I am a Chronic Pain Patient and extremely tolerant to anesthesia. Once during internal surgery i woke up (to an extent) while they were inside my body with me completely opened up. I could hear everything they were saying, and the lights were very bright, but I could not open my eyes, or speak. I felt absolutely no pain, but I found the situation odd to say the least. I managed to flap my arms somewhat, and they freaked. I remember them saying, We understand! We understand! They put me under then. Since I felt no pain and was stoned out of my mind, I found it quite amusing.
Apparently when I was having a surgical abortion under moderate sedation I managed to stay conscious but thought the whole thing was absolutely hysterical, and decided to narrate it like I was in a medical drama. I remember absolutely nothing, but the nurses said it was the highlight of their year.
I had bunion surgery on both my big toes. While they were still working on my I heard them talking about Christmas shopping, since it was Christmas time. I joined in the conversation talking about a gift I was having trouble finding for my granddaughter, they were quiet then I went out again. I felt no pain nor did I have any negative feelings, I was just happy joining the conversation
When I first read your comment, I thought you said that you'd had 'brain' surgery on both of your big toes! 🤣 I need both of my bunions fixed but just can't get up the nerve. I've had them for so long that I guess I'll keep them. Was the recovery hard and painful?
How ironic. Same! I was having bunion surgery, and woke up to my surgeon tapping his instrument on my foot. No pain, just the pressure and sound. I vocalized and quickly was put under. My anesthesia was not a general, but a spinal with sedation (same as I had for three joint replacements with the same doc). I wasn’t afraid or angry, just an interesting story.
I remember my wake up test during my cervical spine surgery. I had complications and they needed me to move my arms & legs. I had a tube down my throat. It felt so weird to not have to breathe out of my mouth, I could feel the air pass into my lungs. The Doctor’s authority in his voice kept me calm, he explained what was happening and that I was ok, I felt ZERO pain. Then they said I was going back to sleep and they’d see me soon. It was really no big deal and kinda neat .
I had a really long shoulder surgery, and I remember them waking me up after surgery was complete while the ET tube was still in. Once I responded a little, they pulled the tube out. It was wierd.
I’m so glad I don’t recall this happening with my cervical spine surgery. Lol. I’m a nurse, and although I have a long list of uneventful surgeries (🙏🏻), anesthesia awareness is still one of my biggest fears. Thankful you didn’t feel pain, and that you had such a great surgeon & anesthesiologist caring for you.
I was most afraid of the anesthesia before my surgery last August; I'd never been under general anesthesia before, and of course one hears horror stories. I met the anesthesiologist before surgery, and he was so nice and calm that I felt like I was in good hands. Everything went fine. I remember breathing in the gas and everything going fuzzy, and then waking up in the recovery room with my chest on fire and a nurse ordering pain medication for me because I was moaning like a zombie.
Yes, this is how the vast majority of procedures go. I hope people aren’t scared away from medical help by less common negative experiences that do happen unfortunately
I have been put to sleep 5 different times for surgeries not counting twice for GI tests and another time to have my molars 🦷 removed. I’m still here to talk about it. I’m scared to death to fly on a airplane and at the age of 45 I have no intention to. But, general anesthesia no problem. If I had flown on a airplane since I was a child I’m sure I wouldn’t be afraid to fly. I had my first surgery when I was 9. Ps I have never heard of a anesthesiologist given gas at this day and age. I had gas when I was 9 as a child in the 1980’s. They usually put medicine through your iv line now.
I've flown seven times on a europe round trip after being afraif all my life and now next year I am studying aerospace engineering-I loved it. And I was put to sleep only once and it was far scarier
@@rosealexander9007 Actually they do both. You get the gas until you get to sleep, before they put the tube down your throat to breathe for you, although you don't remember it a lot of the time. They put the mask over your face and tell you it's just a gas and oxygen combination. Then give you Versed and usually Propofol in your IV to make you forget the surgery and surrounding fear of going under the knife. I've had 21 major surgeries where I've been put to sleep, and another coming next week. Also woken up during back surgery and 2 others. They have always followed this procedure in every OR I've been in. May be different in different countries, but that's how they do it in the USA
I remember when I had my surgery years ago, my first and only thus far, my biggest fear was awareness during my surgery. I looked at my anesthesiologist, and I told her as such. I must have looked really frightened and concerned, because she got such a compassionate look on her face, and smiled at my reassuringly. She said "Oh, honey, I promise that won't happen." It didn't. I wasn't aware of a thing. The first thing I remember was being on an elevator, being taken up to a room. She made me feel so much better.
Thanks for sharing. I want to add if you voice your concern to the Anesthesiologist upon meeting them, they will make note of it and closely monitor your vitals to be sure to keep you under and comfortable. Also they will give you a lil extra "relaxation" medicine before going to the operating room and being put under anesthesia. I’ve had 4 surgeries and never had a problem.
