Does anaesthetic affect mental focus?

LOL on the taxes! One of the reasons I did them in advance is because I was terrified of the surgery, and was thinking about how complicated things would be for my hubby if I died! So I tried to put as much in order as I could, including the taxes! But I also did a lot of advance work at my job to try to make sure all of my projects would function smoothly or would wait without any disastrous repercussions for my return.

I was on pain meds for only one week following surgery, then didn't need them. I'm lucky there, I guess. I'm 5 weeks post-op today, and I'm progressively more mentally alert. But it's still seems like more work than it should be to do things that require mental energy.

	Quote:
Originally Posted by TSPiper LOL on the taxes! One of the reasons I did them in advance is because I was terrified of the surgery, and was thinking about how complicated things would be for my hubby if I died! So I tried to put as much in order as I could, including the taxes! But I also did a lot of advance work at my job to try to make sure all of my projects would function smoothly or would wait without any disastrous repercussions for my return. I was on pain meds for only one week following surgery, then didn't need them. I'm lucky there, I guess. I'm 5 weeks post-op today, and I'm progressively more mentally alert. But it's still seems like more work than it should be to do things that require mental energy.

I was wondering if you took any aleve or over the counter meds after you went off pain meds? I stopped yesterday also which is one week

My one friend who have a TAH 7 years ago warned me about the lack of focus. She told me it starts to improve at 3 weeks and it will get better over time. It is so weird to have down time (I never get that) and just stare out the window. But it is normal.

I am 6 weeks post-op and my problem is that I keep forgetting words. I can right in the middle of a conversation and completely cannot remember the word I need! So frustrating. Hopefully it will get better LOL!

I am so glad I found this post!! I wasn't even sure if I was making this up or not. I am a big book reader and download a lot of ebooks weeks before my surgery. I am 1 week post op, I can't concentrate. I stare at my computer screen or the tv. I dont want to read email or talk on the phone and I have no desire to do anything mentally challenging. Just posting on this site is tiring. I can't wait to be back to "normal"

I am so grateful that my dear friend R (who has had many abdominal surgeries, since she has Crohn's) warned me about the after effects of anaesthesia, how it makes your brain foggy for long after you would expect to feel normal, and that the more times you have surgery the longer it takes to recover. Since I had general anaesthesia twice in less than two months, the second time, my hysterectomy, it took me many weeks before I felt that my head was working properly.

Books seemed too complicated to bother with, and even some movies were just too much effort to watch, both of which are some of my favorite things normally.

I am now three months out, as of tomorrow, and most of the time my head feels pretty clear

I still don't know how much the mental state is from the anesthesia and how much is from having such stress to my body as a whole. But it's comforting to know that this is not an uncommon situation.

LaineyLaine, I couldn't read a book at all the first week. Or the second week. Even playing solitaire on the computer was too tiring. I'd start a game and lose interest halfway through and just quit it. I've gradually and steadily improved. I am 5 weeks post-op today, and today I am feeling more alert and energetic than I have felt since surgery.

Wow thanks for the reply. Just reading your post and thinking about Solitaire brought tears to my eyes just thinking about trying to play.....This is so twilightzone

LaineyLaine - At one week post-op I was totally useless! Twilight zone, or surreal, is definitely how I felt for most of the first couple of weeks! Now at 5 weeks post op, if something is a bit mentally challenging, I still tend to set it aside. But I can now read books for relaxation, so that's a big improvement.

I couldn't read a thing in the hospital during the 5 days I was just there. For most of that time the pain meds had me so doped up I could barely see straight. Hello, double vision...way too many meds on board. When they dialed down the meds I felt much better but I.m not close to normal focusing yet.