First time under general anesthesia..scared!

Can anyone tell me your experiences with general anesthesia? My surgery is scheduled for April and I will be going under general anesthesia. I am so scared. What do they do exactly? How was your experience? Thanks a bunch in advance.

General is the coolest stuff in the world! You will have an IV place and once you get in the operating room they will start a series of injections into your IV. About half way through the first one is as far as you will get. You will then wake up in the recovery room having no concept of time. Relax, they will take good care of you. I personally have never had any problems with general, however I do get motion sickness so they always give me a scope patch for behind my ear. I wear it for several days after the surgery and I suffered from no nausea at all.....very dry mouth, but no tummy upset. Good Luck!

kec1944,
I've been under general anesthesia three times and each time I laughed when I woke up because I go under and it seems like I just closed my eyes for a second or two then I'm in recovery. For my hysterectomy they put in my iv, put me on a bed on wheels and off to surgery we went. In the OR they didn't start hooking everything up until I was asleep. I'm not going to lie, I was in pain with this last surgery but it wasn't from my incision. It was my bladder. It was way over full and wasn't emptying fast enough through the catheter. Once that was fixed, I was a very happy camper. You'll be fine. It'll be over before you know it. I didn't believe it when people said it but the wait is really the worst part.

Thanks so much for your replies...it means so much to me. One more question: do you have to have a tube put down your throat? Was your throat painful when you woke up? Thanks!

I had a tube down my throat for my TVH but was asleep when they put in it and when they took it out. I had No sore throat, but was just a bit hoarse. You'll do fine. Hugs

They take care of the tube once you're asleep. Before they wheeled me up to the OR, my nurse came in and held up a vial of "happy stuff" (her words), and she was right. Once that went into the IV, I was so relaxed that the next thing I knew I woke up and it was finished.
Don't worry, it wasn't bad at all
Best wishes to you!

The worst part is worrying about it. For me Ive been under twice, and both times they gave me a "happy coctail". That calms you down and you have no idea or concept of time. Its just like your eyes close for a few seconds. The tube goes in after you are asleep and out before you wake. I had no soreness from it. Relax.. you are going to be fine!!

Thank you all so much for your kindness....you've helped to ease my mind!

I never even knew when they injected the anesthesia. One minute I was awake and the next asleep. That is how I like it. Once in the O.R they put you to sleep quickly which is good.

When I had my endometrial ablation back in July, once I moved over to the bed in the operating room, they said to start counting backwards...and I was out. Then next thing I knew I was being asked if I had any pain. I think I said I did. I fell immediately back asleep. Then they woke me up...I was surprised that everything was done and over. It was great!

May it go just as well for you!! I'm hoping I'll have a repeat great experience when I have hysterectomy on March 18th!