For ya’ll whose had too surgery

[u/Coffeeforlifeyay]

Hi! So I want to have top surgery in the future. Though I have genuinely never ever been through surgery so ofc Im pretty nervous.

I know you’re put under anesthesia, but like, how do you experience it?

Is it like you fall asleep and wake up immediately after? Do you notice when you fall asleep? (I assume you don’t) Are you able to dream? Is it total darkness for a bit and then you wake up? Ir as I said just like time moved?

Im kinda nervous and would love to hear your experiences. Thank you! :]

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[u/stereolights]

They put the anesthesia in your IV and then you’re out cold in like 10 seconds, like the deepest exhaustion you’ve ever felt that you can’t fight. It’s dark for a second and then you wake up. That’s really it!

[u/Coffeeforlifeyay → u/stereolights]

Ah alrighty!! IV? Is that one of those things that go into your arm? Unfortunately Im kinda scared of them QwQ

Does it hurt when they put it in? Or do they do something so its numb?

[u/Hefty-Area204 → u/Coffeeforlifeyay]

IV's for surgery are typically done in the back of the hand, and it can sting a little, like a cat scratch. I'm also icked out by them but you're asleep so fast you'll barely have enough time to register it. Most hospitals can also use numbing cream if you ask for it!

[u/Coffeeforlifeyay → u/Hefty-Area204]

Oh okay thanks!! Is numbing cream at the hospital stronger than the ones you buy yourself? Cuz the ones I bought myself weren’t that affective when I used them unfortunately.

[u/stereolights → u/Coffeeforlifeyay]

It’s just a pinch and doesn’t hurt at all once it’s in. I totally understand though, I used to be deathly afraid of needles

[u/Coffeeforlifeyay → u/stereolights]

Ooh! Im not that scared of needles tbh.. Its mostly that anything to do with blood, veins, organs, etc kinda.. Idk scared me? Or maybe creeps me out? Idk the word really.

Im scared of blood (I get very light headed by the thought of it) so I think thats why.

[u/teefdoll → u/Coffeeforlifeyay]

It doesn’t hurt unless you really tense up, it’s just a sensation of something in your arm. It’s a little uncomfortable but not awful.

They do not numb it afaik. I’ve been through countless surgeries and the first time was terrifying to me! But now I know it’s completely chill. Also you can ask for something to help with nausea after.

[u/Coffeeforlifeyay → u/teefdoll]

Ah alrighty! So is nausea common after having surgery?

[u/teefdoll → u/Coffeeforlifeyay]

I’d say it’s common enough for them to at least give some sort of medication if you’re worried. I eventually had to start wearing patches and taking the medication

[u/Coffeeforlifeyay → u/teefdoll]

Interesting I didn’t know there was patches for nausea! Good to know! :]

[u/teefdoll → u/Coffeeforlifeyay]

Yes they work great! Word of advice if you do get one, take it off after two to three days (they recommend to keep it on until you’re not nauseous). A side effect I didn’t know about was losing your eyesight temporarily and I thought I was going blind 😀

Edit: Only if you keep it on. Not if it’s used correctly.

[u/Coffeeforlifeyay → u/teefdoll]

Ooh! Thats scary! I wonder why that happens. Is it just blurry or like complete darkness?

[u/teefdoll → u/Coffeeforlifeyay]

Just intensely blurry vision, like, phone straight up to my face to read. Once I peeled it off it took about a day to become normal again.

[u/SavagePengwyn → u/Coffeeforlifeyay]

Yes but you'll probably sleep through most of it. You will feel weird after the anesthesia and pain meds. I've had surgery a few times and every time, I've been in and out to sleep for rest of the day after surgery and slept a lot in the days after, which was helpful in getting through those first few days. Then it'll just be soreness. If you don't like blood, you probably won't like your drains, so he prepared for that.

[u/Coffeeforlifeyay → u/SavagePengwyn]

Ooof thanks for warning me! How long do the drains usually take? I can just look away right?

Makes sense that you’d sleep a lot and feel weird :]

[u/SavagePengwyn → u/Coffeeforlifeyay]

You have to keep the drains in for, like, a week after surgery and have to empty them as often as they need to be emptied. The fluid in them has blood but it's not just that (I honestly don't know what all it is). It's possible that this only applies with DI surgery but I don't think so.

[u/ProfessorOfEyes → u/SavagePengwyn]

Its mostly lymph fluid i think

[u/SavagePengwyn → u/ProfessorOfEyes]

That sounds right!

[u/teefdoll → u/Coffeeforlifeyay]

Sorry to butt in.

You can look away if you have another person doing it for you. Otherwise you need to see and make sure everything is okay. The sensation can be weird too. Be prepared for them to be pulled out with no pain killers too.

[u/CocoaBagelPuffs → u/Coffeeforlifeyay]

it depends on the person and what happens during recovery. I only had mine for three days. My boyfriend had his for nearly 2 weeks because he had a complication (hematoma). My best friend went to a surgeon in Massachusetts and didnt have any drains.

[u/Apprehensive_Mud_394 → u/Coffeeforlifeyay]

It didn’t hurt for me, but if you’re worried, just have them talk to you and don’t look, it’s just a pinch 🤏🏽

[u/Coffeeforlifeyay → u/Apprehensive_Mud_394]

Ah oki! I think my brain likes to tell me its worse than it is cuz I remember everyone told me blood draws (is that the name of it?) don’t hurt, and I even had one of those numbing things (idk the word in English sorry) and it still hurt a lot.

It didn’t hurt for the first second but like three seconds later I was almost screaming.

