake but paralysed for the operation. Sounds horrific.

[davepoth]

I try and avoid generals where possible. I had a wire drilled into my finger under a local a few months back. I think the surgeon quite enjoyed having a live patient.

[172ff]

I had an operation this week and thought exactly the same thing!

I was talking nonsense to the nurse as they where putting the needle in about stuff at work, then got blurry vision then said "oh well, no point in fighting it" - clear as day up to the point of looking up and getting comfy. Remember a horrible taste in my mouth/lungs felt odd, but don't even remember falling asleep/feeling sleepy.

Woke up and remember thinking WTF am I... followed by a world of pain :-(

[RemainAllHoof]

Yeah, it's curious. Death must be like that. Blackness, nothing, no dreams.

My last couple of ops, you feel the overwhelming tiredness take control, I just go with it, as I'd rather make sure I am as "out" as I can be. As above, some people are paralysed and feel everything (anaesthetic = muscle relaxant then pain killer... if the latter isn't given in right proportions then you're screwed... the problem can come when the anaesthetist has a problem calculating the right dosage if, for example, he was expecting to work on a human but finds a 20 tonne whale lying on the operating table still stuffing his face with his family bucket from KFC... see what I'm saying?) so I welcome the medicine to take me over completely.

[kit_kat]

I had an Op on my hand a few years ago and I asked for a local anesthetic but the surgeon told me it had to be done under a general. I had never had any op before and the thought of being put under a general anesthetic really freaked me out. I honestly though I would never wake up again!

[The_Doc]

I woke up during an operation about 8 years ago, but I was one of the surgeons

long hours.....

[Penny-lope]

When I was a child, and used to get put under using gas, I used to have the weirdest dreams about Snow White and the seven dwarfs.

[Driller]

The_Doc said:

I woke up during an operation about 8 years ago, but I was one of the surgeons

long hours.....

[turbolucie]

I've helped put people 'to sleep' and I'd be happy having a general anaesthetic myself. The anaesthetists I've worked with are great, I'd happily trust my life to them

[69 coupe]

Penny-lope said:

When I was a child, and used to get put under using gas, I used to have the weirdest dreams about Snow White and the seven dwarfs.

Pervert!

[okgo]

It's awesome.

The only bad thin about operations for me are blood tests. I've been under three times. People overhype it a lot, it's hardly a big deal

[smileykylie]

I try to count down from 10...never get past 8 though and then usually wake up with a head like Still, its better than the alternative...ouch!

Thank you, you are amazing to every health worker out there

[soda]

I don't like going under, previous bad experience.

'Just try and count to ten for me'
I'm lying there thinking wtf '14,15...'

Very relieved looking nurse when I came round afterwards. Not sure of the details but I had a reaction to the anaesthetic.

[Sevo]

RemainAllHoof said:

As above, some people are paralysed and feel everything (anaesthetic = muscle relaxant then pain killer... if the latter isn't given in right proportions then you're screwed... the problem can come when the anaesthetist has a problem calculating the right dosage if, for example, he was expecting to work on a human but finds a 20 tonne whale lying on the operating table still stuffing his face with his family bucket from KFC... see what I'm saying?) so I welcome the medicine to take me over completely.

Erm, no.

[Milky Joe]

Ken Sington said:

lay down on a trolley where I had a catheter inserted into the back of my hand.

Were they trying to take the piss?

[Ken Sington]

Milky Joe said:

Were they trying to take the piss?

No, I have BUPA to do that for me

[tobeee]

I too had a general anaesthetic a couple of weeks ago, and was amazed how quickly and quietly I went. Had the best sleep I'd had for a long time too, though could have done with the blood and pain around me hooter when I woke up!

[dazp]

I got put under when having my jaw wired and fixed up with plates. I had a bad turn and took a very long time to come round. Never forget the feeling of waking up and wondering where the fk I am.

[richtea78]

Ken Sington said:

lay down on a trolley where I had a catheter inserted into the back of my hand and given an injection.

I think you mean a canula, they dont put catheters in your hand and trust me, you want to be under when they do insert the catheter!