How long after you wake up and are able to pee etc. (I'm told that is what they wait for [~45 minutes], before allowing you to leave the hospital), are you able to go about your usual business (work etc.)?
The nurse says you'd feel like you're under the influence of alcohol for 6+ hours but I suspect that just might be a way of covering their butts and that you actually get back to usual within a shorter period of time.
How long did it take you to recover from general anesthesia?
It depends quite a bit on what type of general anesthetic they are using and how long you are under. It sounds like that this will probably be a short surgery and probably not using the deeper sleep inducing anesthetics.
In that case my experience was that I was kept in bed for about an hour, but was feeling OK enough to walk around and such after 30 mins or so. The rest of the day I was sleepy and definitely not very clear headed. I had already arranged to take the full day off work, and I was very glad I did because I really, really would not of wanted to have to go back to work (but probably could have if I absolutely had to).
Deeper longer anesthetics will kick your ass. Any person I have ever seen that has been under for any appreciable amount of time pretty much wants to do nothing but sleep, tend to be quite loopy, and in general looks like hell.
I have had GA several times. Each time was different. Like Jorge said, depends a lot on how long your surgery is. After a 8 hr. procedure I wasnt coherent until the next day. Another time they rolled me out the door 60 min after surgery, although I got the feeling they needed the bed.
JorgeBurrito said: It depends quite a bit on what type of general anesthetic they are using and how long you are under. It sounds like that this will probably be a short surgery and probably not using the deeper sleep inducing anesthetics.
In that case my experience was that I was kept in bed for about an hour, but was feeling OK enough to walk around and such after 30 mins or so. The rest of the day I was sleepy and definitely not very clear headed. I had already arranged to take the full day off work, and I was very glad I did because I really, really would not of wanted to have to go back to work (but probably could have if I absolutely had to).
Deeper longer anesthetics will kick your ass. Any person I have ever seen that has been under for any appreciable amount of time pretty much wants to do nothing but sleep, tend to be quite loopy, and in general looks like hell.
quite loopy.....you have to have a designated driver before they will let you go home....work...out of the question...go home and sleep it off with a couple of pain killers.
rgilbert said: quite loopy.....you have to have a designated driver before they will let you go home....work...out of the question...go home and sleep it off with a couple of pain killers.
sounds like good advice.
freebieprincess
Senior Member - 5K
posted: Nov. 5, 2009 @ 7:25p
I have also been under GA several times and each time was different. You do need a designated driver and feel tired and spacey. I agree with the others. Best to take day off and take it easy, nap and watch tv.
When I had my back surgery, I was pretty much out of it. They make you do some exercises when you come out of it, like push your legs up and down, and move your feet and stuff. I don't remember doing any of that, but apparently I did. I just remember waking up thinking, ok, when do I have to do these things, but it was done at some point.
Depends. The one that killed Michael Jackson is effective, but mild. Well, except it killed Michael Jackson. Anyway, there's way too many variables to apply a one-size-fits-all answer to your question. Best practice is as suggested in having someone else drive you home and take the rest of the day and night at least off.
I had the Michael Jackson stuff for my Colonoscopy. I woke up hollering "I'm still awake." and they said 'we finished 20 minutes ago'. My first anesthesia. And I was normal an hour or two later.
When under a deep general anesthetic for a major surgery, you usually do not leave the hospital for a few days. You need therapy afterward (could be any kind) and the anesthetic prevents you from making a BM (deuce, #2) for a few days and you must pinch a loaf before leaving the Hospital.
SlamminMOFO said: ...the anesthetic prevents you from making a BM (deuce, #2) for a few days and you must pinch a loaf before leaving the Hospital. Aw CRAP! That STINKS!
freebieprincess said: I have also been under GA several times and each time was different. You do need a designated driver and feel tired and spacey. I agree with the others. Best to take day off and take it easy, nap and watch tv. This. Me too.
tiburonxshark
Broke Member
posted: Nov. 6, 2009 @ 1:01p
freebieprincess said: I have also been under GA several times...Who is GA?
Agreeing with most people here, it's no picnic. I've gone through it 3 times and was different every-time, but the recovery was never faster than a few hours.
My first experience I was quite young, and the surgery was about 8 hours...they tell me I woke up and immediately hurled(dry heaves), proceeded to do that for the remainder of the night and didn't feel better until about morning.
Second was wisdom teeth, I remember brief flashes from the drive home but most of it I was blacked out...I think I was only under for an hour or two.
Third was probably the easiest, it took about an hour to come around but I was still groggy the rest of the day...not to mention the pain of the surgery.
I was under once for a colonoscopy and the Dr was giggling like a little girl when I awoke. But at least he didn't find any cancerous plops.
alx2
New Member
posted: Nov. 6, 2009 @ 4:30p
Take food. Granola bar, peanut butter crackers to eat AFTER you wake up from being out. I have been under many, many times and when it's just short for like an hour-long procedure, after they wake me up and I eat something, I can go shopping. Until I eat, though, it's like being out there. Now, while I'm getting dressed, i'm eating something and feel better and coherent about 30 mins later. I usually take a good nap, though, later when I get home. Working would be a little tough, though, wouldn't do anything that I really had to concentrate on. anesthesia makes my mother violently ill, she gets very, very sick, even if it's a little bit. Won't know until you try it.
Xnarg
Senior Member - 5K
posted: Nov. 6, 2009 @ 5:28p
Bellyflops said: I was under once for a colonoscopy and the Dr was giggling like a little girl when I awoke. But at least he didn't find any cancerous plops.Usually a colonoscopy is done with conscious sedation, which may include something like fentanyl (pain killer) and Versed (sedative/hypnotic), and is not considered to be general anesthesia.
There is less risk with conscious sedation than there is with monitored anesthesia care (MAC), in which something like propofol may be administered. MAC requires more monitoring. Depending on the dosage and the patient's reaction, MAC may lead to deep sedation or even general anesthesia.
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