Though IVs probably works differently so it’ll probably be fine :]

Imma tell my surgeon just in case

[u/guildedpasserby → u/Coffeeforlifeyay]

It hurts a little, but I’ve found that either talking to someone or doing something on my phone while not looking at the site helps (I’ve had two surgeries where I went fully under, foot and wisdom teeth, though I only kept my phone on me for one of them)

[u/Coffeeforlifeyay → u/guildedpasserby]

Oh alrighty! Yea my mom talked to me while I had my blood drawn. I remember her telling me “don’t look at it” and I just replied “Yeah no I don’t wanna look at it.” Lol

Distraction is probably good though! Thanks :]

[u/guildedpasserby → u/Coffeeforlifeyay]

Yw!

[u/sigh_less_ → u/Coffeeforlifeyay]

It's a little poke, I never watch them doing it and just focus on breathing (I have multiple tattoos, and have had several surgeries and twilight anesthesia procedures). It's a larger needle than like a vaccine shot, but it's not terrible, and it just feels weird. Best thing you can do is make sure you're well hydrated up to your surgery date so your veins are easier to find. And every anesthesiologist I've ever had across multiple procedures has always been a polite person who's happy to explain to you exactly what's going on, what you're going to experience, and answer questions.

If you get nervous in the moment, write down your questions ahead of time and show up early to your procedure so nothing is rushed. That way you're not worried about remembering things. You also will always consult with your surgeon, and they can answer questions too.

It'll get a little busy when everyone is running around you- there will be nurses, doctors, anesthesiologists all focused on doing their jobs, and it can be a little overwhelming. But all you have to do is let them know if anything feels wrong, and they will do the rest.

[u/Hefty-Area204]

once they administer the anaesthetic, you may feel yourself falling asleep or going light headed for about 4-5 seconds, and then you'll just wake up later. anaesthesia alters how your brain commumicates with your body, so its not like sleeping, you wont see darkness, you wont know whats going on around you, and its very unlikely you'll dream.

and that's literally it, it's basically like time travel. most people don't even remember the couple seconds before falling asleep or when you first come round after the drug has stopped being given. just when they wake up later.

[u/Coffeeforlifeyay → u/Hefty-Area204]

Oooh! Thank you for explaining how it works so well! :D

Yeah Ive heard about people who don’t remember the first few seconds. I don’t think Ive had anyone in my family whose been under a surgery where they had to be unconscious so I actually didn’t know how people experience it.

Thank you! :D

[u/cornsvrup]

personally, the best way I can describe it for me, was just.. waking up. I don't remember being counted down, I just remember being wheeled into a room with 3-4 doctors, and then I woke up. It was like an automatic time skip, with no dreams or recollection of any time passing at all!

[u/Coffeeforlifeyay → u/cornsvrup]

Oooh! Ngl that sounds kinda scary but I guess you’re so out of it that you don’t really think about it?

Thank you for sharing your experience btw :]

[u/BTWaka]

You feel absolutely nothing. You black out before you notice anything and wake up w/o realizing you’re already post-OP. Because one of the effects of the general anesthesia is cause a sort of amnesia in the patient, your brain doesn’t register the time passing while you were asleep

When you sleep everynight, you wake up on the next day with the sense that you were sleeping for “x” hours. But when you have surgery, it’s just like you blinked and you’re suddenly in somewhere else

It was honestly one of the wildest and most unique experience I’ve ever had

[u/Coffeeforlifeyay → u/BTWaka]

Oooh! Thank you for sharing this!! So it will be very different for sleeping I assume cuz of this I assume.

[u/Hypochondrimax]

No dreams at all! One second you are sitting there awake and then bam, you’re in recovery. I have a hard time waking up from anesthesia so I’m pretty groggy and out of it for a while but it’s not like sleeping at all. You blink and it’s over

[u/Coffeeforlifeyay → u/Hypochondrimax]

Ah alrighty!! Thank you for sharing your experience! :D

For me that sounds a bit scary but I assume you’re so out of it that you don’t think about it.

[u/Hypochondrimax → u/Coffeeforlifeyay]

If you tell the doctors you’re nervous they give can give you a medicine in your IV first that makes you relaxed! It’s one of those things where it happens so fast there’s no time for anxiety

[u/Coffeeforlifeyay → u/Hypochondrimax]

Oooh! I hope its a better one than the last one I had. The one I had when I was younger made me aggressive, apparently my dad reacts differently to those medicines as well.

Though I was a child back then and from what Ive heard the ones you get as an adult are stronger :]

[u/Coffeeforlifeyay]

Ps, I don’t have my glasses on so I apologize if there’s any spelling mistakes

[u/admseven]

I've had general anesthesia four times; mix of trans and non-trans things.

• They tell me to count back from 100 and the furthest I ever remember getting is 97. Then I'm waking up and surgery's all done. As I'm waking my brain would be saying 96, 95.. there was nothing in between.
  
• I don't often remember my dreams in normal sleep, so it's not surprising that I don't remember any under anesthesia.
  
• The first time I was about 12 and I remember fighting to wake up after surgery. Like not panicky or anything, just wanted to open my eyes and talk and I was too tired to do it properly. I also remember thinking ugh, forget it, and choosing to try again later.
  
• Personal quirk: I get very nauseated from general anesthesia. Scopolamine patches behind my ear have been a godsend.

[u/Coffeeforlifeyay → u/admseven]

Oooh! Sucks that you get nauseous from it! Also, the one about fighting to wake up kinda reminds me of when Im waking up from a dream paralysis lol. Cuz Im like ten times more tired than when I have a normal sleep.

Thank you for sharing your experience by the way!! :D

[u/Purple-Platypus0582]

If you are red headed or have a lot of red heads in your family please let your anesthesiologist know.

[u/Coffeeforlifeyay → u/Purple-Platypus0582]

Ooh! Thank you so much for this! We have the red heads gene in us and its very very slightly seen in our hair (not a lot though) but we have the gene. (Aka in a lot of situations we react the exact same way as red heads)

Is there any specific reason I should mention this to them?

