Awake or Under Anesthesia During Surgery

Under anaesthesia

The last time I had anesthesia, I came out of it in a full blown panic attack. And when I had a bronchoscopy a few years ago, the sedation didn't take at all. (They gave me midazolam, fentanyl and Xylocaine) I am reluctant to undergo any type of sedation/anesthesia again, which means probably a big fight with my gynecologist if I need a D&C/hysteroscopy/biopsy and then a hysterectomy.

A number of years ago, I had a colposcopy and was given the option to watch on CCTV. I did watch and it was neat! So, I'd love to watch other procedures. I'm waiting to see a surgeon for Carpal Tunnel surgery and that is done under local anesthetic so I am hoping I can watch.

My only operation was on an eye op so I was asleep all through it. There no way I would want to be awake as there would no way to look somewhere else!

I had a sedative an hour or so earlier to help me relax but I don't think it helped.

I know someone who had laser correction done and was awake throughout that and could vaguely make out what was happening. Apparently it's sounds worse than it was in reality.

I prefer under anesthesia during surgery.

Awake I have no fear and I'm one who needs to know everything.

I’ve had surgeries where I’ve been wide awake and others with the full knockout experiences. My most recent WIDE-AWAKE experience happened last July when I was having a stent placed into my heart. My cardiologist said I would be put to sleep for the procedure which was to place the stent through my wrist. The IV was put in and I was given some drugs which made me very relaxed, but I was fully awake. I watched him numb my wrist with a local injection of sort of pain killer and shortly thereafter, he punctured a vein near my wrist and started to route his way up my left arm into my heart. I actually saw everything that was happening on a monitor. I was even talking to him and the nurses assisting him as all this was going on. I felt no pain. After a while, he instructed the nurse anesthetist to inject some more knockout juice. She did, but I still was conscious, but definitely a bit more “out-of-it”. I’ve had two other dissimilar experiences in the cath lab. For one, I was “in-and-out” of it and the other I was COMPLETELY KNOCKED OUT for the duration of the procedure.

I have also been put under GENERAL ANESTHESIA (using Propofol) for three major surgeries in the last decade. In each case, I experienced the very relaxing calming drugs BEFORE the BIG “night-night” shot (Propofol) was pushed into the IV. In each case, I watched the anesthesiologist gently push the Propofol into the IV. but it acts quickly! Each time, I lost consciousness before the rather large syringe of the milky looking drug was fully injected,

I had a triple bypass and was totally out for that. I've had other heart related procedures where they hit me with propofol and I didn't have the greatest experience with periods of lucidity where I could feel what was going on and the doctor talking and then a "whoops" and I would float back under. The last time I told the doc this and they made me a cocktail of that and something else that worked well. In all instances it's like no time has elapsed and I fade out and then bam, I'm awake. Not totally unpleasant but kinda strange.

Awake I have no fear and I'm one who needs to know everything.

I sincerely doubt you would enjoy being awake or not sedated for orthopedic surgery from the waist up.

The vibration and sound of the saws and drills (carpenter/hardware store sized) would not make for a pleasant experience.

@SwitchableSusie you are correct, above the waist would be a bit harder than below. I had ankle replacement with a spinal, was very interesting ? could hear and sense movement , hear the drills, and the saw. They do give you great relaxing drugs, ( pretty stoned) but I have to say the sleep when they knock you out is SO GOOD!! Best sleep ever! ?

I had so many surgeries for broken bones.

Why so many, @Flames?

In Colorado around the turn of the century (heh heh) I did what is informally known as “powdering” my knee. Spent the next 2 weeks at Vail Valley, where the pro (athletes) go for surgery - guess I chose the right place for an accident!

I remember the incident itself, which felt underwhelming, until they finally started manipulating me at the base first aid station for x-rays, then came the morphine. Next thing I know it’s a few days later and I missed all the “good” stuff! I must’ve had a catheter and whatnot, but it was all gone before my long-term memory kicked in, sadly.

I do remember them worried about an infection and testing me for compartment syndrome. I think I must have damaged a nerve because it sure looked a lot less fun than it felt!

For such a traumatic thing as that I’m glad I was mostly out of it, but now... Well, if the pain is managed, I find myself a lot more curious about what it would be like to consciously experience something like that.

Ok, I never have a surgery after my 2yo, so if doc told me I need one probably I will ask for him to put me to sleep.

Za

Keep in mind anaesthesia takes many forms. I for one think that nerve blocks are a great invention.

For me, the anesthesia is the exciting part. Being rendered complete helpless; desperately wanting to avoid whatever is coming, but being forced asleep anyways.

Fantasy surgery, for me, is just about raising the stakes on trying to not be helpless.

When I’ve needed real surgery, I felt pretty much the same way. Sure, I *needed* to get my wisdom teeth removed, but I sure didn’t *want* that to happen as the surgeon sedated me.