What's scary to me is that making memories is somewhat decoupled from feeling pain. It means that theoretically you could be in terrible pain in the moment, yet not remember anything afterwards, which is a terrifying idea to me
Also, even if you don't consciously remember the pain, the body still does which can lead to central sensitization and other CNS changes that could contribute to the development of chronic pain, alongside the surgical stress and its negative consequences
@@cristina8868 that is not comforting at all.. and the fact that it seems some people are okay with that scares the heck out of me. I don't want my surgical team to just accept that it is fine if I'm in pain because they think I won't remember it later.
being that pain is directly experienced by the individual it would literally be like it never happened. to stop being terrified by this idea you need a new way of thinking about pain and why/how we even feel it in the first place.
I was having a joke with the anesthesiologist just as i was going under he gave a hi five to me. when i woke up he had my arm up in the hi five. acting as if it was still the same time. He came to recovery just to carry on the jokes.
I woke up during oral surgery when I was 14. I told them so later and they tried to convince me I dreamed it, but I know what I felt. Made me not only terrified but mistrusting of all doctors to this day. I'm 58 now.
@@Jr-od2rp Yes, I realize that, and I'm working to overcome my fear. But it happened at an early age and affected me deeply. Thank you for your kind concern.
@@Jr-od2rp What about when a Dr. kills your parent with a drug they TELL you has a high mortality rate and refuses to prescribe a less dangerous drug like Oxazepam like you asked for? Or a dr who lets your parent collapse of Congestive Heart Failure to prove a point? YOU want names? I'm more than happy to name these psychos and where they practise. I call that PSYCHOTIC, criminal and reason to pull their licence from ever practising ever again. That was just with my parents, I won't even start to go into what my grandmother endured with the quacks that butchered her. I will never go to a doctor again, where I drop is where I die.
It happened to me also but I still didn't feel any pain. I can still remember the staff looking directly into my eyes. I guess they gave me a bit more as I only remember waking up in recovery. I don't blame anyone.
When I woke up in heart surgery my chest felt like it was on fire. It was horrific. I could hear the nurses talking in the background to each other. Also heard what sounded like metal instruments being dropped into a metal container. The pain was unimaginable and the memory of this has caused much stress. This happened 8 days after my cabg 2 surgery when I had to go in for a second open heart surgery because I was bleeding which had been caused by a clip that nicked the heart plus blood thinner. The Pericardium was full of blood and pressure was on the heart. Several clots were removed. I understand this is a complex operation and I have made it through all of this.
@@lindahandley5267 what happened…I had a cabg 2. I went to the head of surgery at one of the top heart hospitals in NJ (at least that’s what they say) and I was released after 8 days and luckily my ride was late to pick me up. The left part of my chest became heavy and expanded. I had to have emergency surgery because I bleed out. I was told I was given too much blood thinner but later was told the doctor nicked my heart. Anyway the second surgery was the one where I woke up.
@@abigailwester2477 I had already been seeing a cardiologist for some unexplained issues and the tests never really showed up anything. I was visiting my late husband's grave one day and as I walked up a slight incline, I started having chest, back and left arm pain. When I stopped, the pain stopped and I didn't get terribly concerned. I went on to do some shopping and was carrying a pretty heavy box to the car, when I felt the same thing again. Then, I WAS very concerned, called my doctor and saw him the next day. I ended up having a cath and my main (R) main artery was 98%% blocked and had the surgery the next morning. I was very blessed to have had no complications. I'm so sorry that happened to you. It was a nightmare! You're very fortunate to have pulled through all of that!
But would you rather not have the surgeries? I get that it's a horrible memory. But you are alive to post a comment on RUclips about it. Things could be worse.
This happened to me during the birth of my first child. I had a fourth degree laceration, so they put me under general anesthesia to repair it. I was under enough that I could not voluntarily move, but could still feel the resident suturing me. It was this horrible, absolutely unbearable jabbing pain, the only way that I can describe it is that it was worse than childbirth pain. I tried so hard to scream because the pain was so bad, but my mouth wouldn't move. My husband said that he saw my whole body jerk (like when they defibrillate you), then the obstetrician yelled at the anesthesiologist. Then he said a few moments later, my whole body jerked again and then the obstetrician cursed at the anesthesiologist. Today 36 years later I still have vivid memories of that awful experience. The anesthesiologist did get some kind of reprimand on his medical license though, thank goodness.
I had an ovarian cyst removed. I swear it seemed like a blink of an eye from the time I went into the OR to the time I woke up in the recovery room. I even remember asking the nurses when I was gonna have surgery and they said that I already had surgery and that I was in the recovery room.
I had twilight sedation (conscious sedation) to have a Hickman (central line) placed in my chest and I remember the anesthesiologist gave me 1mg of Versed and Fentanyl as well. That low of a dose I’m always awake but 2mg of Versed and I’m out like a light. I remember suddenly asking the surgeon “are you going to start the surgery soon”? He said “I’m almost done with the surgery”. In this surgery the anesthesiologist was giving me small doses of the Versed instead of a larger dose to put me under quickly. I was told I was given a total of 6mg of Versed and not sure about the fentanyl. Fentanyl has never made me groggy. I’m used to getting a large dose to put me under within seconds and they keep administering meds to keep me under and this surgery was just a smaller dose but more frequently so I wouldn’t remember anything. This year alone I’ve had 2 surgeries with twilight (moderate or conscious sedation depending on how you call it) and 2 with general anesthesia where I was given sedation, paralytics, and I was intubated. When I get general anesthesia I tell the anesthesiologist that I don’t want any students using me as their guinea pig because I’m always afraid they will knock out a tooth since I’m always intubated and they can’t use a blind airway on me due to bad acid reflux. Some surgeries I’ve had they give me Versed and Propofol to keep me under. I’ve given general anesthesia several times as a medic on the ambulance when I was needing to put someone under and intubate them.