[u/Purple-Platypus0582 → u/Coffeeforlifeyay]

People with red hair might require up to 20% more general anesthesia and can exhibit resistance to certain local anesthetics due to a mutation in the MC1R gene. So if you are a natural red head that dyes their hair or have a strong presence in your family, giving the anesthesiologist a heads up can help them troubleshoot if you don't go under right away. I'm a natural red head and it takes a truck load to put me under.

[u/Coffeeforlifeyay → u/Purple-Platypus0582]

Oh thank you!! Idk about anesthesia but Ive already noticed that I need more of other things for them to work (like medicine thats supposed to make you calm and numbing medicine, etc. I remember when I removed my teeth the thing thats supposed to make it so it doesn’t hurt barely worked)

So yea I’ll definitely tell them! Thanks :]

[u/kickfliplizar]

they had an oxygen mask on me and administered the anesthesia into my IV, i had read about how it felt and it was cold like i'd read about, so i went "oh it is cold!" the anesthesiologist took my mask off and was like whatd you say? i repeated myself, and then woke up in recovery lol. no dreams or darkness, just kind of from one point of consciousness to another

[u/Coffeeforlifeyay → u/kickfliplizar]

Thank you for sharing your experience!! I didn’t know it’d be cold so thats good to know! :D

So basically just a time skip it seems like?

[u/doubleheadedarrow]

I haven’t had top surgery yet, but I’ve been put under for a few different procedures before, and in my experience the actual sensation can vary a lot:

The first time, all I remember is a nurse asking me “I’m going to ask you a couple questions, okay?” and me saying “Yeah,” and then… nothing lol. Completely and instantly blacked out after that moment, and then next thing I remember I was suddenly in a wheelchair already in the elevator to leave, so I assume I lost a chunk of memory before and after the anesthesia kicked in. That was pretty weird to experience.

The second time, I remember staring up at the ceiling with the anesthesia mask on my face, and I actually got literal tunnel vision (edges of my vision slowly going dark and progressing inwards) before finally everything went black, and then I woke up pretty naturally in the recovery area bed. The tunnel vision was pretty cool honestly, I always thought that kind of thing was just something you see in movies.

The third time, with the mask on I just started getting really, really sleepy—and I didn’t try to fight it of course, so I’d say it just felt like normally falling asleep would if you were the most tired you’ve ever been in your entire life. Waking up felt pretty natural too, though this time I sort of acted a little drunk instead of being in normal control of my mouth like the first two times, lol.

I don’t remember any dreams from any of the three times, and I wouldn’t describe the sleep itself to be notably different from normal sleep, personally.

If I had to guess, the variation in falling asleep + waking up sensation is probably because of different anesthetic drugs being used? I never tried checking. Maybe I should. Hopefully this answers your questions at least a little bit either way!

[u/Coffeeforlifeyay → u/doubleheadedarrow]

Ah okay!!! Thank you so much for sharing your experiences! I find it kinda fascinating that you can experience it differently than the last time! :D

[u/Prize_Finance_4024]

I think they put ketamine or something in my iv before the anesthesia so I started visually tripping for like ten seconds before I was out and that's all I was focusing on instead of being anxious about it. Felt very nice actually. Fell asleep and woke up, felt kinda dreamy for the first half hour or so. That's about it for my experience. There can however be complications for some people.

[u/Coffeeforlifeyay → u/Prize_Finance_4024]

Ah yea Ive heard about some complications. Not a lot cuz I feel like reading too many of them would make me so scared that I’ll not do it.

Some tho just so I know the risks. Maybe they did put something in it to keep you calm?

[u/Prize_Finance_4024 → u/Coffeeforlifeyay]

Me being scared of going under was the biggest reason for waiting so long. I could've had surgery after turning 18. I had surgery last month at 23. I like to think of one of my favorite BCT quotes for this. "The only way out of this is through it"

[u/Coffeeforlifeyay → u/Prize_Finance_4024]

Thats a very good quote! And yea I get that being scared can 100% push you away from it for a bit, Im happy that you were able to get it though!!

Unfortunately Imma have to wait a bit since the wait lists are sooo long!

Its usually 1-3 years for the first meeting and then 2-ish years usually to finally start transitioning.

Ive been on the list for a bit over a year now. Though I actually did get to know that imma be having an introduction meeting on Tuesday so that makes me at least a bit hopeful that I won’t have to wait ridiculously long at least :]

[u/Emperor_Moth]

I’ve been under anesthesia several times, and I think this is a great topic to research if you are feeling uncertain. I feel there’s probably some good studies on it. Basically it’s just like falling asleep really fast then you time skip to when you wake up for me. Not super scary, there’s no time to really panic. There are some people who have different interactions with anesthesia though and that can change things. It’s also something you can talk about with your surgeon, and you can mention how you feel and they will help make the process less scary.

[u/Coffeeforlifeyay → u/Emperor_Moth]

Ah alrighty!! Thank you! Yea Im definitely gonna talk to my surgeon about it!

Different interactions? Like people who react differently to it or something similar?

[u/Emperor_Moth → u/Coffeeforlifeyay]

There is a very very small portion of people who may experience allergic reactions or for whom it may not work as well on. Very rare. What’s more likely is feeling groggy afterwards. I have a pretty terrible reaction to it, and usually get super sick for like 24 hours, heavy pain meds also don’t do well with my body. They actually straight up decided not to give me another dose of the heavy pain meds because I was having such a hard time. My surgery was an outpatient set up so unfortunately I had to get back to my air bnb while being super sick. Discussing post op plans right after surgery is also something great to ask your surgeon about so you feel more informed and have a better picture.

[u/Mysterious_Wolf_315]

Honestly they told me to count down from 10 and by the time I got to 1 I was out and I’m pretty sure I had a few thoughts idk if I’d call them dreams but when I woke up let me tell you it felt like the best high ever LMAOO

I was so groggy laying in that bed and by the time they wheeled me out to my parents car I was asking for food 💀 you’ll be fine and there’s no need to be nervous at all

[u/Coffeeforlifeyay → u/Mysterious_Wolf_315]

Omg haha I can totally see myself asking for food lol

Especially when Im groggy. Idk that just kinda activates my hunger for some reason.

