Problems with Anesthesia?

[Mindfox]

I recently underwent surgery. I have a few questions about certain things that still strike me as odd.

When I first woke up, I remember my mouth feeling raw and bloody. I asked if I'd bitten or chewed on myself, and the nurses (Not the doctor that performed surgery, she was long gone by then) told me it was probably from the airway they put in.

Every once in a while they would yell at me to breathe deeper, and I'm assuming now because my O2 levels were dropping. All I heard them say was "Nope, they're still going down." That problem must have resolved itself, because after my post-surgery nap I felt better.

Once I was back in my room, they realized they forgot to get me to sign that waiver thing. It was a release form or something like that. I don't remember, I was still really groggy. Legally you can't sign it and have it be valid if you were still under the effects of general anesthesia, but they had me sign it anyway.

Other than the waiver, which I can pretty well tell for myself was a little shady, do you guys think I had a reaction to the anesthesia that they didn't tell me about, or is the airway and low oxygen levels normal after surgery?

[hey]

Talk to your doctor.

[Natallon]

This might be a weird question but how do you feel now?
And when was the surgery?

ps: I am NOT a doctor...

[Moss]

Are you missing any organs?

[Mindfox]

My doctor sucks, I live in Canada.

I feel pretty normal. After the shitfest that happened before the surgery, I feel great. It was a few months ago.

As far as I can tell, everything's in place. I'll check again.

[Niiro]

People tend to over think things said while they're under anesthesia just due to normal paranoia (surgery isn't a terribly relaxing situation).

Unless something actually went wrong it just sounds like they were dealing with normal complications. Regulating the patient's oxygen is part of the anesthesiologist's job, there's a good reason we have them instead of the surgeon/doctor just sticking you full of barbiturates.

Having you sign the waiver after the fact and while in that state was certainly shady, but unless something actually went wrong that adversely effected the surgery (or your general health) I wouldn't read too much into it. The throat thing is pretty common I believe because the airway tube (and the dry gas it's pumping) can cause your throat to dry out, you're not making saliva and swallowing normally while you're under.

[Natallon]

If you're feeling fine then I wouldn't about anything

[Mindfox]

Sweet, I was just wondering in case I ever have surgery again. Like, if I had to mention anything to the next surgeon. Thanks

[Salodin]

But if you want free money, sue them for making you sign the waiver after the fact.

[Mindfox]

Suing is so hard and tedious up in these frozen wastes...

[BaneTheBrawler]

I had a pretty similar experience with my recent abdominal surgery, but I've had 20+ colonscopies in the last 8 years so I've got considerably more experience with anesthesia. What you describe is perfectly normal, aside from the waiver thing which does sound sketchy, but obviously you let them do the surgery so its not really violating the spirit of the document. The breathing thing was likely apnea- I do the same thing. It's actually somewhat amusing. When I'm under heavy anesthesia like that, my breathing gets so slow that they're not sure if I'm actually doing it (For that matter, neither am I). So I'll exhale, and then just kinda sit there for a few seconds, and the nurse will gently shake me and say "Breathe! You have to breathe!" and in my drug induced haze I get annoyed with them, because of course I know how to breathe, I'm not a moron. But then, before I say anything, I realize they're just watching out for me. Then a few seconds later, I exhale again, and the process repeats itself. I only really remember a few times, but I guess they had to have someone watch me that whole first night. They also put my on oxygen that first night, since my O2 levels also dropped. The mouth thing is likely just a mild side-effect of the anesthesia. I know I'm ALWAYS fucking parched as hell when I come out of it. Like, tongue all puffy and sore parched. So... combine all that with what the nurse said about the intubation, and I think you had mild side-effects (Which is NOT the same thing as a reaction. Reactions are bad, side-effects are usually fine) and a perfectly normal surgery.

In any case, you should talk to your doctor about it. Describe it as best you can, and if he doesn't seem too concerned, you shouldn't be either.

Edit:Bit more detail: My blood pressure etc is always on the really low end of the "normal" scale, and it dropped a LOT after the surgery. In addition to reminding me to breathe and the O2, they also had to give me a blood infusion. For a while, I guess, they were extremely worried. And I was sitting there getting annoyed that they were reminding me to breathe. Lawl.

