Question:
Is it possible to accidentaly wake up during surgery?
Two questions. First, someone told me that they woke up during surgery (not wls) and i was just wondering if this is possible. Second, Is it possible to dream while under anasthesia? — Amber F. (posted on March 19, 2002)
March 19, 2002
You shouldn't wake up if your anesthesiologist is doing their job!! My
father had surgery on his foot for which they gave him a local and he also
opted to be put "under" he woke up while they were in the middle
of the procedure, the doc looked at him and said "Wanna go back to
sleep?" Dad said "yup" and they knocked him out again...he
could of stayed awake and not have felt anything, but he's a big baby! When
it comes to major surgery like opening your abdomen, it's a completely
different story, you are put under deep! I don't remember a thing! They
put the mask on me and told me to take a deep breath and my next memory is
the recovery room nurse asking me if I felt any pain! ( I said
"Yes" and lost conciousness again) I didn't have the nice dreams
until they hooked up the moraphine!! :)
— DolcezzaVT
March 19, 2002
is it possible? yes.. is it probable?? nooooo anyhoo, most
anesthesiologists today use a "BIS monitor".. it is an actual EEG
(measures your brain waves) that gives them a number that tells how
"under" you are.. of course all anesthesiologists use your vitals
signs to monitor you as well.. bottom line, awaking during surgery is
possible but EXTREMELY RARE.. however, if it's a fear of yours simply ask
who your anesthesiologist will be, call them and ask that they use the BIS
monitor.. it's a surefire way to ensure you don't wake up.. (by the way,
just as you chose your surgeon, you CAN chose your anesthesiologist, etc.)
as for dreaming.. have never thought about it.. but yeah.. depending on how
deeply you're under.. i suppose you could.. interesting.. good luck..
— Ann W.
March 19, 2002
I've had 3 surgeries in my life and every time they put that mask on my
face I completely black out, no dreams, nothing, and when I wake up my
surgery is over but it seems like it's only been a minute. Don't worry,
everything will be fine. Anesthesia is an amazing thing.
— Meredith A.
March 19, 2002
Just thought i'd let you know that you can tell your anasthesioligist that
you have this fear and they will give you something to calm your nerves. I
did this and told him i was afraid i would try to change my mind on the way
to surgery. He gave me something for that too!!!! I don't even remember
leaving the rooms where they prepare you for surgery. What a wonderful
man....lol take care and i'm sure all will go well for you
debbie
— deborah D.
March 19, 2002
I have had dreams every time I've been in surgery, completely unrelated to
what was going on though... But I'd go with everyone else who says that
waking up during surgery would be the fault of the drug man... I was in
surgery an additional 2 hours than what they'd originally expected and I
remember opening my eyes once that night after surgery... I had a GOOD drug
man :) But my surgeon also made sure I had the chief drug man, and I met,
interviewed him and told him how badly I hate coming out of drugs and how
timid I was about the surgery... he made sure I didn't have a care in the
world when I was wheeled in.. Good luck in your journey! And never be
affraid to ask for things your way.. you'd be surprised how
"accomidating" some people can be :)
— Elizabeth D.
March 19, 2002
I woke up during surgery, I was having nasal surgery, to make passages
bigger, I was 14, (a long time ago) lol
I was only awake a second though, I remember talking with the doctor about
it, she said its rare but it happens, you will be fine, good luck, Becky
— rebecca N.
March 19, 2002
I've had 14 surgeries and all but three were with general anesthesia and
I've never woke up. And NEVER had any dreams. Personally I don't understand
how the one poster said they dreamed? I didn't think it was possible. At
least I've never heard of it before. I understand your fears of waking up,
and I still fear it everytime I go under. However it seems to be extremely
rare. I would recemmend you telling your anesthesialogist your fears. (I've
told different ones I've feared it). They are good to say what they do to
make sure you are really "out". At least all the ones I've talked
to have been caring. I hope you get a woman. I like them the best. ;)
— Danmark
March 19, 2002
17 years ago I had a hysterectmy, and woke up during the surgery, I didn't
feel any pain just pressure, they knocked me right out again within
seconds. I had my wls surgery in Dec 2001, told the anastheologists and
surgeon, they made sure I was hooked up to the monitor that reads
brainwaves. I was in surgery for 5-6 hours because they found a very large
ovarian cyst which took over 2 hours to remove. All I remember was having
the IV's inserted the morning of the surgery, I don't remember being taken
into surgery, just waking up in the recovery room. Don't worry about waking
up, just talk to the surgeon and the anesthesologists, they will make sure
you will not wake up. They have made great advances in the last 17 years
since I woke up in surgery
— mc H.
March 19, 2002
The first time I ever had general anesthesia, I woke up. I was having a
tumor on my parotid gland (that's the one that swells up when you have the
mumps) removed. I was only awake for a few seconds, but I don't remember
feeling any pain, just remember looking at the clock and seeing what time
it was. That was a long time ago and I think the other posters are right
about it being easier to make sure that doesn't happen any more. I had
always gotten very sick to my stomach after general anesthesia before and
when I had my gall bladder out 18 months ago, I wasn't sick at all. Modern
medicine is wonderful.
