general anesthesia

Could someone please share with me what to expect before, during and after GA? I have had abdominal surgery with a spinal, but have never had GA. I do better if I know what to expect.

Thanks,

Althea205

	Quote:
Originally Posted by althea205 Could someone please share with me what to expect before, during and after GA? I have had abdominal surgery with a spinal, but have never had GA. I do better if I know what to expect. Thanks, Althea205

I had GA and I didn't want it but I wanted a LSH because of the quick recovery.
I always had trouble with GA in the past and I made sure my DR and Anesthetist knew it. I was really scared and I had already had GA 4-5 times before.
Let me tell you, the meds they have today are wonderful. Normally I would get nausea, vomiting and trouble coming out it. This time nothing, zip! No nausea, no vomiting, nothing. Just make sure you tell them you are concerrned and they will make as easy as possible.
They gave something in my IV, I went to sleep and woke up in the recovery room. It was 5 hours later but to me it was a nap.
You'll be fine.
Peggy

I had general anesthesia, and did very well with it. You may be offered partial sedation before going into the OR. I chose not to have that, and went in wide awake. I already had an IV in place - they helped me onto the table, got everything ready, and the anesthesiologist placed the mask over my face. That is the last thing I remember until I woke up in recovery. The nurse asked me to rate my pain, and gave me the appropriate meds in my IV.

I had a bit of nausea at my first post-op meal, so the nurse just took away the food and brought me ginger ale and crackers. I was much better by the next meal.

Be sure to do whatever breathing exercises you are told to do, as many times as required, even after you go home. That helps your lungs functioning at their best, which is important to your healing.

I can relate to your need to know as much as possible in advance. I also do better if I have a good mental picture. I asked my doc to describe what would happen when I came to the hospital, and when I went into surgery. She described in detail, until I felt like I had a grasp of the process. It was still scary, but not so much since I knew what to expect.

Good luck with your surgery!

I was given an IV right before being wheeled to the OR. The doc's said it was like having an entire bottle of wine in one sitting. I felt my arms and legs tingling, but was still "with it" They wheeled me into the OR and I remember getting on the table and spreading my arms out. The next thing I remember is people calling my name and I thought it was morning. My surgery was suppose to last 2 hours but lasted 4 and I had no idea what time it was when I woke up. I was groggy but I felt great! I had a very positive experience with it!

General Anaesthesia escorted me through the D&C/hysteroscopy, and I must say I found him to be a thoroughly charming gentleman. My anaesthesiologist put me under with an injection and kept me under with a gas that dissipated almost immediately once they were through. No nausea, no funky symptoms.

I'd travel with the good General any day.

i've never had a problem with general anesthesia but i get so worked up and nervous beforehand. i do ask for and take the sedative in the pre-op area. it either puts me to sleep, leaves me with little to no memory of that time, or just so totally relaxes me that i dont mind whats going on around me. with my surgeries, i have a little memory of my arms being strapped down and the anesthesiologist talking to me and telling me he was just giving me oxygen, i remember starting to be wheeled into the OR for my lsh. the next thing i remember is waking up in recovery. its actually a very peaceful experience and when i wake up, i always wonder why i was so scared.

I agree with Arlynn. The General was good to me. I remember scooting from the gurney to the procedure table and then there's blackness, followed by a very very slow waking up process. I come out of GA pretty slowly, but I'm one of the lucky ones who doesn't get nausea. The professionals are very very good about keeping patients under as long as needed

To be honest, the Anesthesiologist gave me a sedative when he came in and I felt great. Then he put me under and I didn't know anything until I woke up, in what seemed like, a few minutes. I did have nausea which they controled with Zofran, but other than that it was pretty good.

Before being wheeled into the OR, they gave me something in my IV. I do not remember going down the hall or into the operating room. The next thing I remember is waking up in recovery. General anesthesia is like a quick sleeping pill. You'll be awake one minute, then out and you won't remember anything. It's a blessing, believe me.

If you feel like you might have a lot of anxiety beforehand, please ask them for something in your IV before. They'll give you some "happy juice" as they like to call it and you'll have calm nerves and be fine.

Good luck to you.

I had a "cocktail" as they called it before wheeling me into the O.R. so I barely remember going in .
When I woke up in Recovery and was looking at the clock it was 1:30pm and I went in at 9:30.
I have had several D & C and had never been sick. I was sick in recovery & then as they were wheeling me into my room. I think when I got sick going into my room was from the motion!

mshowdy