Watching others get sedated

Have you ever watched someone get sedated or anesthetized? How did they act?

Yes, they nodded off.

They went to sleep lol

Recently I was with my best half as she was going to have a rectosigmoidoscophy performed.

She was nervous, so the doctor recomended sedation.

In the vein, slowly dosed off.

Then I was left alone with her in the room, to wait until it wear off.

Slow return...

groggy....

lost....

happy to see me there...

I've been sedated before just don't remember much of it. I have seen others be sedated in videos but nothing in person. Would be a fascinating thing to see though 😃

It all depends on what the patient is given. Unfortunately, it's a short time between being given the medication and when the patient goes to sleep.

Propofol, for most people, produces a feeling of euphoria right before lights out. Generally you can see the patient smile and have a happy look on the face.

Most of the moderate sedation - opiate and benzo - patients just close the eyes. Perhaps, from time to time, there's a little eye-roll, but nothing dramatic.

Ketamine causes some nystagmus before sleep. But not too interesting - although it does work IM too.

As Chip193 has said it really depends on what combination the Doctor or Anaesthesiologist decides to use to sedate or anaesthetize the patient.

Propofol also called Diprivan slows the activity of your brain and nervous system. It used to help you relax before and during general anesthesia for surgery or other medical procedures as well as to sedate a patient who is under critical care and needs a mechanical ventilator. Can also be used in combo with Ketamine.

It works very fast , within seconds and you go complete unconscious. It is given intravenously in combination with an opiate like fentanyl some people experience a cold or tingly feeling as it is inject .

As Chip193 stated people do feel euphoric with everything feeling a bit ‘floaty’, as if you are intoxicated on alcohol. However you do wake up with a "bang" alert and orientated.

With drugs like Midazolam or Versed ( benzodiazepines) is used more for conscious sedation but it can be used to induce general anesthesia or for sedation for mechanical ventilation in combination with an opiate for analgesia.

The purpose of conscious sedation is to produce a state of relaxation and/or pain relief by using benzodiazepine-type and narcotic medications, to facilitate performing a procedure such as a biopsy, radiologic imaging study, endoscopic procedure, radiation therapy, or bone marrow aspiration.

It is a bit slower acting than propofol achieving sedation within one to five minutes and peaking within 30 minutes. The effects of Midazolam typically last one hour but may persist for six hours (including the amnesic effect). You simple go into a hypnosis-like compliance but Paradoxical reactions including anxiety, delirium and aggression can occur. Some patients report a "creepy obedience" overcoming them.

The effects of Midazolam typically last one hour but may persist for six hours (including the amnesic effect).

Or DAYS. Been there, never doing that again.

I work in an ER and we just did a moderate sedation a few hrs ago. We used propofol as the sedation and pre/post pain control was dilaudid (a narcotic). The sedation was to reduce a fracture and put a dislocated joint back in place. The man was completely disoriented for only a very little time after his sedation was discontinued and I attribute that to the narcotics not he propofol.

Last night we performed moderate sedation for fracture reduction and as it was a child we used both propofol and versed (Midazolam); the versed was used as an amnesiac to decrease the trauma to the child.

Both patients described the "floaty" feeling and the adult said he felt quite intoxicated and "goofy". He said he was willing to try anything we asked of him at that point.

I have used all sorts of induction agents in the emergency department. Propofol, Valium, midazolam, brevitol, phenobarbital, etomidate and ketamine. I have never noticed any erotic thoughts in patients I've medicated. They were scared and when they awoke confused.

I myself have had ether, sodium thiipental, midazolam and propofol. I was scared and anxious before and sick and confused afterwards. With propofol I felt transiently euphoric but upon awakening I didn't feel good. I don't recommend having any of these agents if you can help it.

