Questions about general surgery experience

[Wheetsin 714]

So I'm scheduled for 3/1. Except for when I was like 1 y/o I've never had surgery, and never any anesthesia aside from lidocane shots. I'm really anxious about the whole thing. The doc told me I'd have general anesthesia with a breathing tube down my throat. I asked him, "Eh, that comes out before I wake up, right?" and he answered, "You won't remember it." At the time I was so busy trying to remember all my other questions that I didn't pursue the topic, but there's a big difference between "you'll still be asleep" and "you won't remember it"!

So - when you had your surgery, what happened? I've read lots and lots of "arrived, got prepped..." but nothing in any kind of detail. What exactly did they do, and what do you remember when you woke up? I just can't imagine what this will be like, it's almost surreal to me.

Uh, yeah - I'm the patient who has to know exactly what they're doing and what I should expect, and won't hesitate to say, "Oh, woah - wait. Uh-uh. No. What are you doing now?" if I haven't been well-informed!

[gentlespirit 1]

I just had my surgery on Tuesday, the 24th, and I have to tell you it was really easy...the surgery part, at least. I remember being in the pre-op room and seeing the surgeon for a couple of minutes and that's it. DOn't rmember even falling asleep and don't remember the tube at all. I was worried about that part, too, because I was on a respirator for 10 days after nearly dying in a car accident and the just the thought of the tube brought back all kinds of bad memories. But you truly won't be aware of it at the time or remember it afterward. The next thing I remember after the prep room was being told to wiggle my fingers in the recovery room. Hope this has eased your mind a little. Courage, my friend...it will be fine!!

Emily