Question:
What should I expect when waking up from surgery?

I know we heal differently but could you share with me how you generally felt when coming out of anestesia? I will be having surgery at BTC in Penn. and wonder if they keep tubes in after you wake up, how do you feel, etc. Anything you could share with me will help me better prepare. Of course I will speak with my Doctor as well but you all have so much experience and information that I would love to hear! Thank you!    — Stephanie W. (posted on November 18, 2004)

November 18, 2004
OK well I went into surgery at 2:45 When I was roled in they all said hello as they prepared the room and I scooted myself onto the table she asked if I was centered I said yes and they proceeded to strap me down alittle scary if You must know first three across my legs and then two arround my arms He said he was giving me something to relax me and all of a sudden I couldn't open my eyes I pulled hard too, My lungs got heavy I was straining to breathe I told the anestesiologist (sp) and he patted my arm and said it was ok I remember thinking NO IT'S NOT!! But too late I was out. Next thing I remember I was in ICU I guess and they where yelling at me Breathe Linda Breathe and I went back to sleep and then again Breathe Linda I heard a beeping in the background then I went back to sleep the third time it happened I woke up and asked What am I forgettin to breathe ? she said Yes. Well then I went back to sleep and woke up in my room. The doc called DH at the hotel and told him all was well, and I was to call him as soon as I was awake enough. So I did I remember thinking I was wide awake but when I talked to DH I wasn't making any since I felt no pain just like I had been Punched in the stomach like it was TIGHT but no pain. My DH and Kids were at the Hotel and I remember telling my little girl that daddy put her tape in the vcr in her room she needed to be good for Daddy and go watch it. LOL Needless to say there was no VCR there. They took my vitals My BP was 89 over 60 they told me that was great. OK...... Anyway I started walking arround 10 to prevent the blood clots and walked every hour from then till I went home I just couldn't sleep there. Slept better when DH brought my pillow and chapstick there, as You tend to get dried out. I used My spirometer frequently it was like a game to see if I could do better each time the first time I got a 3000 and there just wasn't any gettin better. (once I got home I could hit 4500) I Had a friend That I met here Rhonna~P she had her surgery the day before me and we got to walk together in the halls. Bless her heart she had to go back in and have a second surgery due to her old stomach Bleeding, she realized this when she went to the toilet and passed blood. So she is doing really well considering all that and her Body is building back up the red blood cells so she is slightly weak. We got to visit often which was nice. I went home on 10/7 and weighed before I left I gained 4 pounds from fluid not to bad I have heard others have gained more
   — Shell G

November 18, 2004
Hi I am one week post-op LAPRNY. It was not bad at all, I was in surgery for 4 hours, In recover room I could not really recall nothing because of the pain meds. I had two IV's, NG TUBE, Cathere, and the drain tube. I was in no pain at all. In the past I have gotten sick from being under, This time I was not sick at all, no gas, no vomit at all. Ruschell Dawson LAP RNY 11-10-04, 285
   — Ruschell

November 18, 2004
Steph, I was 5 months out on Nov 4th. I was in ICU when I finally woke up...about 4pm!!!!!!! I had surgery at 7:30am the same day. It's very hard to get me awake because sedating medicine really knocks me out. I had to go to ICU because I have sleep apnea and wear a CPAP at night. I had my IV with glucose fluids and an antibiotic and oxygen. That's all I had at the time. The intibation (however is that word spelled) tube was already gone and if I had a catheter, which I don't think I did, it was gone also. As soon as I could I ask to get up to try & walk the soreness out. It was approximately located where my stomach had been cut from my new pouch. I did so great with my walking. They just pushed my IV pole around & around the ICU unit. It was a piece of cake. Good luck...judy
   — juju524

November 18, 2004
It was pretty simple and uneventful for me. I got into surgery and the anesthesiologist asked if I was ready for a nap and I said YEP. that's the last I remember till I woke in recovery. I started coming too and could hear things around me. The nurses and docs talked to me and told me everything went well. I said I was in a lot of pain and they gave me something for that. My doc does not use a nasal-gastric tube so I woke with no foreign things in my mouth. The breathing tube was already out. Because I had sleep apnea there was a possibility I could have ended up in ICU, but only if I was having trouble breathing. About 30 minutes later I went to my room and from then on keep moving forward. My surgeon makes us get up about 2 hours after surgery. That first time was horrible. Because I was very large, 442 lbs, in order to turn on my side I had to keep sliding my body over so that I would not fall out of bed once I was fully on my side. To say it was painful is an understatement. It took me about 10 minutes to get to a sitting position. Once I did I decided to stand up and sit on the window sill for a little bit. I figured I was that far I might as well go the rest of the way. I don't totally remember if I went for a short walk or not, it's been almost 2 years. <p>You need to discuss with your doc the possibility of waking with a breathing tube/ventilator as from what I understand that is a very hard thing to deal with. Usually if someone needs one they will keep you more sedated so you don't fight the equipment. Understand this only occurs in situations where you cannot breathe on your own. It is quite rare. If it happens it's usually only for a day or two, till your lungs get stronger. The change of it happening is very slim but it is best to be prepared for whatever might come your way. <p>I just had my 14th major surgery in the past 10 years, last week. It's the third major PS I've had this year. I have never had a bad experience when waking from anesthesia. One time I vomited but they gave me something for it and that was it. My experience is that you hurt and wonder if you will ever be back to normal again, but that's sort lived. I have never regretted any surgery I have had and most were classified as elective and not life threatening. I find that the first 24-48 hours is thw roughest to get yourself moving again. But from that point on each day does get better. Things will start to loosen up and you will find ways to move easier etc. It does take time and you need to give your body the chance to heal, but it is surviveable. <p>I just had a medial thigh lift last week and some significant redo of my upper torso and I was dreading the leg skin removal surgery from the minute I had a consult with a PS. The funny part is this is turning out to be the easiest recovery so far. So fretting about it was for naught. <p>Find a doctor you have total trust in and go forward. You literally are choosing to live and surgery will be the first day of the rest of your new healthy life. It's an amazing journey!
   — zoedogcbr

November 18, 2004
Hey, I'm gonna be six months out next week. The drug they gave me for sedation didn't work very well. My doctor told me that I was not going to remember being in the OR. I remember going in and everything up until they started general anesthesia. My surgery only lasted about an hour and a half, and I remember being woken up in the OR, and wondering if they had done it yet. About two seconds later the anesthesia seemed to have completely worn off. I was in a lot of pain and I felt like I had a pile of bricks sitting on my chest. I started panicking because I felt like I couldnt breathe, and that made my blood pressure shoot up. Needless to say the waking up thing was pretty scary for me, but that is mostly because the sedative didnt work well for me. Most people don't recall anything until they are well into recovery. Well, I hope that didn't scare you, but its good to hear the bad and the good. Oh yea, and I didn't have any tubes or anything when I woke up.
   — savetheclowns

November 19, 2004
When I awoke from surgery, I will be honest with you, I was screaming for pain medication (and I had the laproscopic surgery). I felt so much pain in my stomach! But when they gave me medication, I guess I must have zonked out because I don't remember anything after that. But don't worry, I might just be a sucker for pain.
   — Michelle M.

November 20, 2004
I just woke up groggy & gagging on my ng tube. No major pain or discomfort. Not something you want to experience everyday but definitely worth it! Blessings on your big day!
   — fowlerloriann

November 23, 2004
I did not have any problems waking up and I did not have any tubes in. I did have a catheter in and they took that out the next day.
   — linda E.