@@debrakleid5752 I know they let students do procedures for teaching, but the patient should have a say in it. After knee surgery, I woke up in recovery screaming in pain. My upper lip was 10 times the normal size and the skin in the roof of my mouth was peeled all the way back. I spent 3 days in the hospital trying to get my pain under control. I should have asked to speak to the anesthesiologist to explain the condition of my mouth, which was incredibly painful in addition to my knee.
@@lindahandley5267 I’ve been one of those students when I was in the paramedic program as well as the RT program and some people are hard to intubate. You know when you see the anesthesiologist before surgery and they ask to open your mouth so they can look inside? They are looking all the way back at the uvula and the opening and it’s graded 1-4. 1 is an easier intubation and 4 is the hardest. I know that I’m a 3 so I do get nervous when they are intubating me and I pray they don’t fuck up. I’ve intubated probably about 100 when I was a medic and RT so I unfortunately know what all is involved in doing it. We even carried the same sedation and paralytics as operating rooms and now I kind of wish I didn’t know. I had general anesthesia when I had a bronchoscope in late July or early August when I was admitted for a bad pneumonia yet again and there was someone in scrubs very young looking standing by me in pre op. He was a medical student and all I could think about is that I hope he wasn’t using me as a guinea pig.
@@debrakleid5752 Yeah, I know that not everyone is easy to intubate, but dang! I imagine you WERE nervous when you saw that young person standing off to the side. So many of us ARE used as guinea pigs and never know it, but my mouth was a MESS! I pray to the dear Lord that I never need anything medical again!
Watching this has been really helpful in piecing together my memories of laparoscopic abdominal surgery I had in August 2022. I had a huge ovarian cyst and I knew going in that if it was cancer, the surgery would be quite long (5+ hours at the worst, I think) and only a couple hours if it wasn't. I very distinctly remember being brought back awake and clearly asking what time it was. I didn't know til I watched this video that I was still with my anesthesiologist at that point; he told me what time it was and I was very happy. I do not remember being taken to the recovery area at all. Our bodies are pretty amazing. And I'm really grateful to my anesthesiologist (and surgeon, and nurses, etc) for putting me at ease and making a terrifying experience less terrifying. (It wasn't cancer.)
I had a similar surgery in December, and I found out there were cancer cells in the fluid of the large ovarian cyst at my follow up appointment with the oncologist who did the surgery. I also found out that it took them 15 minutes to drain the fluid before removing it along with the ovaries and entire uterus. Those were cancer free, but as a precaution, I'm getting chemotherapy. The only thing I remember was the anesthesiologist telling me to take deep breaths before waking up in recovery. My main issue was nausea after waking up, but the nurses gave me some anti-nausea medicine in the IV. Went home later that evening.
I was one of the 'infrequent' cases. After an open appendectomy, my first memory was of the endotrachial tube being pulled out of my throat. I immediately coughed and stretched my sutures, which entirely changed my perception of what pain was. Anesthesiologist's eyes went wide and he shouted for fentanyl. Once that hit my veins everything was immediately okay. Still an experience I hope to never repeat.
Back in 2013 I stepped an IED in Afghanistan. Lost my left leg, left arm, and severely messed up my right leg (I wish it had been cut off). During one of the many, many surgeries I went through I have memory that I will never forget. I "woke up" during a surgery. I remember feeling everything, immense pain!! Being able move my eyes but not open them. Trying to move and scream but being unable to. Feeling the breathing tube in my throat and feeling like I can't breath and am choking. I knew I was in surgery and could feel everything without being able to do anything. It lasted maybe 5 to 8 seconds, but it felt like eternity! None of my doctors said anything to me about it and I never said anything about it to them. But I knew and remember that it happened. I was terrified and thought that no one would know I was "awake" and that I was going to die. Again. I know there are many variables at play with any surgery and sometimes shit happens. I was that 1/10 of 1%. It sucked and it will always stick with me, but I'm still here and able to share my experience with others so that's gotta count for something. So yeah...That's my story of "waking up" during surgery.
Army surgeons, gotta be leary of them. I wish they would have sent you to an outside specialist. No person should go through what you have personally experienced in combat and in the rear. Thank you for your service brother in arm's
@@imfloridano5448 Thank you for the kind words. But, it was that 99.999999% chance of happening , and I'm ok with that. If anything that day was changing by seconds, I might not be here right now to tell my story. Also, I couldn't be sent anywhere but where I was sent. There were no outside specialists. I was lucky enough to have my brothers around me that stayed calm and cool, and knew what to do. As well as being able to try to preform self aid to myself. On top of that, I was picked up within ten minutes by a bird and rushed to Kandahar Air Force Base, which was maybe 20-30 minutes from where we were ( by helicopter, and an hour or more driving) I was sent to the best places I could have been sent to, at the time and in the state I was. "they" couldn't risk sending me back to the states just to have me die on the 10+ hour flight back. So, to answer your question. I got sooo fucking lucky!!! Every puzzle piece fell exactly where it needed to. I can not thank everyone that helped me that day enough. I guess just keep on keepin' on, is all I can do to say thank you to them, as well as giving a giant fuck you to the POS (S) that planted the bomb in the first place. Thank you for your service and signing that dotted line of up to you life. Have a great night.