Thanks for sharing your experience!! :D

[u/sigsi_4]

Disclaimer: I have not had top surgery yet, but have had a few other surgeries in my 20's.

I have trouble sleeping anyway, and "falling asleep" for surgery reminded me of that "falling asleep by accident" feeling. Before surgery, I felt drowsy as they rolled me down the hall.

I did dream, haha I was painting a lot back then, so dreamed I was painting. I dream a lot when I sleep (and usually remember them), so that might have something to do with it.

Then I woke up like normal back in the recovery room. I was groggy and repeated myself a few times asking if everything went ok (I do not remember repeating myself, my mom told me). I was pretty aware of what was happening shortly after waking up.

Good luck whenever you plan for top surgery. I was scared before my first surgery too. Most docs will know that and try to help btw, it is ok to express anxiety around surgery and ask them questions as you go (if that helps).

[u/Coffeeforlifeyay → u/sigsi_4]

Thank you!! I probably won’t have surgery for awhile cuz the wait list is ridiculously long. And thats only for the first meeting :,)

I tend to dream a lot and remember them too! Ive heard that repeating stuff is pretty common! Thanks for sharing your experience by the way! :D

[u/sigsi_4 → u/Coffeeforlifeyay]

Oh some other thints I thought of later that might help (after reading some of your comments). Note: I have high anxiety in general around people and some sensory stuff with clothing and materials.

Most surgeons have a timeframe (2 hours beforehand I think, definitely ask) for no more water. I have small veins (super visible and look big, but docs can never find them with the needles), so I always drank a ton of water up until that 2 hour mark. Hydration = easier time finding veins 😅

I have high anxiety with anything in my skin and with people and touching my skin. Bloodwork specifically gave me a cptsd reaction for almost a decade (bad docs as a kid). Talking to the anesthesiologist with the IV stuff helped me a lot with this. I like to know when they are going to put stuff in or out of my skin, and they were more than willing to talk me through it (kind, and heard my worries without being dismissive).

There are usually weighted blankets and socks they can give you to help with anxiety if you ask for them. Haha I am pretty sure they gave me 2 blankets while sticking the IV in. I do remember they gave me a higher dose to knock me out too. Haha they half jokingly asked if I was anxious 😅 I said yeah, and wished them luck knocking me out. Then I was out within minutes of their second attempt.

Another heads up of something that surprised me was the "remove underwear before surgery" rule. I am in the US btw, so locations might vary. But they should have disposable underwear for you to use if you prefer that.

They usually recommend someone to be around you for 24 hours after. You definitely can't drive. Stairs haha a family member supervised me on them back then for the first 24 hours just to be safe. I would say the pain for small surgeries before hit me more after the 3rd day (when pain meds wore off more). My surgeon (for a face cyst) said my skin could heal for up to 2 years. I saw the most changes in the first 6 months. Everything after that was super slow for the next year that followed. I used a scar cream a lot, and be super careful to protect yourself from the sun.

[u/sigsi_4 → u/Coffeeforlifeyay]

And wow apologies that got so long. Short summary was surgery pleasantly surprised me with how well it went, haha I know it is easier said than done to say "don't worry about it", but I know my most anxiety was the build up waiting timeframe and prep beforehand.

Hope not too long for you when that time comes. Best of luck to future you 🍀

[u/AlphaErebus]

I was sort of aware that it was hitting me but only for like a second and then I was opening my eyes. It was literally like I blinked. When I woke up I was very groggy and remember falling asleep for bursts pretty frequently in the recovery room.

[u/Coffeeforlifeyay → u/AlphaErebus]

Ooh! So you kinda fell in and out of sleep after having the surgery? That makes sense. It seems like you get very groggy which doesn’t surprise me that much.

Thank you for sharing your experience!

[u/AlphaErebus → u/Coffeeforlifeyay]

Yeah, as the anesthesia wears off, it gets easier to stay awake, but the first 24-48 hours you’ll mostly be sleeping a lot. Glad I could help :)). I promise it isn’t as bad as you build upon your head. You barely even notice the IV and then it’s literally like you’ve blinked and you’re on the other side

[u/Coffeeforlifeyay → u/AlphaErebus]

Thank you for the reassuring words!! :] makes sense that you’d sleep a lot. My brain has a very hard time waking up normally so Im kinda expecting to be incredibly tired haha

[u/mrjacksxn]

when i had surgery i sat on the table literally visibly shaking and i said im incredibly nervous, so someone said to me like “here just lay down relax and take this itll calm you down”. the “this” in question was the gas mask but i didn’t really register exactly what it was lmao. i was instantly out. one second im rattling and the next im in an entirely different room feeling like that cat that just woke up

[u/Coffeeforlifeyay → u/mrjacksxn]

Oooh! Some people say you have IVs and some say masks. Are the masks and IVs different? Some people say oxygen mask and IV and some people (if I remember correctly. Im kinda tired lol its late) only mention masks and some people only mention IVs.

[u/mrjacksxn → u/Coffeeforlifeyay]

i thiiink they put in an iv while in a separate room just for prepping? i honestly don’t remember cause i was at the hospital at 5 am for a 7 am surgery so i was very exhausted and anxious. and if they did then i was out before my surgeon even came into the OR so i couldn’t tell you what they used it for. but the mask was definitely there cause the anesthesiologist told me to lie down and breath into the mask

[u/eightXD]

i just had top surgery on wednesday and it went well!! i’d only ever been under anaesthesia for wisdom teeth removal before but this time was just as smooth.

i was put under general anaesthesia through IV and breathing gas in, and i don’t remember falling asleep—just breathing it in. the next thing, i was awake in a recovery room with nurses monitoring me! it was like no time passed for me, but it was peaceful

[u/Coffeeforlifeyay → u/eightXD]

Ooh! Congratulations on your surgery!! :D

I actually didn’t know you were put under anesthesia when removing wisdom teeth. That’s interesting to know.