— garw
March 19, 2002
There are rare cases where a person could "wake up" during
surgery, but you wouldn't feel any pain and the surgeon would know about it
immediately....and you'd be back under. They way anesthesia works is that
it dulls all the nerve endings. So even if you woke, you might only feel
pressure. I wouldn't worry about it. As far as dreaming, I didn't think
that was possible since you aren't technically in REM sleep. But, I'm just
saying that, I don't know for sure. I wouldn't worry though.
— emilyfink
March 19, 2002
I asked detailed questions on this. Years ago it was possibe. Today were
monitored so well its no longer a problem. Dont worry about it. They even
monitor our brainwaves duiring surgery to make sure were out!
— bob-haller
March 19, 2002
A couple of years ago I was in surgery and woke up. I just barely remember
waking up but they put me back under immediately. About the dreaming, a
year ago when I had my RNY I was dreaming during surgery. I distinctly
remember not wanting to wake up when they were trying to wake me before I
left the OR because I was having a really good dream and didn't want to
wake up.
— Beth E.
March 19, 2002
To answer your second question, no you will not dream while under
anesthesia. I am an RN and an anesthesiologist told me that you are not
asleep when under anesthesia, you are unconscious so you will not dream.
— Vickie C.
March 19, 2002
Pre-op I suffered fainting spells when in pain or when my blood pressure
suddenly dropped and every time I fainted I would dream very vivid dreams
as if I were asleep for hours (instead of less than a minute), so I thought
this meant I would dream when "put under". BUT I did NOT dream
while under the anesthesia. I remember them telling me I would be getting
sleepy and it seemed like they were saying my name just moments after that
- but it was 4 1/2 hours later. Talk about a time warp! No waking up for
me, either, until they said my name. Then I remember them helping me to
push my morphine button and I must've fallen right back to sleep because I
don't remember anything until hours later. Good Luck!
— Laura B.
March 19, 2002
I am pre-op wls but i have had two previous surgeries that i did wake up
during. one was to have a cyst and ovary removed and the other was to have
my knee fixed (acl repair). i felt no pain even though they were still
inside when i woke up. in fact when i woke up during my knee surgery i
could here power tools. i had an epidural for each surgery and i hope i
will be able to with wls. i actually thought it was kinda cool and it
didn't bother me at all. i don't think they had planned on it happening.
however, they did not knock me out again either time. i don't know what
caused it, but i can tell you it definately does happen. good luck.
— Janine S.
March 17, 2003
I have had 4 surgeries in my life. Once when I was 4 years old, I remember
the mask being put on (& the nasty smell)and then I remember being
woken up, that's it. The second was 17 years ago when I had my first son.
I had an epidural that was great at helping with the labor pains, but when
they took me into surgery, I felt everything on my right side! They
knocked me out with the mask. I woke up twice, once when they took the
baby out, and once while they were stapling me. I didn't feel pain, just
this wierd pressure. The third was in 1992, I only had the general
anesthesia, and I never woke up. Three hours later they were waking me up,
and I thought something happened and they decided not to do the surgery,
but they were finished. It felt like not even a second had gone by since
they said "Jennifer, what's your name?" and I passed out before
I could get the answer! LOL! The fourth one was just about 3 years ago when
I had my 2nd son. It was a planned c-section, so I was wide awake when
they inserted the needle for the epidural. I don't know what the deal is
with me and epidurals, but this time, instead of feeling everything on the
right side, I felt everything from the waist down, and nothing above the
waist! I thought I was dying because I couldn't feel myself breathing! I
was panicking and kept screaming "I can't breath, I need oxygen"
but when I looked behind my head, all my vitals were fine and my pulse ox
was high. (How do I know these things? Ask me about my sons brain surgery.
He was under for 14.5 hours and never woke up. He didn't dream, but he
did "SEE" a friend of mine who passed away when he and I were
17. I gave my son his name for a middle name. I always told him that
Stephen was his guardian angel. He said they talked a little while and he
said that he would be fine and it was time to wake up. VERY INTERESTING)
ANYWAY... The doctors apparently didn't believe me and cut me anyway! As I
was screaming bloody murder they gassed me and I went out. In the middle of
surgery I woke up calling for my husband and the doctor said he was with
the baby. WHAT BABY! I had missed the whole thing! Then I started
feeling the pain again as they were sewing me up and they gassed me and I
woke up in the recovery room all goofy. I have a lot of wierd issues with
medication anyway. They doctor who did my 1st c-section said they had
given me enough medication to bring down a horse! (Don't laugh, I was thin
then!) I am glad I read these posts though, because I had no idea that
they used an epidural. For me, thanks but NO THANKS! P.S. I personally
have never had a dream while under, it's like a snap of the fingers and
it's over. It's really wierd! I wish I could do that when we have to go
visit FAMILY! LOL
— Jennifer J.
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