😲 I am so very sorry for you.. Sound like a very and incredibly strong man and soldier..stay that way and walk worthy..yes walk, you still walk just not physically. God Bless you Brethren.
@@kathleensullivan4547 Thank you. I'm trying to stay out of the rabbit hole. Some days are easier than others. Luckily I have an amazing wife that I don't deserve, and four crazy ass kids that always keep me on my toes. hahaha. And yes I can still walk. I gotta chase my kids somehow! Happy New Year to you and yours.
Woke up during one of my surgeries to the sound of WXPN and the doctor and nurses talking about their plans for the weekend. Sounded like a bunch of really great people. Pain, sure, but the conversation was so pleasantly distracting it wasn't an issue. When I finally asked 'should I be awake right now?' .... Well, that's all I remember.
My mom had 2 invasive surgeries, 1 of them she woke up in, she was crying. She felt it all, even though she could not move or open her eyes. Even remembered what they were talking about. They finally realized and knocked her out again. This was the 80s.
In 1988, I underwent gallbladder surgery the “old fashioned “ way. I woke up during surgery while I was cut open and being gutted like a fish. The first feeling I felt was pain so deep and so severe that I thought I had been shot. I could not move or make a sound but I heard the surgeon and his team talking to each other- it was muffled, like being under water but I DID hear them. I tried to open my eyes but they felt like they were glued closed. I was able to open them a little bit and though it was blurry, I saw my surgeon and two people beside him all in their scrubs. I got the sense that more people were there but I could not see them. It seemed to last for a very long time, and the next thing I remembered was hearing people moaning. I thought I was in Hell. It was the most invasive and terrifying experience I’ve ever had. When the surgeon came to my room the next morning, I told him but the egotistical young man said it was IMPOSSIBLE. A week later I was released and came home. A news documentary was on and the name of it was “Surgical Awareness.” It validated everything I had experienced and there were people being interviewed who had also experienced it. My next major surgery was 2 years later and I spoke with my surgeon and anesthesiologist about my horrific gallbladder surgery. They did their job as I made no new memories and the surgery was successful.
I had surgery and woke during it was very painfully I starting screaming OH SHIT HELP!!! they did nothing while they pulled the long tube going up my leg to the heart
My daughter woke up during eye surgery when she was 11. The nurse came out and told me because it doubled the time she was there. They also cautioned me she might have bruises because she'd actually been thrashing and everyone jumped on her to hold her down. I am sooooo thankful she didn't remember anything. In fact her first words to me were to ask if I would take her to Red Lobster for dinner lol was a hard no but she talked the surgeon allowing her a small swim in the pool before dinner 😀
The same thing happened to my mom when she had to get an emergency C-section for me at 7 months since we contracted e.coli, it was the worst thing she ever experienced, and I am terrified at the idea of needing a surgery one day for myself (which I know is probably inevitable).
I’ve had over a dozen surgeries, and was gutted like a fish each time. Luckily most of them went ok. I’ve had four transplants. During my second transplant, which was a multi visceral transplant of both a kidney and small intestine, I woke up. My intestines were on the table. The paralytic did not wear off, thus it took a few minutes for them to notice I was awake. I was split from my mid chest down to my privates and across my lower abdomen as well. It was a 28 hour surgery. The pain is something indescribable, and I know pain. I had a midgut volvulus and mal rotation around the mesenteric artery, cutting off the blood supply to my small bowel. Basically my entire small intestine died and turned gangrene while I was awake and it was truly hell on earth. That’s how I originally got sick. But even that, when I thought I was dying, wasn’t as bad as waking up during the double transplant. I still have ptsd from it, with constant flashbacks of that moment of waking up. There were a lot of apologies from nurses and others, but not from the doctor. The anesthesiologist never even came to speak with me. I’ve had many surgeries since and have been fine, as I’ve spoken in detail to my doctors about what happened. They now make doubly sure I’m out, as I have a very high tolerance. That was almost twenty years ago. I still have that small bowel, but later rejected the kidney I got during that awful surgery. Eleven years ago I got a second kidney, a living donor the second time; my best friend saved my life. I’ll always be grateful I’m still here and especially that I’m still here for my daughters, but I’ll never get the image, terror and pain out of my mind. I pray no one else ever experiences what I did-waking up during a transplant. I feel it will continue to terrorize me for the rest of my life.
its great you still have that same small bowel almost twenty years later! you're getting some good mileage on that baby. sorry about what it took to get it.
