General Anaesthetic

[Easy_Targa]

Calling PH medics out there.
Just had a general anaesthetic for umbilical hernia and compared with previous occasions this somewhat scary experience was a total breeze. No “Count backwards from ten” just went out breathing a gas of some sort. Then when I came to afterwards (or was I woken?) and it honestly felt as if i’d woken up after a good sleep. Not woozy or sick at all.
Have there been improvements in drugs or procedures recently?

[Gary29]

I was put out about 2 years ago now, and had the same experience, felt fine afterwards, could've driven home no problem, not groggy at all. I think improvements have been made, but couldn't begin to try and explain exactly how.

[Androgynous]

Easy_Targa said:

Calling PH medics out there.
Just had a general anaesthetic for umbilical hernia and compared with previous occasions this somewhat scary experience was a total breeze. No “Count backwards from ten” just went out breathing a gas of some sort. Then when I came to afterwards (or was I woken?) and it honestly felt as if i’d woken up after a good sleep. Not woozy or sick at all.
Have there been improvements in drugs or procedures recently?

Yup, huge improvements have been made in recent years, you can generally eat within a few minutes of waking up

I think the 'gas' is just oxygen these days to keep you oxygenated as they put you under intravenously.

[gasman712]

There have been no major advances in anaesthetic drugs in my 20years of practise, Changing emphasis and fads on how to deliver drugs, but nothing new which might be viewed as a game changer.

3 factors in every op: patient, procedure and anaesthetic
One hasnt changed, guessing something in the other 2 has

[Androgynous]

gasman712 said:

There have been no major advances in anaesthetic drugs in my 20years of practise, Changing emphasis and fads on how to deliver drugs, but nothing new which might be viewed as a game changer.

3 factors in every op: patient, procedure and anaesthetic
One hasnt changed, guessing something in the other 2 has

I've had more GAs than I ever wanted, the first was back in '79 and I had quite a few during the 80's and early 90's. They knocked the stuffing out of me for the whole day, lots of nausea/vomiting and generally feeling battered.

I've had four three hour GAs in the last three years, they all felt like a walk in the park compared to the previous ones I had. It may be me as I always tend to increase my fitness before surgery these days, or it could be how it's administered but it sure feels easier having one now.

[C0ffin D0dger]

Last one I had was for an operation being done as a day case so I guess I wasn't under for long. The anaesthetist gave me a sedative before knocking me out, helped ease my anxiety but it was only a few minutes later that I was being knocked out so not sure if it was necessary or just part of the normal procedure?

Felt fine after and ready to eat / drink straight away but then I've never had any nausea the three times I've been under.

Weird thing on this one was drinking a load of water after to re-hydrate, feeling like I needed a wee, but I couldn't get my bladder to work when it came to it. Ended up sitting on the loo for a good few minutes trying to get it to happen. Guess that bit of my body was still a bit sleepy

[TheAngryDog]

I come out of a GA quite well, bit groggy but fine to eat and drink, never been sick and my bladder works fine .
I tend to be quite tired for the rest of the day though so I just go home to bed.

[elanfan]

I had a GA on Wednesday mid morning. The anaesthetist introduced himself by first names and called me by mine. Despite this being something like my 9th GA I was still nervous and told him so. He put he venthlon in the back of my hand which did hurt a bit. He injected a relaxant and then gave some oxygen. He then got the anaesthetic and said just think some pleasant thoughts. Next thing I was all cosy in recovery. Don’t even recall them calling my name just chatted to the nurse. Wheeled me back to my bed, imessaged the family I was back
Had a chicken and stuffing sandwich and a yoghurt. The surgeon came out and went through a few things with me and said I could go. The plan was that I stayed in overnight but they had no beds. Actually nerves aside it wasn’t an unpleasant experience at all.

Afterwards...

Felt absolutely fine for 36 hours but was then sick twice in the space of an hour. Despite having eaten well the sick was mainly a brown liquid which I think is bile. I absolutely hate being sick. Going back in, in about an hour to have the pain bomb removed.

Edited by elanfan on Saturday 13th April 01:27

[yellowtr]

I have had GA countless times now. Last one time I had it was for a camera examination privately in the smallest hole possible ...anyway, had it before so wasn't worried. Procedure is quite short, so I came round fairly quick. Had a sandwich and some drink, passed urine and was good to go.

My father was picking me up. I got my stuff together and left the room. I almost collapsed walking down the corridor. Walking down the stairs felt even worse. The nurses came to collect me and I went back to my room for an hour. I had a bit more to eat and didn't feel much better but I needed to get home as although my room was lovely and comfortable, I prefer being at home. I rang my wife to say I was heading home and literally closed my eyes all the way home, door was open and went straight to bed.