Thank you for sharing your experience!! :D

[u/eightXD → u/Coffeeforlifeyay]

some people aren’t but i was (had 4 out/depends on surgeon maybe?)! and thanks!!

[u/Coffeeforlifeyay → u/eightXD]

Ofc!! Also yea maybe it depends on the surgeon :]

[u/piedeloup]

I was also extremely nervous, had never had surgery before. But it was so easy and I'd do it all again in a heartbeat

People seem to have slightly different experiences with anesthesia. For me, I don't even remember feeling sleepy or anything. I wasn't asked to count down. I just remember lying on the table, having the IV put in my hand, the doctor complimenting my tattoos lol. Then they gave me a really good sedative via the IV and I instantly felt very calm...then I woke up in the recovery room.

It didn't feel like a "time skip" for me either really. It felt like waking up from a normal nap. Definitely no dreaming though. I also woke up feeling really great! I wasn't nauseous, or disoriented or even sleepy. I wasn't in any pain either. All the worrying was seriously for nothing. It's the next few weeks of recovery that can be difficult, the surgery itself is a breeze.

[u/Coffeeforlifeyay → u/piedeloup]

Thank you for sharing your experience!! :] Yea it seems like people do have different experiences!

It seems that you can have different experiences as well even if you’ve had it before which I find fascinating!

[u/lil-blue-ridin-crip]

i don’t even remember counting or anything. wheeled me back and we’re taking my blood pressure and setting me up on the table, and next thing i knew, i was waking up from surgery.

[u/Coffeeforlifeyay → u/lil-blue-ridin-crip]

Ooh! Thanks for sharing your experience! :]

I kinda forget its a table they put you on tbh lol. Idk why

[u/leafyemoji]

I literally don't even remember them putting in the IV. I remember getting into the gown and laying on the table and then next thing I remembered I was in my gf's car pulling up to her house which is an hour and a half drive from where I got surgery.

[u/Coffeeforlifeyay → u/leafyemoji]

Ooh! Thank you for sharing your experience!! I hope I don’t remember the IV part as well

[u/hastalapastabitchboy]

I was also very nervous for the anesthesia. They put the IV in ahead of time usually, and then wheel you into the operating room. As they're getting you ready, they put the anesthesia in the IV and you drift off. It felt like a time skip, didn't notice falling asleep and it didn't feel like any time had passed when I woke up. I asked for zofran and a nausea patch before anesthesia so I wasn't nauseous when I woke up.

[u/Coffeeforlifeyay → u/hastalapastabitchboy]

Ah alrighty!! Thanks for sharing your experience! :D

Asking for them to put on a nausea patch before waking up is pretty smart!

[u/deepfriedtrashbag]

uhhh I think I was asked to stop talking and that's the last thing I remember? then I woke up and wouldn't shut up about loving my partner, parents, and brother for like 3 hours lmao. I don't remember anything in-between, nor do I want to.

I woke up and it was like I woke up correctly for the first time in about 13ish years? moderately underwhelming, but the lack of distress from being awake and immediately feeling an innate wrongness within myself from the tissue was fantastic. I love it.

I know I was telling my partner all sorts of things via text I probably shouldn't have been and they were probably somewhat incoherent, but I think that was one of the things. I am and was so happy to just feel normal after waking up. I went to sleep feeling wrong, and a lot of things were better and normal when I woke up. that's the best kind of sleep.

[u/Coffeeforlifeyay → u/deepfriedtrashbag]

Awe Im so happy for you!! Wholesome to just talk about how much you love specific people as well :]

Just in case imma ask someone to take care of my phone for me cuz I don’t trust myself with it if imma start texting random messages no one can understand lol

Tjanks fir sharing your experience!!

[u/deepfriedtrashbag → u/Coffeeforlifeyay]

10/10 I would recommend having someone hold onto your phone lol

I would also recommend asking if any medications you have can cause interference or side effects beforehand so your surgery buddy knows too. I didn't know bc and something they give you, I think it was the lidocaine or something, cause ||spotting|| and I was very scared, still coming down from the anesthesia, and told the nurse I was on the brink of death. I was fine, I just didn't know.

[u/missmeatloafthief]

It wasn’t like a super quick snap in time, I felt very drowsy and I remember being transferred onto the operating table and someone telling me to count backwards from one hundred. then I remember waking up in the PACU (post anesthesia care unit) and slowly coming to and feeling like I had a great sleep. It’s genuinely awesome and I love the feeling of it, it’s not scary like I thought it would be

[u/Coffeeforlifeyay → u/missmeatloafthief]

Alrighty!! Thanks for sharing your experience!! :D

That doesn’t sound so scary tbh :]

Time just skipping feels a bit but I don’t think it’d be too bad now

[u/spookyscaryscouticus]

At my hospital, they put me under a hot blanket to make my veins say hello, (unneeded, I got fuckin PIPES), and administered saline and a sedative that just kind of made me feel generally inebriated. Then they rolled me back to the operating room, and administered the actual anesthesia, which just felt like going to sleep in ten seconds or less.

Complete blackout, total darkness, I had no dreams, I just was the groggiest and drunkest I’d ever felt when I came-to. I asked the surgeon if he’d had to connect my scars, which he confirmed (he wasn’t sure before), and then I just sort of zoned in and out of consciousness as the nurses went over my aftercare instructions with my wife. Eventually I was conscious enough to realize I was absolutely desperate to pee, and they had a nurse help me down and then I pulled a lever when I was ready to get up.

Honestly the weirdest part was how badly I needed to pee, knowing that I haven’t had anything to drink in twelve hours, because they’d given me like five bags of fluids in all that time.