Amen!! I still have no one to talk to about it, my arms were tied down with boards around them because of the cameras and heart catheter they were putting in my wrist vain and I would like to add I was awake for that too. There's nothing like your brain waking up while your heart and lungs are hooked up to a machine and a tube is down your throat. I didn't feel pain for some reason after the the catheter was put in but I could feel pressure and also the spreading of my ribs. It's a very lonely world to live in when this doesn't happen to many people. I'm terrified of having future surgeries.
Have you considered doing EMDR therapy? I woke up too early once after a tonsillectomy. I didn't have the horror you did, but I couldn't breathe in or out, move, or open my eyes. It was scarey as hell! I couldn't imagine what you went through. 😰
I was totally awake during general anesthesia for a c-section about 30 years ago. I was awake at all times from the paralysis through the intubation, cutting of the skin and right through my son being removed, closing up and extubation. I was totally paralyzed unable to breath, unable to move and unable to get the attention of surgeon. So I made certain I remembered what everyone said during the surgery. I was able to tell the surgeons what they did on vacation and what the nursing staff said such as the time my son was born , his apgar scores and what my coach said about his cuteness. The anesthesiologist never apologized and just said " sometimes people wake up". I felt anxiety over being unable to breath, the sharp pain of the scalpels the tugging and pulling to get my baby out and the pain of the suture placement. I had the emergency surgery because of pre-eclampsia. My B/P was over 250/190 until my baby was pulled out then my B/P dropped down to 110/60 . Because I am a nurse, I originally thought I was hallucinating, however the pressure and the burning pain of the scalpel changed my mind. I thought about the Twilight Zone episode about the man who was paralyzed and about to get autopsied and what he did to get the doctor's attention. He cried. I couldn't cry despite my eyelids being partially open. My pain was real and lasted the whole surgery, I made memories and I was pissed off that I was treated like "awareness was no big deal". Maybe today , 30 odd years later anesthesia is better but don't dismiss those of us that went through that torture. My surgery started at 1800, my son was born at 1835 and I was extubated at 1905. I'm now 66 years old and the memories are as sharp as that scalpel was.
The feeling of not being able to breathe scared me when I woke up. My situation was quite a bit like yours, except my surgery was for gall bladder removal.
I had sections with all 3 of my kids, the first being in 79. I only had a spinal so was completely awake with all 3 of them. Just felt pressure, pulling and tugging but nothing hurt.
I have a history of waking up under anesthesia and I remember what was done during the surgery and I felt the pain along with it. Thank you, Dr.Feinstein.
I experienced recall during surgery (hysterectomy) and remember desperately trying to blink or move. It was horrifying.The doctor downplayed my reaction until she finally said “ I think she needs more medication”. Afterwards I did repeat a conversation, so it was real. The next time I had surgery, two anesthesiologists were with me. I was a staff RN at this hospital, and administered conscious sedation to patients undergoing tests, so they did believe me!!
I had that happen and my eyes were all I could move I tried my best but they never even noticed. Ever since I tell them every time to use more It was painful enough. But some of my other surgeries would have been far worse.
Me too least you the extent of trying, yet I failed very fast lol. I had joked that if this is what it’s like for those they put to death under lethal injection, hell they got it easy.
We have to count backward and forward and by about half-way back to one (the second time) I wake up in recovery where, within 30 minutes, I’m drinking a generic cola and conversing with my nurse who is convinced I’m superhuman. Woke up during 2 different surgeries. Told the anesthesiologist who worked my GB surgery, and he said he’d make absolutely certain that wouldn’t happen. Gave me massive dose of Valume before going back, and I still got myself up on the table. But, I only got halfway back up through ten before I went out, and I indeed did not wake up. I’m Autistic. I believe that has something to do with it, but I have no research to back me up on that.
I've had a successful major surgery (craniotomy) with general surgery and was quite pleased with the whole experience. But soon afterwards I had another surgery and I was awake near the end. I was not in much pain, but I could hear voices and feel the stitches being done on my eyelid and I was immediately terrified. In post-op they made a big deal about how high my heart rate was and didn't want to send me back up to my room until my heart rate decreased. The kicker was that being there in that environment was part of what had me so scared and I really just wanted to go back to my room in Neurology where I felt safe. Unfortunately, I was unable to speak clearly enough to be understood by strangers and no one would get me something to write with so I could 'talk'. The doctors were so sure they knew what the problem was and the correct way to proceed, none of them was going to take even a minute to try communicating with the patient. Frustrating, and in the end, not the best care provided to a patient☹
Thank you, in reading through all the other posts I realize that it could have been much worse. Since that time I have learned to stand up for myself, becoming my own healthcare advocate, or when necessary, asking a trusted friend to step up and provide support.
I've 52 surgeries starting from July of 2002, thru to last year. The final surgery was an amputation of my right arm bc of the 19 year battle I was in with osteomylitis, bone infections, that is very painful and can be fatal. But of the 52 operations, I never once had an anesthesiologist that I did not like. I feel they r more understanding and compassionate, towards us patients. They sometimes r more kind and caring, then some of the surgeons.
