Question:
Today there was a show on TLC called

When i was watching this program,i started to get a little on edge about the anesthesia before surgery.There were people on the program who(while under anesthesia)could still feel every cut while their bodies and minds were totally paralyzed from the anesthesia.I'm scared to death of this happening to me,no matter how rare they say it is.Has anyone on here had this experience before??    — Latisa B. (posted on March 13, 2003)

March 12, 2003
I was very concerned about this. During surgery your heart rate is monitored carefully. If your BP or heart rate goes up during cutting this lets them know you are not under enough. They can easily increase your anthestic. In the years I have been here I dont ever remember anyone reporting being aware.
   — bob-haller

March 12, 2003
I had a c-sec and the spinal didn't take. I could feel everything once they cut the outer layer. What a came away with is no fear of death and the knowledge I can endure anything, besides a beautiful baby. If I had to do the same for wls I would. You will not be having a epidural though!!! Out of the thousands of surgeries I would think this is very rare indeed! You will do fine!!
   — lessofme170

March 12, 2003
"Under Anesthesia" can mean a lot of things. It is not that uncommon under a local to be "out-of-it" and feel some things. I've had foot surgery that towards the end of the surgery the deadening was starting to wear off my food and I felt pain. They just numbed it more. <p>In a general anesthesia this is very very rare. I haven't heard of any cases in years. Like Bob said there are all kinds of ways they monitor how "out" you are. WLS uses a general anesthesia, so I really would not worry.
   — zoedogcbr

March 12, 2003
That happened to me when I had my second C-sec. I could feel the cut and hear the people around me talking but I couldn't move a muscle to tell anyone. Even though I could feel the cut, the pain was minimal. Mostly it scared me but I found out later that it was intentional. I was under general anesthesia and they couldn't give me more until the delivered my baby. On the plus side - I was able to hear my daughter cry when she was born.
   — MaryCinFL

March 12, 2003
Count to 10, I made it to three and woke up in recovery. This was the last thing you should worry about. You will be fine and won't remember a thing until 1 year post op and your joy for having this surgery. Versed is a wonderful drug.
   — MICHAEL Z.

March 12, 2003
Some hospitals monitor your brain waves, this is a sure way to know if your aware. They go out of their way to see your not feeling anything.
   — bob-haller

March 12, 2003
I had a local for knee surgery, Think it was a spinal. I was somewhatr aware, and very drunk. Could of cared less about what was going on. I do remember them asking me to be quiet and a sensitive critical part of knee surgery. General was its in hes out.... Wake up in recovery. Not bad at all.
   — bob-haller

March 13, 2003
Latisa, I know it seems scary, but even the posts from people who it happened to said they could barely feel it when they were semi-conscious. And that is a small percentage it can happen to. I know it still scares you, I wish I could relieve your fears. Also, could those people have previously been on painkillers? I know of someone who had a tolerance to narcotics, so the anesthesia wasn't enough, so she was still kind of awake, but then they gave her more. So if you are taking anything like that, be sure to tell them your tolerance is a little higher so they can adjust the dosing. I had to do this. Goodluck to you, and try not to worry about it too much, you will not remember a thing I'm sure!
   — Lezlie Y.

March 14, 2003
Latisa- Last year when my son was put under for minor surgery (adnoids removed and ear tubes put in), we found out he had "heightened awareness", meaning he was more aware than most people under anesthesia. He remembered some things that happened in the OR but felt NO PAIN even though he was slightly aware. The surgeon said it's very rare, like one in a million. I want to stress again that he felt NO Pain while under anesthesia, just the usual post-op ouchies when it wears off. Good Luck!
   — Mea A.

March 14, 2003
I had a hysterectomy last July. During the procedure, I woke up, opened my eyes and looked around. I saw my OB walking over to a table and grabbing an instrument. I didn't feel a thing, I just looked at her. She turned around and saw me watching her. She winked at me and the next thing I knew I woke up in recovery. Even though I woke up, I didn't feel a thing and only stayed awake briefly.
   — misha

March 14, 2003
I have had 5 surgeries over the past few years (mostly due to my kidneys) and have had this experience during 2 of them. Please don't worry it is not even as close to as horrible as it sounds. The first time it happened I had a spinal and as much happy drugs as they could give me (I was pregnant and could not have a genenral) I could feel the cut, tugging and scrapping (Yucko ovarian cyst removal)but it was only uncomfortable not painful. The 2nd I had to go in to have my kidney stones blasted with sonic waves. I had a general and remember waking in the middle of the procedure and hearing a weird noise and then I felt as if someone had hit me in the kidneys as hard as they could. It hurt but the good news is they were aware of me being awake right away because of monitering and I was out again before another blast hit. I remember hearing them say something like she needs more or she's not under..... I understand your fear as I have had to go through it several times, if you can, try to come to terms with it and move on to happier thoughts.
   — Mindy R.

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