Have you had surgery?

DOLEMAN

So... I might have to be getting some surgery soon. Weird lumps are growing near the bottom of my lung (both sides, wtf...)

My blood is normal so they don't think it's anything dangerous... but they still have to be removed.

I've never had surgery. I'm scared :cool:

What's it like going under the anesthetic? Any (non-scary please!) stories appreciated...

Femelade

they tell you to count back from ten, you really think you willmake it to one. You are usually gone by 6 or before it. Then you wake up, a bit sore, but you'll survive.

Setun

Got a pin put in my arm a few years back. I just remember the nurse saying:
"right we're going to put this mask on you, and I want you to count to 10, Ok? 1..."
Then bam! Knocked out. Bit of a wimp, me.

LadyJ

Never had surgery either but I have to go under anesthetic soon too.

I know it'll all be grand but,I'm dreading the thought of not having any control over when I fall asleep. I'd feel like I was getting the lethal injection or something!

Bit of a control freak tbh.

Nina_Angelica

i had day surgery about 5 years ago, was put to sleep for it and exactly as Femmy says, you start counting backwards and wham, you're out like a light next thing you should feel is waking up in the recovery room.

the anesthetic (sp?) might make you feel a bit funny though. they say it can either make you aggressive or emotional. i was both.
i spit on the nurse and cursed at her (god only knows what i said) when i was waking up. i *barely* remember doing it but when i woke up the second time around and she came to check on me, i asked her if i had done so and she said yes, then i cried and apologized profusely and all was fine. she explained she was used to both types of behaviour as is quite common in people who receive a general.

i was really nervous as was my first time having surgery too, it really happens quite fast and will be all over before you know it, so don't fret

Kernel

You get wheeled down to the theatre, and a couple of nurses give you an injection (or you can get gas I think?). I got the injection in the vein in my wrist.

That was the worst part, you're out cold in a matter of seconds and then you wake up. When you come to, you are really out of it though, and weak. I was unbelievably thirsty, but then when I drank I puked.. After a few hours or a day you're back to normal, just a little groggy.

Good luck, you'll be fine.

LadyJ

Kernel wrote:

and a couple of nurses give you an injection (or you can get gas I think?)

Lethal injection or gas chamber! You decide! :eek:

GAAman

pretty much the same as the rest i was knocked out and woke up thinkin the nurses were tryin to kill me (puttin suction hose in my mouth to deal with vomit) i went up and apologised the next day with chocs and they said to get knocked out *alot* more

also i passed out after the nurses thing and woke up back in the ward with a priest standin over me, thought i was gettin the last rites and freaked the hell out!!!

you will be fine man its a routine thing now

fuzzywiggle

I got my appendix out nearly two years ago. I just remember the 2 doctors standing over me saying ''Byeeee, see you soon'' and waving at me and then I was out! When I woke up it wasn't as bad as i thought it would be. I was very groggy but that soon went. Good luck! Don't worry, you'll be fine!

The Real B-man

Daddio wrote:

Got a pin put in my arm a few years back. I just remember the nurse saying:
"right we're going to put this mask on you, and I want you to count to 10, Ok? 1..."
Then bam! Knocked out. Bit of a wimp, me.

lol i remember that from skateboarding wasnt it?

Smoggy

The count back is cool, I think i made it to 6. Turn it in to a game and see if you can beat my personal best!

Pythia

They stick a needle in your wrist. They told me to count down from ten. At eight I said I wasn't tired at all. I was knocked out after seven. I remember them waking me up and asking me a question (something like 'What's your name?', just to make sure you're ok). I was really really out of it for about half an hour, then they wheeled me up to my room where I fell asleep.

nesf

The morning after the surgery the night before is possibly worse than any hangover you've ever gone through.

Beyond that it's fine really unless you get an infection in the stiched scar afterwards. That happened to me. Not good.

xzanti

I had my tonsils out last January.. Very sore *sniff*

Supercell

Years ago has an op on my ears on public health care.
Woke up after the op in the hospital beds back in some ward, felt fine but a bit tired, about an hour later tried to get up and walk and promptly fell flat on my ass. Couldn't stomach food for another 12 hours or so.

Last year had another op (same proceedure basically), this time BUPA was paying so went private. Woke up on a trolly outside the operating theatre with an oxygen mask on my face. Seemed to be in a post op recovery room. After about 15 minutes they wheeled me into another room where I had ice cream and jelly which was just the ticket!
Walked home an hour later with no problems...

If you have BUPA or VHI go private if possible imho.

GerryRyan

Had my nose re-broken and reset a while back - another go home the same day operation. You'll be grand.

Supercell

DOLEMAN wrote:

What's it like going under the anesthetic? Any (non-scary please!) stories appreciated...

Nothing to worry about, they usually give you tablets (or a suppository if the surgeon is into that) that calm you down.

Then a drip is stuck into your hand and they ask you to count to ten, you think at 5 hey i'm super cool and awake..but by 8 yer probably out!!


Don;t worry about it is my advice, worst thing about hospital is the boredom, not the ops.

If you have an overnight stay, bring a laptop with some movies or pdf's to read, or go old style and just bring books.

Ruu_Old

Never had surgery but good luck anyway and a quick recovery.

giveth

One thing you probably should be aware of is that time doesnt seem to pass at all when you're knocked out.

To me it was like blinking... one minute I was in theatre and the next I was in the recovery room but 1 and a half hours had passed. It's not like sleeping where you know time has passed when you wake up. It's a weird feeling but I quite liked it!

I found the whole experience totally fine. I wouldnt worry about it...

Rhyme

DOLEMAN wrote:

So... I might have to be getting some surgery soon. Weird lumps are growing near the bottom of my lung (both sides, wtf...)
I've never had surgery.

What's it like going under the anesthetic? Any (non-scary please!) stories appreciated...

I had a similar situation, but mine were top and bottom... they called them blebs (congenital blisters). As a result my right lung is 6% smaller due to a total collapse and it will most likely happen on the other side too

I know saying 'don't worry' is a foregone conclusion as most people never go into theatre without some kind of apprehension. They'll wheel you into theatre and do whats necessary before the operation, more than likely just a drip in your wrist that will feed the anasthetic into your blood, it hurts a bit but that passes quickly. Possibly the worst thing is the cold as you're in a gown and the prep room is usually quite cold... chilly.

They'll knock you out, do what they need and get you out as soon as possible... after a lung operation they may put you in recovery for a while... the only preparation anyone needs for that is 'Relax'. The worst is over and more than likely it'll only get better.

Good luck, fast recovery.