Dear Jayme, your perception about the differences between surgeons and anesthesiologists relationships with patients is not completely out of the way, but, as an anesthesiologist, I must say something on behalf of my surgical colleagues. I reckon their “colder” hearts (by comparison to ours, not on an absolute scale) as a result of a self-protective psychological mechanism. Can you figure how hard would it be to perform all the cutting and sewing and manipulate vital organs of a live person if they couldn’t put their minds a little further away from the suffering human being in front of them? We give confort to the patients we anesthetize, but also we take away from surgeons a good share of stress that otherwise could compromise their performance. At the very bottom, surgical procedures are huge aggresions and normally wired people don't feel good when harming others.
I fricking loved my anaesthetist. He was lovely and said that I was one of the funniest people he had when putting to sleep. I loved that he was there when I came around (I'm guessing that's part of his job too) but I was so confused at how different he looked without all his medical garb on and I kept telling him 🤭
@@henriquelaydner4080 Indeed, you guys do a job that in many ways is even more important than the surgeon and we applaud this! You are responsible for keeping the patient alive by continual monitoring of vital signs! Though I would state to you from personal experience; NOT all people will react the same way when given a general anaesthesia? I can only say maybe work just outside the box and deliberately look for just that one in a hundred that is not going under in the usual way. We exist and we wish we didn't react to general anaesthetic in this manner!
@@henriquelaydner4080 still they could try act more normal in a regular environment, like, my cancer surgeon almost always answered me as if I was a criminal while I tried to be friendly, in the end I was kinda afraid of makind a mistake in what I do or say cause it would be greeted by no human responce and ashamed of myself, having anxiety doesn't help with that.
I remember waking up during sinus surgery in 2018. I remember hearing voices, feeling pressure in my forehead, and remembered that I couldn't feel my body. I felt at ease though when I realized that I couldn't feel any pain. I kept telling myself that someone would realize it, and that if I could only move something, it could help. I remember being able to twitch my foot and then I woke up in the recovery room. I brought it up to the nurse and she was really shocked. The anesthesiologist came in and tried to tell me that sometimes people dream of that. Then I told her what I heard and felt, and that I remember my foot moving. She seemed caught off guard and didn't really want to talk about it. She did say that yes I appeared to be awake and that I moved my foot. She didn't say much after that. But I've had 4 surgeries since then and I make it very clear that I don't want that to happen again. The surgeon later confirmed that she was in the area of my forehead when I woke up and that it wasn't the first time that's happened.
I wake up to , I won't have surgery ever again. Most of the doctors are arrogant,and the nurse's seem to just wanna go home and not be bothered. Sense then I have know 3 nurses in my life. They are trainwrecks, personal life is mess. One was even a practicing drunk. She was a awefull human
My only bad experience with anesthesia was my sinus surgery when they induced me with propofol and I went to sleep terrified that I was going to die. Now I make sure I get the medazolam first and it's all good. I'm sure glad that I spoke up to make things easier on myself. Never be afraid to advocate for yourself.
@@ryno4ever433 Gets you slightly sedated, but more importantly lowers anxiety. Medazolam is a very effective anxiolytic with a pretty short half-life. Bad for achieving whatever sedation levels desired, but good for those who are uncomfortable with having control of their bodies essentially taken from them by a drug. It's a scary thing for a lot of people. The benzodiazepine calms you down, increases memory loss, and of course speeds up the whole process of going under. Just a little smoother, experience-wise.
My first question to anesthesiologists has always been whether or not they use a BIS monitor. Even as a nurse who has had multiple surgeries, I am still very scared of anesthesia awareness. I have my next major abdominal surgery in April, and in the past two days, the doctors that I follow on RUclips have been making videos about the subject of anesthesia awareness. Mostly, their videos have been in a funny, light-hearted manner, which I usually really like…not so much when I’m this nervous. Thank you for clarifying the BIS monitor and for showing all of the other equipment that is used to monitor depth of sleep and wakefulness. I had been told that pain (whether awake or unconscious) would cause bp to rise, and not necessarily indicate that the patient was waking up. That made me even more scared, and that’s when I started researching and found out about the BIS monitor. Normal people fear not waking up, afterward. I fear waking up, during 😂
I'd rather be aware as much as possible as a patient! I want to know what's going on and be in control as much as possible even as a patient. The idea of wanting to bee knocked out completely and losing all control is weird to me. If it was possible I'd prefer local and not general anaesthesia for all possible surgeries.