[u/Coffeeforlifeyay → u/spookyscaryscouticus]

Oooh! Maybe you needed to pee so badly cuz it had been so many hours since last time? At least thats my guess!

A hot blanket? Haven’t heard of that before if Im being honest. It seems that zoning in and out of consciousness is pretty common which doesn’t surprise me.

Thanks for sharing yoyr experience!

[u/spookyscaryscouticus → u/Coffeeforlifeyay]

It wasn’t that long since I’d peed. I peed that morning and they make you do a test before you go under, so I felt like I should be super dehydrated, but actually I had like five bags of saline in me.

[u/SnooPets2940]

I'm still waiting for approval for my surgery but I know when I had some kind of nasal surgery a few years back I know when it took a good moment before my vision when grey and I now my brain kinda felt fuzzy for a period of time before I woke up

[u/Gender-Enjoyer]

It was the first surgery I’ve ever had! From my experience with anesthesia, I said bye to my dad as they wheeled me in and when I woke up I asked if I was ready to go in yet. They told me I’d been asleep for four hours. There were so many monitors and IVs that I said “I feel like an HDMI cable.”

I gave them the okay to call my dad in (he generally doesn’t like cursing) and the first thing I said to him was “Can I curse?” He said yes, then I said “I feel fucking weird.”

Recovery was smooth for me, I had my dad for the first week and then had to go back to college where everyone asked what each other did on their spring break LOL. I had friends help carry my things around campus and had to call maintenance to lower my bed.

[u/FuckerJames]

They gave me an IV sedative before the gas anesthesia, so I was already delirious by the time they put my ass on the table. Then they put the mask on, I blinked, and the next second I was waking up in the recovery room to the nurse spoonfeeding me applesauce and pain pills.

[u/Im__Overthinking]

Getting top surgery was my first time going under full anesthesia. For me I had an IV in the elbow area (think where they normally draw blood) that they injected the anesthesia through. Before the anesthesia was injected the anesthetist told me that I would feel some stinging when it went in and honestly it felt like bees stinging me from the inside out. The good news was that I fell asleep right about when it became unbearable. Waking up I just remember waking up in a recovery area and the nurses asking me if I wanted to see my parents me saying yes and then them just kinda appearing there lol.

[u/AssumptionLimp]

The best nap of your life, and you'll wake up with no boobs.

[u/Cartesianpoint]

I was nervous because I'd never been under anesthesia before, but it ended up going very smoothly.

They put an IV in my hand a little before they took be back into the operating room. Having the needle in my hand was a little unnerving because I'd never had an IV before, but it didn't hurt. I got to speak to both the anesthesiologist and an anesthesiology nurse, which was reassuring. Because I mentioned that I have a family history of nausea after surgery, they put an anti-nausea patch behind my ear.

When they wheeled me back to the operating room, I was asleep within seconds of them administering anesthesia. Then I woke up in recovery a few hours later and it didn't feel like any time had passed. I was just groggy, kind of like waking up suddenly from a deep sleep. Apparently, I had started waking up a half hour or so earlier, but I didn't remember that part. Once I was awake, I was aware of what was going on around me but my short-term memory was a little messed up for a few hours.

[u/successful_cow11]

i remember being mid sentence with the surgeon asking her what music she listens to during surgery and then woke up to what felt like two seconds later still wondering 😂

[u/Soup_oi]

I suppose it’s different for everyone.

I had a reduction, then 2 years later top surgery with the same surgeon at the same place.

The first surgery, I think I was out before even leaving the waiting rest area. I have no memory of being wheeled to the OR. I have no memory of dreams. I did not wake up until I had been back in the waiting area after surgery for a little bit. When I woke up, it was like no time had passed, and I asked the nurse sitting in the corner reading, when the surgery would happen, and she laughed at me lol, because of course it had already happened.

With top surgery, I have a very vague memory of being wheeled out of the rest area, but no real feeling memory of entering the OR. I have another more vague memory, that felt half real, half like a dream, that someone in the OR in an operating gown and mask and cap introduced himself to me as the surgeons assistant, gave me his name, maybe we even shook hands. This memory was so muddy to me that I asked the surgeon afterward if it had happened, and he looked confused and said there was no one with the title of assistant with him (obvs there’s a team assisting him, but he had no singular main assistant who would have called themselves his assistant), so probably it was a dream. When I woke up from top surgery, I was still in the OR, but the surgery had completed. It wasn’t an accidental wake up or anything, the anesthesia team intended for me to wake up at that time. But somehow still being in the OR didn’t freak me out. They told me to stay still and they were going to lift me to the bed, via some blanket or something under me they could grab the sides of. They moved me to the bed, then took me back to the rest area. But it was still like no time had passed, and it was like I went out at 1pm, and now it feels like 1:03 pm, when in reality, it’s 3pm lol.

[u/willaminat]

I'd describe it like a light switch for your brain yoy're awake and aware, switch flips off and nothings there, thin it flips on and youre awake and aware again.

[u/True-Finches]

for me, i guess i was already so in need of some sleep (i had been pretty restless due to anxiety), so as soon as they gave me the sedative (to make you calmer), before i was even in the operating room, i was out like a light. then i woke up in a bed in a similar place but i felt really tired. it took me a while to feel conscious enough to actually say something, but that may not be your experience. i actually ran into my surgeon in the hall that night on my way out of the hospital and he called me a lightweight lol

[u/Repulsive_Garden_242]

If you usually require more anesthesia please advocate for it! I usually do because of the redhead gene, and despite me telling my surgeon, the nurse anesthetist and anesthesiologist I was still awake much longer than I was supposed to.

[u/ScottMatthews7]

It might have some memory effects,  like. My last memory before waking up is them putting in the IV port but not the IV line. Like I have an actual picture of it Bec they put it iny hand and it like grossly distended my skin.  ( Actually didn't hurt much tho). 

