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SomeMichGuy · M
It does NOT hurt.
That's when they have you breathe a mixture which makes sure you remain unconscious during a procedure for several reasons:
1) You need to maintain your body's position (generally) and whatever positioning is required for your limbs, etc.; if you were awake, you could be fidgety have an itch, etc.--these could be fatal for delicate surgery.
2) It prevents you from feeling pain. That could result in you suddenly tensing, flailing, yelling, screaming, etc., and even passing out. Again, this would interrupt/startle the surgical team, and any movement you make can endanger the procedure and your life.
3) They don't have time to deal with your questions during the procedure.
4) You really often cannot handle and do not want to know what goes into major surgery. There is a reason that surgeons have an extensive background, years in the making. Let them and their team(s) do what they have trained to do. They can't have you barfing and compromising your own recovery and survival by giving yourself sepsis.
General anesthesia is *general* because it puts *you* to sleep; local anesthesia is *local* because it puts a targeted area "to sleep" (deadens sensation), such as removing a tooth, sewing up a laceration on a part of your body, etc.
YES, it is VERY safe. This depends upon making sure that the drs. get your medical history--allergies, etc.--and age, sex, health conditions, so that the mix of anesthesia is right for you.
Additionally, you will be monitored throughout the surgery to check not only your gross vitals (heart rate, blood pressure, breathing rate, etc.), but also your level of consciousness.
Further, this is sort of like diving; they will keep a running master clock so that you are not "under" the anesthesia for too long.
After your procedure, you will be taken to "recovery" in order to be monitored while you are coming out of the effects of the anesthesia. A nurse will be assigned to you, and you will be checked on regularly, so that your close monitoring is really ongoing from just before the surgery through the end of being in recovery.
In order to monitor you, you'll have some sensors going to monitors on one of those rolling "trees"; you'll probably wake up, be a bit groggy, but if you need to get up and use the rest room, they'll help you get there safely and get back in your bed.
You might doze some more, but you can adjust your bed, and they'll likely make sure you keep down some water/juice, then see if you have an appetite. Successful urination, drinking/eating without vomiting, and even defecation (depending more upon the surgery for this last, I think) might all be milestones they want to see as you get back to feeling normal, consciousness-wise.
During this time, you'll probably be asked how you are feeling generally, and how the surgery site feels, how any symptoms you'd had are now different, etc., and your sutures will be checked, etc. (they might be cleaned, have bandaging replaced, etc.).
The surgeon will likely come by, ask how you are, explain what they did (possibly drawing child-like line drawings...lol), characterize how the surgery went, how you did, and what your prognosis is (your chance of full recovery, etc.). He'll also tell you verbally what to watch out for (fever, pus oozing from the suture, increase in pain, etc.) and make sure you understand when you need to call his office, go to an ER, etc.
He'll also discuss any meds (you might have pain meds and an antibiotic), and how to care for the suture/etc. (don't get it wet for a day, if it gets wet carefully pat it dry, etc.).
ASK HIM QUESTIONS THEN!
A nurse will show you how to care for your suture/change bandaging, etc., and give you some replacement bandages, etc.
She will go over the info from the doctor in your written discharge instructions. AGAIN, IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, ANSWER!
That's when they have you breathe a mixture which makes sure you remain unconscious during a procedure for several reasons:
1) You need to maintain your body's position (generally) and whatever positioning is required for your limbs, etc.; if you were awake, you could be fidgety have an itch, etc.--these could be fatal for delicate surgery.
2) It prevents you from feeling pain. That could result in you suddenly tensing, flailing, yelling, screaming, etc., and even passing out. Again, this would interrupt/startle the surgical team, and any movement you make can endanger the procedure and your life.
3) They don't have time to deal with your questions during the procedure.
4) You really often cannot handle and do not want to know what goes into major surgery. There is a reason that surgeons have an extensive background, years in the making. Let them and their team(s) do what they have trained to do. They can't have you barfing and compromising your own recovery and survival by giving yourself sepsis.
General anesthesia is *general* because it puts *you* to sleep; local anesthesia is *local* because it puts a targeted area "to sleep" (deadens sensation), such as removing a tooth, sewing up a laceration on a part of your body, etc.
YES, it is VERY safe. This depends upon making sure that the drs. get your medical history--allergies, etc.--and age, sex, health conditions, so that the mix of anesthesia is right for you.
Additionally, you will be monitored throughout the surgery to check not only your gross vitals (heart rate, blood pressure, breathing rate, etc.), but also your level of consciousness.
Further, this is sort of like diving; they will keep a running master clock so that you are not "under" the anesthesia for too long.
After your procedure, you will be taken to "recovery" in order to be monitored while you are coming out of the effects of the anesthesia. A nurse will be assigned to you, and you will be checked on regularly, so that your close monitoring is really ongoing from just before the surgery through the end of being in recovery.
In order to monitor you, you'll have some sensors going to monitors on one of those rolling "trees"; you'll probably wake up, be a bit groggy, but if you need to get up and use the rest room, they'll help you get there safely and get back in your bed.
You might doze some more, but you can adjust your bed, and they'll likely make sure you keep down some water/juice, then see if you have an appetite. Successful urination, drinking/eating without vomiting, and even defecation (depending more upon the surgery for this last, I think) might all be milestones they want to see as you get back to feeling normal, consciousness-wise.
During this time, you'll probably be asked how you are feeling generally, and how the surgery site feels, how any symptoms you'd had are now different, etc., and your sutures will be checked, etc. (they might be cleaned, have bandaging replaced, etc.).
The surgeon will likely come by, ask how you are, explain what they did (possibly drawing child-like line drawings...lol), characterize how the surgery went, how you did, and what your prognosis is (your chance of full recovery, etc.). He'll also tell you verbally what to watch out for (fever, pus oozing from the suture, increase in pain, etc.) and make sure you understand when you need to call his office, go to an ER, etc.
He'll also discuss any meds (you might have pain meds and an antibiotic), and how to care for the suture/etc. (don't get it wet for a day, if it gets wet carefully pat it dry, etc.).
ASK HIM QUESTIONS THEN!
A nurse will show you how to care for your suture/change bandaging, etc., and give you some replacement bandages, etc.
She will go over the info from the doctor in your written discharge instructions. AGAIN, IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, ANSWER!
SomeMichGuy · M
@Graylight Thanks.
CheekyBadger · M
It doesn't hurt beyond a small scratch (like you might get when a cat puts it's claws on you) when they insert the line that carries the drugs. Once the drugs are inserted you fall asleep and when you wake up it is done. They will probably talk to you to distract you as they are putting the drugs in and to make sure that you have had enough so that you fall asleep.
Teirdalin · 31-35
Don't worry about it, don't eat anything the day of the surgery and you'll be okay. You want anesthesia if you don't wanna be awake while they're cutting into you
Nevaeh0081 · 36-40, F
Something to numb the pain?
You ok?
You ok?
Wolfgirl567 · 26-30, F
@Nevaeh0081 no the er thinks I have appendicitis