I’m very glad my mom’s anesthesiologist knew what her tiny index finger movement meant. During knee replacement she woke up. Fully aware and feeling everything. Thankfully the anesthesiologist was watching her closely and picked up the rhythmic tapping she was able to make her index finger do. Within moments he had a nurse take her hand and reassure my mom they knew and were getting her back under ASAP. The feel of that nurses hand holding hers and the sounds of the anesthesiologist hard at work were her grounding and she still remembers them vividly years later. The funny part came in recovery when she said she needed something for pain and was told that the paralytics wouldn’t wear off for hours and that she really wasn’t feeling pain. Should have seen them scramble for meds when she told them to take off the bedsheet and they saw her moving her feet and toes. She’s had many surgeries since and is labeled as high risk for waking now so they really knock her out good. Despite this experience, or maybe because of it, I have huge respect for anesthesiologists and what they do for us. Without them we wouldn’t be able to preform these operations safely, if at all. (EDIT: Later questions to my parents revealed I was mistaken in my memory of paralytics being used. Sorry for the mix up)
That’s great! I’ve awoken and remember all but one of my surgeries. I keep telling them I’m hard to knock out/keep out, but they never believe me until they try it themselves. 🤦🏻♀️
@@thehutch7728 Oh man...that sounds terrible. I don’t know if will help but maybe if it happens again request that the anesthesiologist make a note in your chart about it. Or maybe ask for a letter from him/her describing the issues and what meds were used? If you could present that letter to next one that might help a lot. Good luck!! 🤞🏻🤞🏻
Have a friend whose family commonly is very resistant to anesthesia. His sister woke during surgery and no one noticed. The paralytic kept her from letting them know until afterward. They argued with her that there was no way she was awake. They panicked when she told them what they were taking about and the music they were listening to. I guess the docs face went pale when she told him.
I recently had surgery on a torn rotator cuff. The last thing that I remember is a small mask being put on my face in the operating room and the next thing I know I am in recovery with the doctor showing me pictures of my surgery. It was a pleasant and painless experience. My thanks to the Anesthesiologist, surgeon and everyone involved.
My dad was given too low of general anesthesia for his hip replacement surgery. He never fell asleep but was paralyzed and unable to feel any sensation. He could only hear. He handled it pretty well mentally, considering the detail he provided of hearing them sawing his bones for a while. Lol
Likely had a spinal or epidural with sedation and not uncommon to have those memories. Would have been a problem if he felt the surgery. They were avoiding the risk of general anesthesia with your dad
My late husband had hip replacement in 2010 in a major regional hospital in the midwest. He told me later that he felt the pounding utilized for putting the new prosthetic hip joint in place. He didn't experience pain, per se, but "felt the pounding".
Yep...I woke during knee replacement surgery, twice, and "formed memories" of "ZZZZZ..ZZZZ" saw sounds, then "whack..whack.." of a hammer, driving the parts into the femur... Strange, it was... And, with about 10x tolerance to opioids, need to clarify that to anaesthesia folks... I had a brachial block, but "breakthrough pain", and got 1000 ug fentanyl to hold it off... like 100 mg morphine equivalent. If they don't know, it's impossible for them to titrate... The fun of knowing too much about surgery, pain, medication, procedures...
My mom woke up partly through knee replacement surgery - sedation plus nerve blocks - and wanted to stay awake and watch! Her mother and I both agreed we’d probably react the same way. But they very quickly knocked her back out.
I'm not a student nor a patient, but I find your content very interresting, you speak in clear and easy to understand terms and it helped me better understand what happened 45 years ago when I had my tonsils removed :)
Very informative! Years ago I was one of those patients that woke up in the middle of open-heart surgery. To this very day I can still recall the words of the anesthesiologist saying "she's coming out of it" and the surgeon saying " I'm not done yet, put her back under". I struggled to open my eyes thinking I might get a glimpse of my open chest, but no such luck, however I did manage to see a green drape in front of me as my eyes were somewhat taped shut... that eye tape isn't very effective obviously...lol🤣🤣. Anyway, I was put back under, the surgeon finished the procedure, and I am alive and well, doing great, thanks to that amazing cardiologist and his staff!👨⚕️👩⚕️❤👍👍😀
In 2021 during total knee replacement I woke up and felt the surgeon hammering in my new knee. I told him to take down the shield so I could watch. Someone said “ He’s awake “. I said again move the shield so I could watch. Someone said “ no you don’t want to see “ I said “yes I do”. That was the last thing I remember. I did wake up again as my knee was being wrapped up.
I’ve undergone close to 20 surgeries under general anesthesia and the more times I go under the more I find myself trying to force myself to remember as many details as possible before and/after going under. Just for fun lol. Well, I can never remember anything past “ok we are putting you to sleep” and always just remember waking up in the recovery room 🤣 This video was very interesting!
I read a story in the readers digest in the 90s of a woman who could feel the entire major surgery she was going through and I’ve never ever forgotten that story. I’ve also woken up a couple of times still intubated and it’s the most horrific thing to wake up to, it’s terrifying that you can’t breathe and then your reflexes kick in so hard that it’s brutal. I am known to require heavier anesthetics with local, and now I assume general is the same thing. Anesthesiologists don’t listen to me when I tell them that, and I wake up with the scope or tube in my throat. Probably my worst fear at this point when they think they know me best and can get away with regular amounts and then I have to say I told you so. I’ve had a renal auto transplant, 18 kidney surgeries, thyroid cancer surgery, many scopes, and many ear related surgeries and I have woken up about 10 times throughout all of those. It sucks and I wish they would chart me as a high risk so I don’t have to beg anymore.
I've been really scared for every surgery I have ever had due to the unknown of anesthetics. This video genuinely helped me calm down and not be so worried anymore. Thank you!
I’m having a laparoscopic bariatric procedure in a couple of months. Terrified of waking up during surgery so I’m doing some research and found your videos. All I can say is I hope my anesthesiologist is as talented as you are. Thanks so much for these fantastic explanations Doc!
