I am supposed to have surgery in the near future and I am
honestly hesitating to have it because of the idea of being
anesthesitized (sp?).  

I am going to be put under general anesthesia and I don't like
this idea at all but apparantly there are no other alternatives.

If there are any anesthesia physicians present in this newsgroup,
could you please ease my uncertainty and explain the procedures
involved in knocking somebody out.  I would really like to know
what to expect from the time that I am prepared for surgery in
terms of what the anesthesia physician does.  

Have you ever had anybody wake up in the middle of a procedure?
I was told that I would have to be given high doses of Prednisone
prior to the surgery (due to asthma).

I would also not mind hearing from people who have had surgery.
What was it like before you were put under?
Did they explain anything to you in terms of what to expect?
Were you intubated before they put you under?
Did they put you under in the O.R. or prior to going in?

Thankyou in advance for any information you can give me,

Amber

: I am supposed to have surgery in the near future and I am
: honestly hesitating to have it because of the idea of being
: anesthesitized (sp?).  

: I would also not mind hearing from people who have had surgery.

Okay, Amber, here I am.  I had surgery on February 11th, 1993, for
a two-level bone graft on my neck (C3-C4 disks).

I met with the anesthesiologist during my pre-surgery exam, about five
days prior to surgery.... The first question out of my mouth was whether
there was any chance of awakening during the surgery... He assured me
there was not.  I believed him.

: What was it like before you were put under?

During my prepping, each of my two surgeons plus the audiologist came up
and said hello to me, reassuring me all would be fine, and not to worry..

Each of the OR nurses came up and introduced herself to me, as I lay on
the gurney, each telling me exactly what her/his duties would be during
my surgery.... WHile they were talking to me, and keeping me engaged in
conversation, the IV was inserted in the back of my hand... I'm terrified
of needles, but I have to admit, I didn't feel a thing... wasn't even
aware it was being done.

: Did they explain anything to you in terms of what to expect?

Yep, sure did, and every question I asked was answered, honestly, and in
as much detail as I wanted... and I wanted a lot.  :)

: Were you intubated before they put you under?

I don't know the usual procedure, but I was told that because of my neck
problems with two herniated disks compressing my spinal cord, it would be
necessary for me to be conscious for the procedure..... This was my
primary worry about the whole operation..... The anesthesiologist had
told me that while I would have to be conscious, I would never remember
the procedure, because of the {*filter*} they would feed into the IV.  The
only thing I remember is someone opening my mouth and spraying in a
bitter-tasting (not sickening, by any means) numbing substance... from
that point on -- blessed oblivian.

: Did they put you under in the O.R. or prior to going in?

Hmmmmm.  Now that you ask, I don't know.  From the admitting room where I
had reported at 5am, and had changed into the hospital gown, I was put on
a gurney, and wheeled to the OR area.... now, exactly where I was during
the pre-op prep, I have no idea.  I would assume I was either in the OR,
or an ante-room where they do pre-op.  I definitely was still on the
gurney when all of the above I described was happening.

: Thankyou in advance for any information you can give me,

You're welcome.  I am 65 going on four years old when it comes to
anything remotely resembling doctors and needles and medical procedures.  
I assure you, everything was made easy and non-frightening for me by all
of the hospital personnel.  I was treated as a person, not a blithering
patient, as it used to be, all too often.

Good luck...

Anne