King-Twonk

I can give you some insight here. When I was a teen, I was in a bad car accident. I had 7 surgeries in 18 days because I had so many injuries, internal bleeding, multiple fractures and ligament damage etc. Before that, I was absolutely terrified of general anaesthesia and was scared I’d never wake up, but since then, I don’t sweat it.

The doctors, nurses or anyone else involved know what they are doing, and they do it over and over again. There’s very little they don’t know and if they can’t do it, no one could. They are there to keep an eye on you and they have zero desire to see the procedure go wrong. I promise, you’re more likely to be hit by lightning then to not wake up post surgery. Just roll with it and it will be over quickly.

As a patient, my last procedure was last year. From completely cognisant and talking to waking up in recovery was instantaneous to me. Time isn’t a construct your brain has to deal with when your under, think if it as chemically assisted deep sleep, cos you are non the wiser of what’s going on. I just see it as another chance to get some rest, think if it that way!

Here’s one I’ve always wondered, but no one seems to know, if you do then I’ll be happy.

Whenever I get general anaesthesia, when I wake up and for at least 3 hours after, I occasionally get this strange smell and taste. It smells sickly and heavy, imagine what a hospital smells like, then times it by 100 and imagine your swimming it it, it only lasts a few seconds and it’s gone again. I never get this any other time, and I wonder if it’s the after effect of my body breaking down the propofol or other agents. Any ideas what it is?