Have you ever had surgery... how far do you remember counting backwards?

[GasX]

About the puking/vomit for some people... isn't that why they tell you not to eat anything 12 hours prior?

To some degree, yes. A full stomach increases the chance for you blowing chunks in recovery. However, the real risk is you puking DURING surgery or, more importantly, before they have put the breathing tube down your throat. Acidic stomach contents and lung don't play nice together.

 

[minendo]

Most adults will not have an answer to this question. The stuff we give you in the pre-op holding area (versed) produces amnesia from that point onwards. This results in you not remembering even entering the OR even if you were semi-alert and trying to hit on the nurses.

Kids typically don't get versed unless they are particularly nervous.

For the multiple operations I've had they must have skipped this step. I recall entering the operating room every time. The first time I moved myself to the operating table. The second time I told the nurses and doctors I had 3 nuts prior being out of it.

 

[GasX]

For the multiple operations I've had they must have skipped this step. I recall entering the operating room every time. The first time I moved myself to the operating table. The second time I told the nurses and doctors I had 3 nuts prior being out of it.

Next time act more nervous...

Of course, I don't know your medical history, so there may have been a specific reason for you not getting it. Also, it is not mandatory, so your anesthesia provider may just not be a big user of it.

 

[darkxshade]

For the multiple operations I've had they must have skipped this step. I recall entering the operating room every time. The first time I moved myself to the operating table. The second time I told the nurses and doctors I had 3 nuts prior being out of it.

This

At the least I remember clearly being moved to the OR from pre-op and then asked to sit up(for the anesthetic?) and then lie back down with my arms folded and count backwards... How far I got in my count is what I'm hazy with but to the best of my knowledge, I got as far as 8.

 

[zebano]

I had my tonsils removed at age 8 (roughly). I think I got to 7.

 

[Gibsons]

When my knee got done, I remember really concentrating trying to get as many numbers as possible. Going down from 100, I think I got to 94, then said something like "this is like falling into a hole." Seemed like the world was zooming up all around me, and that was it.

 

[keird]

i remember that it was the BEST feeling of sleep i've ever had in my life when I woke up for that short time then fell back asleep.

Agreed.

Unfortunately my uber sleep was ruined by a cardiac monitor alarming. I was in the best shape of my life when I had to have some facial surgery in Germany. I was extubated and awoke in post-op to some annoying alarms. My heart rate was at 42!

I was really enjoying the incredibly restful feeling after coming of propofol, but I had to fight it because I thought that I'd brady out. I can understand why Michael Jackson would have wanted that stuff. Not that I'd endorse medicating one's self, but I can understand.

 

[Vegitto]

Well, that's a funny story actually.

I had ear surgery when I was 5, they used propofol. I was under within a couple of seconds but I woke up maniacally. I don't remember any of it, but I bit a nurse's ear off, apparently.

The next time was when I was 17, having my wisdom teeth extracted. I had developed a deep fear of needles since then and warned the anesthesiologist. They used something else but it didn't work, so they went for an IV. It took 7 people to hold me down, I gave two guys black eyes and probably broke a guy's ribs before I was under.

Last time was a couple of months ago, on my bladder. Same story, they tried to put in an IV, but I was mildly sedated. I broke the anesthesiologist's arm and went under.

Side note: I was also national junior champion in Muay Thai, currently I'm into capoeira.

Edit: None of the violence towards the medical personnel was premeditated and I wasn't in a mental state where I was in control. Needles make the world go black for me, and when it does I tend to inflict a lot of damage to the person(s) trying to poke me with aforementioned needle.

 

[darkxshade]

snip

Wouldn't it be easier to have you restrained first[read: tied down] before they poke you?

 

[QuantumPion]

When I had my wisdom teeth out. I very clearly remember the whole thing. Doc gives me the IV and says count to 10. I say "wow feels like I just had 10 beers, ok...1...2... ..... *yawn* ahh that was a good nap, hey how did I get on this couch?"

 

[Vegitto]

Wouldn't it be easier to have you restrained first[read: tied down] before they poke you?

They did that the second and third time, those were no problem for me. I got out a leg and an arm the second time (the first time they used them) before they started to restrain me and I remember blacking out restrained the last time. I have no idea how that happened..

 

[AreaCode707]

10, 9, 8.... 7..................................

 

[Eli]

I've had more surgeries than I care to remember, and I've never had to do this count backwards thing. They just always told me to breathe deep and not fight it.. Of course, I always fought it.. lol

Ugh. I hated the feeling of falling that it would give me. Probably only was a few seconds, but it seemed like forever.. lol

 

[Schadenfroh]

Counting backwards from 10 I got to 42.

Damn, I always knew numbers were circular.

 

[MotionMan]

When I had my wisdom teeth removed, I started at 10 and got to 8.

Whatever they used was a HUGE downer for me. I woke up refreshed, but extremely depressed.

I was not over the depression for a good day after that.

MotionMan

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

I've had surgery more times than I care to think about. I always tell the surgeons I prefer singing show tunes. I once made it to the second stanza of The First Lord's Song. I polished up that handle so carefully
That now I am the Ruler of the Queen's Navy

 

[alkemyst]

I can't remember counting ever, I have always had to assist.

 

[Tiamat]

For some reason I was fighting the knock-out meds. And then the doc told me to count down from 10 and I don't think i made it to 6.

 

[BoomerD]

Most adults will not have an answer to this question. The stuff we give you in the pre-op holding area (versed) produces amnesia from that point onwards. This results in you not remembering even entering the OR even if you were semi-alert and trying to hit on the nurses.

Kids typically don't get versed unless they are particularly nervous.

Versed gives you amnesia? huh...my pain management doc gives me a blast of that mixed with fentanyl when I go in for epidurals. (probably relatively small doses) He calls it his "cocktail." I always tell him to "Make it a double."

I remember going into the OR when I had my knee surgery, remember the "gas passer"(Can't spell anesthesiologist) telling me, "OK, this might burn a little bit...HOLY SHIT...THAT's.....zzzzzzzzzzz



99, 98, 97...3, 2, 1. OK, what's next?

I always figured that's how I'd be...but sadly, I couldn't live up to my expectations...

I think I made it to 95...maybe.

 

[spacelord]

for Wisdom teeth, starting at 100 made it to around 95, same as previous poster..
woke up and it was all done.

 

[Engineer]

I've had two surgeries and don't remember anything other than the "happy shot" before the real stuff. I do think I remember the mask going over my face one of the two times though.

 

[GasX]

I remember going into the OR when I had my knee surgery, remember the "gas passer"(Can't spell anesthesiologist) telling me, "OK, this might burn a little bit...HOLY SHIT...THAT's.....zzzzzzzzzzz

Propofol burns going in. Typically lidocaine is given beforehand partially to offset this. Its effectiveness is debatable. Either way it doesn't burn for long...

 

[Matthiasa]

I don't remember.

 

[Gibsons]

I've had more surgeries than I care to remember, and I've never had to do this count backwards thing. They just always told me to breathe deep and not fight it.. Of course, I always fought it.. lol

Ugh. I hated the feeling of falling that it would give me. Probably only was a few seconds, but it seemed like forever.. lol

hm, I thought the falling part was pretty cool and fun. ymmv I guess.

 

[theprodigalrebel]

Counting up, pretty sure didn't go past 3. This was in '97, I was 12 then.