I've been inducing anesthesia and sedation since 1989 in the OR, ER and multiple other places with about every agent in use since then, and that was pre-propofol days when we used almost nothing for GA except sodium thiopental ("Pentothal"). Never the slightest twinge of eroticism, just trying to practice good medicine and keep the patients safe. Personally, I've been pretty lucky at least in the modern anesthetic era, not counting my multiple cleft operations back in the day 1952-65, without any noticeable anesthetic problems or side effects. I'd go to sleep calmly and wake up drowsy/sedated/mildly confused but not ill or apprehensive. Okay, there was one of my cataracts where I had some nausea near vomiting but not until riding home with my wife in the car that afternoon.

Eric

I have been sedated several times for colonoscopies -- three times with demerol and versed and three times with propofol. I have been with my ex when she was sedated for two surgical procedures and with a female friend who was sedated with fentanyl for nerve block injections. In each one of those it was a no drama procedure.

When I worked in the OR as a student, I saw patients who were partially sedated with IM nembutal and anesthesia was induced in the OR with pentothal and in one case with an ether mask.

I'm not sure what they gave me for a triple bypass operation. The doctor came in and stuck a needle in my neck and said night night and I was gone. I woke up with no time elapsed and in a world of hurt. I hope to never do it again. I have also noticed a couple elderly relatives that seemed to be a little bit off after being put under. It seems to me they lost a step.Does it affect the elderly more?

I'm not sure what they gave me for a triple bypass operation. The doctor came in and stuck a needle in my neck and said night night and I was gone. I woke up with no time elapsed and in a world of hurt. I hope to never do it again. I have also noticed a couple elderly relatives that seemed to be a little bit off after being put under. It seems to me they lost a step.Does it affect the elderly more?

ABSOLUTELY YES, and don't believe anyone who tells you different.

THEY ARE LYING TO YOU.

Does it effect the elderly more?

My best friends grandmother as well as my mother in law have Alzheimers and when both recovered from being sedated for surgery they each made a significant advancement in the disease. When asked if this was permanent the doctors said yes they see that often.

I was recently sedated for a leep procedure and biopsy, I was not looking forward to it as anytime I have had anesthesia in the past I have awoken crying uncontrollably and for no reason whatsoever.

When I met with the anesthesiologist I told him and he assured me i would wake restful and relaxed.

I don’t know what he gave me but he told me to go to my happy place then asked me where exactly that was ....thats all I remember ! I don’t even think I answered him LOL

I awoke in recovery and he was definitely true to his word. He came and checked on me before I was discharged and I told him he definitely makes a good bartender!

I have had propofol and I wish it had made me euphoric! I was pretty anxious. Coming out of it, I wanted to go home and tried to leave the recovery room.

I've also had Midazolam (versed) for a bronchoscopy and it did not take at all. I hope to never have it again.

@bridgette, what you have described is NOT unusual at all. The effects on Alzheimer's, and the crying for no apparent reason is common even though that is not often spoken about.

I have also noticed a couple elderly relatives that seemed to be a little bit off after being put under. It seems to me they lost a step.Does it affect the elderly more?

YES Moppy, it sure does it seems! I too hope you never have to go through it again because I would hate to add any more "offness" to you in your elderly state!

I don’t think I have ever seen anyone be sedated. I know that when I am, it literally takes me DAYS to shake it off! The last surgery I had, about 2 or 3 years ago for carpal tunnel surgery, they gave me a 5 year olds dose and I still didn’t shake it off for a day or two. That also was just for twilight sleep! I guess I am a lightweight when it comes to stuff like that.

YES Moppy, it sure does it seems! I too hope you never have to go through it again because I would hate to add any more "offness" to you in your elderly state!

So you're saying I am already as dumb as a box of rocks? That was rude. True but rude

So you're saying I am already as dumb as a box of rocks? That was rude. True but rude

There you go again - putting words in my mouth! I'm just saying that at your (and my) ages, we can afford any more. "Offness"

Didn't see my mother-in-law being put under, but saw the affect it had on her after her surgery. It advanced her to actual diagnosied dementia.