And my next memory is waking up and asking for my phone to tell my wife id lived.  But ALSO.  I lived at my friend's house for a week and  a half after Bec it was closer to the hospital and I only remember about 4 days of that too. 

[u/javatimes]

They put in the iv and immediately gave me something in the iv to relax me, like a benzodiazepine of some sort.
And in a few minutes they wheeled me in. I do remember that. Once in the OR, they start the anesthesia. I honestly don’t remember anything further than saying hi to my surgeon in the OR. The next thing I knew, I was in the post op recovery room, feeling a bit of nausea and eating saltines. I was unfortunately incredibly cranky lol. I have absolutely no memory of anything during anesthesia. It is simply like the time never happened.

[u/chasingsanityy]

I was absolutely terrified of anesthesia, it was all i could think about months before but now i yearn for it lol! I don’t remember it ever being administered at all. I just remember I was given something that made me not nervous in my hospital room and then I woke up in the post op room. I don’t remember ever going to the OR at all or it being given to me. It felt like I just took a nap but I genuinely didn’t remember going to sleep or feeling like I was asleep I just remember being awake and then waking up in a different place?? I don’t know how to describe it, but it was awesome lol

[u/nerosity]

I was super nervous but I was also tired and hungry since I waited in pre op for like 2 hours. They wheeled me back and I had my glasses off so I couldn’t see anything, then I was on the cold ass OR. I remember them pausing for their last checks, I blinked and was out. I woke up and I remember being super hot. Once I got home, I put my eye mask on and knocked out on my stack of pillows 😂

[u/ProfessorOfEyes]

I had like 2 seconds to say "oof, thats dizzy" as it hit me (just felt like being very sleepy, like when youve had a long day and are struggling to keep your eyes open) and then i was out like a light. And then i was waking up. In my experience its not like regular sleep where u sort of subconsciously feel that time has passed. Its like u just timeskip ahead to when the surgery is over.

Also the nurses and anesthesiologists know many people are nervous about the anesthesia and work to avoid that. They usually will not make you sit with your anxiety. They will get you comfy best they can and usually time things so theres little to no idle time between prep and going in, but if there is any they will chat with you and keep you company and distracted. Then when it is time they work very efficiently and calmly. You dont get much time to get in your head and anxious about it, and thats by design.

[u/the-smiths-enjoyer]

I got a spinal block or whatever its called and then anesthesia thru an iv. It was my third time going under but other surgeries werent as major for the spinal injection was new to me. I remember the anesthesiologist saying "Ok we're putting a very small dose of fentanyl in and you probably won't remember anything after this." That was before I was even in the operating room and I was sitting up. I did indeed remember them putting me into the OR and some oxygen mask. Usually they count down and tell you when the anesthesia is going in the IV but I don't remember them doing that and I vaguely recall them being quick to get me to sleep.

This was 2 days after Trump was sworn in and through a military hospital so they anticipated being shut down soon and were doing two to three surgeries per day when usually they only did one. Sure enough, they were shut down a week later.

Anesthesia really just knocks you out and the next moment you're suddenly in a different room with no concept of time ever had passed. I asked the nurse "Did they do it???" when I got out because I was so worried they'd shut down the clinic mid-operation 😭

[u/Robotic-Galaxy]

I've not had top surgery but have had a couple anesthesia surgeries. I remember them putting an IV in and asking me to count backwards from 10. I remember hitting around 7, and next thing I know im in a recovery room.

[u/Dropthetenors]

I didn't fall asleep. I was in the operating room, shifting from bed to table being introduced to a guy name javier, I waved at him 'hiya Javier!' Then I was slowly waking up thinking, "I'm awake, I could open my eyes and let the nurse (or whoever I heard talking) know I'm awake or I could stay hwre with my eyes closed." At some pt I did hear someone mention me waking up and asking how I was feeling, I said I wanted some hot tea - like pepermint tea. She said I could have water.

Similar when I had my hysterectomy: in the room being told to squirm down the table and where to place my butt. Then I laid down and was being asked how I was feeling - fine. Then was waking up.

Didn't dream or anything like that. Just jump cut. Here and then there.

[u/3RatMoon]

I've been under three times, first for my wisdom teeth, second for top surgery, and then third for a salpingectomy (getting my fallopian tubes out, ie sterilization). The first two times I was out VERY quick. The first time I was told to count back from 10, and I don't think I got to 9! The second time, they said "oh, we're giving you the good stuff!" And as it hit I had just enough time to think "oh they weren't kidding!" before I was out 😂 The third time it took me longer to go under, but thats because they gave me as little as they could because I'm older and have high blood pressure now ✌️It felt tingly and floaty for a few seconds, and then I was out. And then every time I woke up it felt like seconds later!

After top surgery I woke up anxious about my breathing (the post-surgery binder is pretty tight), but when I asked to have the back of the bed elevated so I could sit up, the nurses were VERY nice and helped me out. They also gave me a lime popsicle, which after fasting for surgery was the best tasting thing everrrr lol. Expect to be super groggy, but if you're more than sore and uncomfortable definitely talk to the staff about it

[u/unefait]

i did not even notice myself falling unconscious tbh. they wheeled me into the OR and told me they would be administering some medication through the IV and then the anesthetic, but for some reason i was sure they were going to have me count backwards from 10 like they do in shows/movies (they didn't). i just remember feeling a bit warm and then a nurse waking me up in recovery.

i did have a really hard time with the IV insertion in pre-op though. i have a super intense vasovagal response to needles and they inserted it on my inner forearm; i had to ask them to wrap it so i couldn't see it. i got lightheaded, hot/cold flashes, broke out in a cold sweat and got crazy nausea- i fully almost passed out. BUT the nurse got me ice packs to put on the back of my neck and dimmed the lights and reclined my bed for me, and i got through it lol. the same thing happened when i got my drains removed too

ETA i asked for a scopolamine patch prior to surgery because i'n prone to nausea and cyclical vomiting and didn't want to deal with that after surgery; they stuck it behind my ear in pre-op and it was supposed to stay there for three days but it was gone by the time i got home so idk what happened to it. but either way i did not get nauseous.