[Mindfox]

Lol ok, I'm no longer worried about my weak ass side effects. Yours sound terrifying.

[Tyche]

You probably received sedation with a colonoscopy, not anesthesia. Slight difference. Everything the OP posted is business as usual...at least the breathing and rawness. The waiver was shady.

[BaneTheBrawler]

Good call. I DID have anesthesia with the surgery, though, which is what I was citing for all the scary sounding stuff. Both left me crazy thirsty, though. Also, I really wish I were exaggerating even the slightest bit about the number of scopes I've had. It's depressing.

Edit: Also, scariest part of the surgery: During recovery, my right testicle got all tender and swelled up to about 5-6x normal size. Turns out it was just fluid accumulating next to it, but it fucking scared the hell out of me.

[Ddz]

At least anesthesia keeps you under. When I had my wisdom teeth extracted, I woke up 4 times (with a clear recollection of what was happening) and had to sit out the end of the procedure awake with them tugging on my teeth. The doctor said they couldn't give me any more without risking an OD. Fucking horrible experience.

[Gadritan]

My doctor sucks, I live in Canada.

something something lolamericanhealthcare something

[miokomioko]

Anesthesia is weird.

My first experience was during some minor ear & throat surgeries (tube installed + adnoids removed) and I woke up by instaneously sitting up, disoriented and freaked the fuck out while a nurse pushed me back down and restraining me. Terrible.

My second experience was for wisdom teeth removal which went as smooth as you could possibly hope for, I woke up slowly, comfortably, and gently on a bed by myself, having a good idea where I was and what I was waking up from. Not bad.

At least anesthesia keeps you under. When I had my wisdom teeth extracted, I woke up 4 times (with a clear recollection of what was happening) and had to sit out the end of the procedure awake with them tugging on my teeth. The doctor said they couldn't give me any more without risking an OD. Fucking horrible experience.

Not really general anesthesia, but I know that feel. I had 4 permanent teeth removed (+ my last baby tooth) to make room for braces and whatnot when I was young. All of the second bicuspids that they removed had 3 (instead of 2) HOOKED roots. Each tooth pull was horrific... and the last one took so long and was so stubborn that it alone required eventually 3 shots of Novocain and the dentist putting his foot on my chair while the assistant held my head down. Worst dentist visit ever.

[Gadritan]

Anesthesia is weird.

My first experience was during some minor ear & throat surgeries (tube installed + adnoids removed) and I woke up by instaneously sitting up, disoriented and freaked the fuck out while a nurse pushed me back down and restraining me. Terrible.

My first experience was when I had a tonsillectomy when I was 16. What made that so terrifying, was not only was I disoriented as hell...I obviously couldn't talk when I started to come to, but had no idea why.

Seriously freaky shit.

[zoobernut]

I had a pretty similar experience with my recent abdominal surgery, but I've had 20+ colonscopies in the last 8 years so I've got considerably more experience with anesthesia.

Colonoscopies suck man. I am sorry. I have been having a lot of digestion problems that started to develop in the last 2 years and I had my first colonoscopy at 29 it was not fun. I thought my digestive issues were bad but the preparation for the colonoscopy was terrible. I don't have anything as bad as Chrohn's but the doctor said I was lactose intolerant and had Irritable Bowel syndrome and possibly Celiac but they couldn't see anything from the colonoscopy so I just have to live with going to the bathroom many times a day for now.

[BaneTheBrawler]

Try an OTC anti-diarrheal (Loperamide), if you haven't already. Of all the fancy treatments I've tried, it's made the biggest difference. It slows my guts down enough that the more specific Crohn's treatments are able to actually work.

and yeah, the prep is always worse than the procedure. Especially since all my procedures have been under heavy sedation. The only memories I have of them are dream-like in quality. I remember coming to and saying "Hey, I can feel that. I need more anesthetic." and then playing with the word anesthetic (it sounded funny) until they presumably gave me more. I can't actually do the prep anymore. My body immediately rejects it, no matter how much I focus on trying not to puke. I dunno how I'm going to do the scope I've got coming in a few months.

Edit: Also, being a picky eater is also important, as im sure you've already figured out. See the healthy eating thread for help with that.