Worrying about anesthesia awareness

[kingpeta]

Against my better judgemment, I watched portions of a TV show last night that dealt with people who were concious during their operation when they were supposedly under general anesthesia. It freaked me out and now I'm mad at myself for worrying about it! Can someone tell me something to put it out of my head? I'm thinking about calling my surgeon's nurse to ask if the hospital uses a BIS monitor during anesthesia. Maybe that will help. I know the possibility is very remote and I even question wether these reports are true but it's crap like this that bothers me. Maybe someone can shed some light of truth on this subject? Thank you!

 

[jeffp]

You need not worry about being awake during your surgery. For valve replacement/repair surgery your neurological system is put on hold and your body and brain temperature lowered to reduce oxygen demand while on the bypass pump. You're basically in "suspended animation" like in the sci-fi movies. Higher brain function doesn't resume until you're warmed back up, but then you're still under the chemical affects of anesthesia. It's a very different type of being "out" than with your typical abdominal or such surgery. My recollection of the whole thing was joking around with the surgeon while they were giving me the Versed in the IV and dozing off. Next thing I was in the ICU seeing blurry blobs moving around the room (people I guess, but was too zoned out to recognize them as such). The last thing you should worry about is waking up inadvertantly - just won't happen.

 

[Ross]

You have NOTHING to worry about. You will be OUT and once you do wake up, it's going to take days to get the stuff out of your system. Suspended Animation is exactly it!

 

[kingpeta]

You need not worry about being awake during your surgery. For valve replacement/repair surgery your neurological system is put on hold and your body and brain temperature lowered to reduce oxygen demand while on the bypass pump. You're basically in "suspended animation" like in the sci-fi movies. Higher brain function doesn't resume until you're warmed back up, but then you're still under the chemical affects of anesthesia. It's a very different type of being "out" than with your typical abdominal or such surgery. My recollection of the whole thing was joking around with the surgeon while they were giving me the Versed in the IV and dozing off. Next thing I was in the ICU seeing blurry blobs moving around the room (people I guess, but was too zoned out to recognize them as such). The last thing you should worry about is waking up inadvertantly - just won't happen.

Thank You! It's great to get such good information about specifics of the procedure. I didn't know about lowering the body/brain temperature and that makes it more understanable for me. Now that I think about it, all the cases presented on that TV program were people with simpler, more routine surgeries (abdominal, dental extractions).

 

[kingpeta]

You have NOTHING to worry about. You will be OUT and once you do wake up, it's going to take days to get the stuff out of your system. Suspended Animation is exactly it!

Thanks, Ross. I feel better now! Just stressing out a bit in these last days before my surgery, I guess.

 

[catwoman]

You need not worry about being awake during your surgery. For valve replacement/repair surgery your neurological system is put on hold and your body and brain temperature lowered to reduce oxygen demand while on the bypass pump. You're basically in "suspended animation" like in the sci-fi movies.

Jeff:
Love your description!

I've seen several surgeries on the Mehmet Oz program on Discovery Health, with a comment about the body temp being lowered.

 

[Nancy]

No simple surgeries here. You're going top shelf with all the bells and whistles. There are even special anesthetists for this surgery. You will be in the best of hands, during surgery and after too.

 

[Cris N]

You will definitely be out, out, out.

 

[JohnnyV_46]

Never felt a thing after scooting over on the operating table. I don't even remember them saying "Goodnite". My first semi-conscious memory was waking up in ICU and trying to say "HEY!!!!" and "Help-ME!!!" but nothing came out because I had that tube in my throat... I guess I must have made some sound because I remember someone telling me in what seemed like a screeming voice that I was ok and in Recovery.Then I was out again until I heard my wifes voice and that really wasn't until the next day that I remember seeing her.

Its going to be a piece of cake. Save all the energy you'd use worrying about the surgery for getting better afterwards.

 

[KristiinSD]

A "friend" warned me of the same thing

A "friend" warned me of the same thing

but as others have said, its not possible. My shrink said you would be jumping off the table before they could make the first incision if you weren't fully out.

Kristi

 

[perkicar]

Drugs are our friends!

Drugs are our friends!

Against my better judgemment, I watched portions of a TV show last night that dealt with people who were concious during their operation when they were supposedly under general anesthesia. It freaked me out and now I'm mad at myself for worrying about it! Can someone tell me something to put it out of my head? I'm thinking about calling my surgeon's nurse to ask if the hospital uses a BIS monitor during anesthesia. Maybe that will help. I know the possibility is very remote and I even question wether these reports are true but it's crap like this that bothers me. Maybe someone can shed some light of truth on this subject? Thank you!

Hi, as others have said, you will be out of it completely. I remember moving on to the table, them trying to start my peripheral IV's (and not being able to), wantiing to put in an A-line, and then the anesthesiologist telling them to put in my Swann (the line in my neck). When I heard him ask for 4 of versed I knew I was going to be fiine (it's a wonderful drug). I woke up 8 hours later (that's the first I remember at least) in ICU, they brought my family in to see me. Got the breathing tube taken out around 5:30 and it was smooth sailing after that. Went to the floor the next day. (went to a regular room from ICU, didn't want you to think I fell onto the floor LOL).
Try not to watch those scary shows, and don't listen to folks who feel compelled to tell you stories about friends and family who had bad experiences with OHS. Everyone is different-and you won't know what your experience will be until you're in it!

 

[aussigal]

Gees see what sort of worry we work ourselves up with after watching these TV shows...
I remember that one too...really freaky..

So glad that those who have been there and done that say it just WONT HAPPEN...

 

[ALCapshaw2]

I saw that same program on Dateline (NBC) on September 25, 2005.

You can find out more about the BIS monitor (BiSpectral Index Monitor) by doing an internet search for "BIS Monitor".

I was thinking of asking my (previous) surgeons if they use a BIS monitor, just to check it out.

If it would help to ease your mind, I don't see any reason not to ask your surgeon about the issue and if he uses a BIS monitor. No doubt your surgeon will want you to be as relaxed and optimistic as possible going into your surgery and will therefore want to address all of your concerns beforehand.

FWIW, I've had both Bypass and AVR and had absolutely NO problem with anesthesia either time.

'AL Capshaw'

 

[dmoses1]

. . . should be aware that you can have some reactions to morphine...I had terrible hallucinations and fantasy's...long story I won't get into here but I wish they were watching me closer to see how I was recovering...Seems rather common to hallucinate but in my case it became pretty extreme,,,

That's so weird, so did my father-in-law after his quadruple by-pass surgery. He was sure his sons (3 of them) were involved in a conspiracy to kill him.

My husband was the only one he trusted until the drug left his system.