They, the medical professional, never said what they did assisted in advancing her, but it did.

Didn't see my mother-in-law being put under, but saw the affect it had on her after her surgery. It advanced her to actual diagnosied dementia.

They, the medical professional, never said what they did assisted in advancing her, but it did.

I think it's the anesthesia that does it. My dad had dementia but it was still fairly mild and we could have really good phone conversations that sometimes lasted an hour or two, but then he broke his hip and had to have surgery for it. After that, he could barely hold a conversation for five minutes. He did rebound a bit for a while, but it was only temporary.

@bridgette

I was recently sedated for a leep procedure and biopsy, I was not looking forward to it as anytime I have had anesthesia in the past I have awoken crying uncontrollably and for no reason whatsoever.

This is a typical of Midazolam (Versed) which can cause Paradoxical reactions in addition to the sedatory and amnesic effect. Paradoxical reactions to benzodiazepines ( which Midazolam is), characterized by increased talkativeness, emotional release, excitement, and excessive movement. So crying uncontrollably can happen , I have seen it in a few cases of people sedated with Midazolam.

The exact mechanism of paradoxical reactions remains unclear. Most cases are idiosyncratic; however, some evidence suggests that these reactions may occur secondary to a genetic link, history of alcohol abuse, or psychological disturbances.

RN

Being an older professional, and having a large family, this is something I've had the "pleasure" of witnessing on numerous occasions. I've found that everyone reacts differently to the anesthesia, depending on age, gender, body characteristics, and type of anesthesia given.

I would think there would be more interesting stories about coming out of it. When I had a 6x bypass 22 years ago I was rolled into the room where the doctors introduced themselves then my lights went out like throwing a switch.

I hear that a semi anesthesia like for an ass check is more fun, at least for the checkers. I think I might want to be awake for that. If I'm going to say "oooo shove it up a little more baby then I'll do you" I want to be able to remember it.

Getting ether in 1950 to get rid of my tonsils was NOT fun at all. I felt like I was being smothered with something that burned my throat and lungs and I would not want to watch anyone go through that. I had to give up building model airplanes after that because the dope and glue smelled like that shit and the smell of that rubber did something similar too. I would have preferred they used a baseball bat. I really enjoyed building model planes before that. My neighbor drove an 18 wheeler and he used to leave it idling overnight if it was going to be below zero in the morning. Some neighbor complained and he had to shoot the ether to it to start it in the morning which I liked hearing but not smelling..

Being an older professional, and having a large family, this is something I've had the "pleasure" of witnessing on numerous occasions. I've found that everyone reacts differently to the anesthesia

Hmm. Why 'pleasure' exactly, Dr Stan?! I know I would watch fascinated (though it's not something I'm proud of, and the fascination would be mixed with sympathy - after all, I've been there myself, including having ether at age 4, against which I briefly struggled and kicked).

When I was 12, and admitted to hospital 'for observation', I saw a lot of other kids coming back from their operations, mainly tonsillectomies. Most or all were still asleep, and orderlies and/or nurses would put them into bed (whose sheets had been folded back to receive them). Some would be moaning, some crying. (I'm omitting some other details.) I admit that I had feelings of Schadenfreude (joy at another's un-joy) at seeing this.

- Ken

Ether is not used anymore.

.... Getting ether in 1950 to get rid of my tonsils was NOT fun at all. I felt like I was being smothered with something that burned my throat and lungs..

I also had either for a tonsillectomy and to this day, I remember the smell of that stuff. I have a vivid memory of the doctor putting a mesh mask on my face covering my nose and mouth and when the ether drip first started, I grabbed the mask and through it across the room. They found another mask and restrained me while they restarted the drip and until I was out. NEVER AGAIN!

I got my tonsils out in the 50s and remember some kind of mask. For my bypass surgery the guy stuck a needle in my neck and it was lights out instantly.