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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Jamal Spelling on December 2, 2007, at 8:56:52
I had surgery recently to correct some breathing issues. They used general anesthesia - the kind where you breathe volatile gases using a ventilator. It was the first time in my life I've had general anesthesia. I was really nervous before surgery. The anesthetist gave me 15 mg midazolam about 15 minutes before surgery to ease my anxiety.
The experience of going under was interesting. As I was lying on the operating table, the anesthetist warned me that he was about to induce anesthesia. I began feeling a tingling sensation in my head, and next thing I knew I was in the recovery ward. The surgery had lasted two hours. What is interesting is just how discrete the experience was of losing consciousness. I was perfectly alert one moment, and next moment it was two hours later in the recovery ward. There was no feeling of falling asleep or anything like that. It was like lying there feeling the tingling in my head, perfectly awake and alert, and - bang! - next thing I'm in the recovery ward.
I had no pain or nausea after surgery. I felt sleepy for a few hours, but I wasn't high or anything like that. In retrospect, it was a walk in the park. My fears about anesthesia were unfounded.
Jamal
Posted by Phillipa on December 2, 2007, at 12:00:05
In reply to Anesthesia, posted by Jamal Spelling on December 2, 2007, at 8:56:52
Jamal thank-you for that post as I may have it is it too private to say what it was for ? If so babblemail me as I need some advise on it. Thanks, Phillipa
Posted by rskontos on December 2, 2007, at 12:39:23
In reply to Anesthesia, posted by Jamal Spelling on December 2, 2007, at 8:56:52
Jamal I have had knee surgery twice and that is how it was both times. My surgeries were recent and I felt the same was however I reacted from it still. I have had several surgeries prior to this and I must admit the newer surgeries are a picnic as far as going under. A very good friend is an anestheologist and he and I discussed the newer methods. My daughter has had surgeries to fix broken arms and it is same and she didn't react like I did. I fainted both times the day after and just felt very dizzy. I did this at my doctors office. It is funny how you wake up so quickly. I told my doctor and it was my friend that but me under I didn't think I would go so quickly but he said yeah you will everyone does. And bam next thing I knew I was talking nonsense to my doctor and couldn't quit. Just rambling but my doc says most people do this....still it was funny to me....
glad you went through it so easy. I think it normal to be so worried before....rk
Posted by Justherself54 on December 2, 2007, at 13:54:05
In reply to Re: Anesthesia, posted by rskontos on December 2, 2007, at 12:39:23
I've had three prior major surgeries where coming out of anesthesia was a nightmare, vomiting, passing out..I recently had major surgery in September and I don't know what they used this time but what a difference..felt great, no nausea, fainting..I'm not so scared about "going under" now..
Posted by Jamal Spelling on December 2, 2007, at 17:32:40
In reply to Re: Anesthesia » Jamal Spelling, posted by Phillipa on December 2, 2007, at 12:00:05
> Jamal thank-you for that post as I may have it is it too private to say what it was for ? If so babblemail me as I need some advise on it. Thanks, Phillipa
Hi Phillipa
I had a deviated septum repaired, and enlarged turbinates reduced. Hopefully my breathing will improve as a result.
Jamal
Posted by Phillipa on December 2, 2007, at 18:10:46
In reply to Re: Anesthesia » Phillipa, posted by Jamal Spelling on December 2, 2007, at 17:32:40
Two other babblers had the same thing done. Thanks. Phillipa
Posted by sonic_gb on December 3, 2007, at 9:20:48
In reply to Anesthesia, posted by Jamal Spelling on December 2, 2007, at 8:56:52
Jamal,
I agree that it is a very weird feeling. As someone who has never done illegal drugs in my life (except for some marijuana when I was very young), I have to say that the iv injection of Remifentanil before induction gave me a surge of euphoria like nothing I could have imagined. I seriously understand how iv opiate abusers get addicted.
Sonic.
Posted by Jamal Spelling on December 3, 2007, at 17:13:53
In reply to Re: Anesthesia » Jamal Spelling, posted by sonic_gb on December 3, 2007, at 9:20:48
> Jamal,
>
> I agree that it is a very weird feeling. As someone who has never done illegal drugs in my life (except for some marijuana when I was very young), I have to say that the iv injection of Remifentanil before induction gave me a surge of euphoria like nothing I could have imagined. I seriously understand how iv opiate abusers get addicted.
>
> Sonic.Hi Sonic
I don't think my anesthetist used fentanyl or anything like that to anesthetize me. Certainly, the experience of going under was not euphoric for me. It was neither pleasant nor unpleasant. It simply was. I think I was given a sodium channel blocker (or something like that).
In fact, I actually asked my doctor whether he was going to give me oxycontin or anything like that, to which he replied:
"I don't service no junkie scum. If you're having this op just to get your fix, then you better get your *ss out of my theater before I phone the cops."
LOL!!! Methinks the doctor doth protest too much, wouldn't you say?
Jamal
Posted by sonic_gb on December 4, 2007, at 17:35:44
In reply to Re: Anesthesia » sonic_gb, posted by Jamal Spelling on December 3, 2007, at 17:13:53
> > Jamal,
> >
> > I agree that it is a very weird feeling. As someone who has never done illegal drugs in my life (except for some marijuana when I was very young), I have to say that the iv injection of Remifentanil before induction gave me a surge of euphoria like nothing I could have imagined. I seriously understand how iv opiate abusers get addicted.
> >
> > Sonic.
>
> Hi Sonic
>
> I don't think my anesthetist used fentanyl or anything like that to anesthetize me. Certainly, the experience of going under was not euphoric for me. It was neither pleasant nor unpleasant. It simply was. I think I was given a sodium channel blocker (or something like that).
>
> In fact, I actually asked my doctor whether he was going to give me oxycontin or anything like that, to which he replied:
>
> "I don't service no junkie scum. If you're having this op just to get your fix, then you better get your *ss out of my theater before I phone the cops."
>
> LOL!!! Methinks the doctor doth protest too much, wouldn't you say?
>
> Jamal
>When I asked the anesthesiologist what he'd just injected, he said "think of it as a triple martini by IV". I then sat in the euphoric remifentanil glow for about 30 seconds befor the anesthesiologist pushed propofol which obviously knocked me right out. When I woke up in recovery, the nurse had a booster of (what I think was remifentanil, but definitely an opiate) and asked if I was in any pain, and when I said yes, gave me 2 additional doses over the next few minutes. Good stuff, but I can see why it would be dangerously addictive.
Why would you're surgeon drive such a hard line about anesthesia drugs? It's not like it's subjective as to whether or not you need them...
This is the end of the thread.
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