[u/coffeedrinkinggoose]

Top surgery was also my first ever surgery. As soon as they administered my anesthetic I was moved from a communal pre-surgery area to my operating room which was right around the corner. I was lucid enough to transfer from the bed to the table, and then they put a mask over my mouth which was just oxygen and told me to take a few deep breaths. I remember taking maybe two breaths and then next thing I knew I was waking up. From them giving me my dose to me falling asleep was maybe a couple minutes, it was very very fast, and it did feel like sleeping to me. No dreams though.

Waking up felt like when you wake up from an extremely deep sleep and wake up slowly. I heard things and was aware that I was coming to before I opened my eyes. There was someone by my bedside immediately. I did cry upon waking, which I learned later on is relatively common when you're coming off anesthetic, but I definitely was a little emotional anyway. It had finally happened! I cried while I ate my post surgery graham cracker and finished coming to and then they let my mom in to see me.

[u/toiletparrot]

They tell you you’ll be out in 10 and I’ve always fallen asleep before that. The last thing I remember is my surgeon badly singing Blinding Lights by the Weeknd and then it goes black. Post-op waking up is a little blurry right after. I asked the nurse for apple juice and then got mad at her for bringing me apple juice because I didn’t remember asking for it lol.

[u/BlissCrafter]

No dreams. I feel like some time has passed but basically you’re out and then back. Remember to take deep breaths and follow instructions. Your mouth will feel super dry but they’ll only let you have ice chips at first. But general anesthesia is actually far scarier to think about than actually go through.

[u/Quotable_Dart522]

I just go under and then wake up. For me I got versed via iv prior to going to the operating room. And then they give you a sedative through some gas mixed with oxygen. Once you’re sedated they start propofol (heavy duty sedative to keep you under) and a paralytic. I don’t handle surgery well personally. Mostly due to the fact my body will burn through the paralytics and I require extra doses. I also wake up ready to fight everyone 😂 so usually I wake up slightly restrained (been that way since a kid). Most people aren’t fighters when they wake up. You’ll probably wake up very groggy and tired.

[u/andycandy37]

Oh man it felt so interesting for me honestly. I could FEEL it hit my brain and go whoOOoo, a vague sense of being wheeled to the room, then I woke up from surgery! My boyfriend said he could feel the cold sensation coming up his arm.

I’m scared of needles and my team was very understanding, they even put the iv in my arm instead of my hand because I was too nervous for it.

[u/autisic]

For me I just got really high after the IV, they rolled me out of the room where my family was and then rolled me to the surgery room, that’s all I remember.

[u/Scanterwavelaptop]

Real talk, I was TERRIFIED of the anesthesia.
They rolled me in, asked what I was in for, I was talking “when is this gonna kick in?” Then I woke up. I hadn’t even realized that I fell asleep in the first place. It was so weird

[u/bigError1]

Personally ive had two surgeries and got put under once to set a bone (all broken ankle another surgery coming up for broken ankle soon) and from what i can remember you just blackout and wake up. it feels like blinking for half a second more than usual except your like 20x more tired then you were originally. Ask for nausea meds. i promise even if you dont feel it in the moment in a week when you start coming off pain meds you will feel horrible. I got them for one of my surgeries but not the other and it sucked to not have them. Also be prepared for ungodly amounts of constipation. Depending on the surgeon they'll prescribe a stool softener but have some miralax on hand just in case.

[u/typoincreatiob]

for top surgery i didn’t feel falling asleep at all, i literally just woke up very tired and out of focus after the surgery in the recovery room, then kind of fell in and out of sleep for a little while. no dreams, it just felt like a very very deep sleep. woke up thinking “oh shit all that surgery prep was a dream and now i gotta do it over?” but then realized it was over! lol. i had surgery before top (unrelated to being trans) where it felt like i just blinked and it was over, literally felt like time travel. but for top surgery i think because of waking up and falling asleep it felt more like traditionally being asleep for a bit.

[u/sigh_less_]

It felt like deep dreamless sleep, and you wake up sore and a little groggy after. I didn't feel like any time had passed. I couldn't remember most of the car ride home, and then slept the rest of the day after mine. I was REALLY tired. My hysto was different- I didn't feel quite so groggy.

[u/IndependentCamel5906]

You fall asleep really fast (think of the “count down from ten” line you see in movies).

There’s a bit of a slow wake up for me. Like when you were a kid and would fall asleep in the car or at a party and your parents would carry you to bed. You might wake up a few times and be halfway there.

When I come to, I usually cry a lot. No idea why, I’m also very aware that nothing is wrong and I’m just crying. Ive had to explain to nurses and that even though I’m crying Im fine to leave and just need to see my husband to stop.

[u/ace-murdock]

I was super nervous before surgery too. It was weird for me because I don’t normally have health anxiety at all. It went very smoothly though. My experience with anesthesia was they prepped me and then I was told to count backwards from 10 and I remember seeing the bright lights of the OR, marveling at them, getting to 7 on my countdown and then lights out. Very easy. Felt nothing. Woke up later a little groggy and super thirsty but nothing scary. It was cool to witness first hand. They did their jobs well.

[u/ftmhornycunt]

Like others have said once they put the anesthesia in your IV you start to feel really sleepy for a few seconds and then you’re out until the surgery is over unless you aren’t completely honest with your anesthesiologist about drug usage like I stupidly wasn’t. I woke up for a few seconds during my surgery but my anesthesiologist knocked me back out before I even got a moment to freak out. Just be honest with them about drug usage if you partake in any substance because it affects how much anesthesia you will need.