Woke up the next morning and i was absolutely fine. Very odd.

[andySC]

I had one in January to allow a broken leg to be plated. It was a breeze. Anaesthetist was a pleasant chap, we were talking about motorbikes then in went the juice....”oooh, here it comes” says I as I drift off. Can’t remember recovery or being reintroduced to my partner (who was pacing the corridor) or much about getting back to the ward. I had no sickness or nausea but I did struggle to urinate. I was drinking plenty of water as instructed but couldn’t squeeze hardly any out to the point it was getting quite uncomfortable. Once the floodgates opened I couldn’t stop! In the words of The Hitcher...”it’s coming out of me like a yellow cable!”.

The day before my operation I had a temporary fix (reduction) to straighten my leg. This was done in A&E. What I was given (2 drugs, think they were Fentanyl and Propofol) weren’t strictly GA’s but the guy said I’d be so far out of it I’d not know what was going on. He was completely correct. “Woke” up with no dramas with a temporary cast on my now straight leg and none the wiser where I’d been for the last 30 minutes.

Quite an amazing thing to experience and the mechanisms at work are still somewhat of a mystery to medicine I believe.

Edited by andySC on Friday 12th April 23:34

[gazza285]

I had mine through a cannula in my hand, I remember thinking it was cold, as I could feel it moving up my arm...

...Came to a bit later on thinking it hadn't worked properly, only to find my leg all stitched up already, three hours later. No nausea, I just went home and had a nap.

[Stan the Bat]

[quote=andySC the mechanisms at work are still somewhat of a mystery to medicine I believe.

Edited by andySC on Friday 12th April 23:34

[/quote]


Wish you hadn't said that .

[gasman712]

Stan the Bat said:

[quote=andySC the mechanisms at work are still somewhat of a mystery to medicine I believe.

Edited by andySC on Friday 12th April 23:34

Wish you hadn't said that .

Mechanism of action of anaesthetic agents is potentiation of GABAergic neuronal receptors, and reduction of neuronal activity with subsequent uncoupling of neuronal relations. The bigger mystery is the mechanisms of consciousness although there are some models which suggest that the root of it is in networking activities of neurones.

[The_Doc]

gasman712 said:

There have been no major advances in anaesthetic drugs in my 20years of practise, Changing emphasis and fads on how to deliver drugs, but nothing new which might be viewed as a game changer.

3 factors in every op: patient, procedure and anaesthetic
One hasnt changed, guessing something in the other 2 has

Surely Ondansetron and Desflurane have changed people's experiences, compared to the GA they had for tonsils in the 1980s?
But I'm merely an observer...

[Stan the Bat]

gasman712 said:

Stan the Bat said:

[quote=andySC the mechanisms at work are still somewhat of a mystery to medicine I believe.

Edited by andySC on Friday 12th April 23:34

Wish you hadn't said that .

Mechanism of action of anaesthetic agents is potentiation of GABAergic neuronal receptors, and reduction of neuronal activity with subsequent uncoupling of neuronal relations. The bigger mystery is the mechanisms of consciousness although there are some models which suggest that the root of it is in networking activities of neurones.

Nice and simply put there

[fridaypassion]

Ive had a couple in the last 5 years the first one was a really nice experience actually felt a tad washed out afterwards but the experience was great had a nice dream and woke up for some welcome tea and toast.

Second one was a bit less enjoyable but the procedure was longer so I guess a relatively mild dose is easier on the system. Certainly wouldn't have driven after either but was totally fine the next day.

[nej606k]

Does anyone know if there is a safe limit to the number of GA's a person should have in say 1 year?

I had (successful) heart surgery in Oct 19 under GA and this year have had 2 unsuccessful kidney stone ureteroscopy in July and Aug. The surgeon rang yesterday to tell me that the CT scan shows there are remaining fragments but he reckons he can clear them if I have another operation. Already had 3 GAs in the last 11 months and not quite sure what to do next.

[mike9009]

nej606k said:

Does anyone know if there is a safe limit to the number of GA's a person should have in say 1 year?

I had (successful) heart surgery in Oct 19 under GA and this year have had 2 unsuccessful kidney stone ureteroscopy in July and Aug. The surgeon rang yesterday to tell me that the CT scan shows there are remaining fragments but he reckons he can clear them if I have another operation. Already had 3 GAs in the last 11 months and not quite sure what to do next.

I can't quite remember but I had about 8 GAs in one year back in 2007. Admittedly, each one was only for a short time but never mentioned as an issue.