I'm sure you'll have an excellent anesthetic experience, and your anesthesiologist will have more years of training under their belt than I do (since I'm just a 2nd year resident, and your anesthesiologist will have already completed residency and be board certified. Best wishes!
This is one of my fears because I have woken up during surgery and let me tell ya. The pain is ... Horrible! Thank God they noticed and put me back to sleep. But, they had the audacity to ask me weird questions about if I remember if I woke up! So, having to have surgery again to have a tumor removed I'm freaking out because I don't want to go through that again.
I had that happen too but jt was a couple times during the same procedure. I remember seeing them move around and I said made a groan noise and then I fell back asleep. I woke up again and I remember them asking, "is she awake?" And then I fell asleep again and when I woke up next I was in the wake up room. I now fear when I have go have a big procedure, like tmrw, that I will make up in the middle. I hope I do not
@@god4346 it went decently and thank goodness I never woke up~ It was a bit rough going in and coming out when it was done (the wake up room) but that was just due to being tired/hungry/in pain from other things and I was just overstimulated. The people caring for me were so soooo sweet and tried to talk with me to help distract me, but I was a bit panicky and whiny so I think they got it started right away 😭😭🤦♀️🤣 overall it was fine, speedy, and I barely even had a sore throat. Just a big baby. Thank you for checking up on me~ you're very very kind 🥰
This is not related to the subject of general anesthesia, I'm speaking of local, a nerve block.. I had carpal tunnel release surgery.. to distract myself from the talking, noises ( sounded like they were separating silverware) I kept making a rhythmic sound of " uh, uh, uh" The anesthesiologist kept asking, " are you feeling pain".. I'm sure I drove him crazy.
@@MaxFeinsteinMD Yep great field to be in and what the patient considers soooo important. One of the biggest fears for people is that they are not fully sedated. No one wants to sign up for torture with the fear that they cannot ask for help Nightmare stuff Luckily because of great training and dedication from anaesthetists it’s rare
Years ago I had a 3hour finger reconstruction surgery, and during the surgery I started to hear my doctor telling jokes, but they must have bumped up the aesthetic before I could hear the punch line. The next day I asked him what the punch line was to the joke, he went ghostly white and said that was halfway through the operation and there was no way i could know that, and he walked out. Thankfully I couldn't feel anything but I never did find out the punch line.
My worst experience was when I had tubal ligation surgery and I woke up with a tube in my throat, on the stretcher heading to recovery. Since then I found out that I have the mcr-1 gene. I make sure to let the anesthesiologist know so they can adjust my anesthetics accordingly.
When I had my Tubal when I was being brought up something happened. Idk what I felt I was drowning felt I was going to die next I woke up and coughing a ton .. how do you get this test and from who
I woke up during my C-section! My doc didn't believe me until I recounted his conversation about his recent vacation to London. He turned white and almost passed out. It was a ripping tearing searing pain. Then I heard my daughter cry and him say Viable female. Then the anesthesiologist screaming She's waking up! Then I was out.
@@missmaam3765 you’re clearly spouting bullshit given that 0.1% of patients regain awareness during operations. Take a break off social media, it’s polluting your brain.
Just shows how reckless doctor are when they don't know patients aren't listening. 90,000 Americans die due to medical 'accidents' in US hospitals annually due to the medical system's incompetence.
When my wife was young (5 years old) she was undergoing an abdominal surgery that had never been performed on a pediatric patient. (This was 1971) Her condition had left her quite ill and impacted her development. Due to her weakened state and small size, when the surgery went much longer than anticipated the anesthesiologist was insistent that she could not tolerate general anesthesia any longer so she was awakened for the last part of the surgery. They had given her an epidural so she didn't feel anything but they provided a mirror so she could see and talked through everything with her as they closed her up. The anesthesiologist was her lifeline during that and she is forever grateful. Even though she was so young, the clear and honest communication made the experience fascinating rather than terrifying for her. Anesthesiologists are the angels of the OR.
I woke up during my appendectomy and still had the tube down my throat. I remember fighting them because I was choking and then I guess they knocked me back out. I’ve had several other surgeries and thank goodness that has not happened again. I now wake up in recovery with a nurse monitoring me.
In my eternal wanderings through RUclips, I have just discovered this highly informative series about anesthesiology. Thank you, Dr. Feinstein. You're doing a wonderful job with these reports! Here's wishing you well!
After my recent cervical spine fusions, I had a problem waking up. I was out for over 8 hrs and was sent to ICU. My family said my surgeon was distressed and angry at the anesthesiologist who tried to blame me saying I must have overdosed before surgery which everyone knew was not true. At one point my surgeon tried that painful knuckle to the sternum. I opened my eyes and he said stay awake, don’t shut your eyes and I was gone again. OD meds didn’t work. Finally I just woke up and asked for pain meds and was refused any so that I could stay awake. It was not a bad experience for me because I knew nothing but my loved ones were very frightened.
I need spinal surgery as well and having this happen (along with being awake during surgery) is one of my worst fears. I think age plays a role. I'm in my 60's and have never been put under before. I have a parent who had the same thing happen. They had several surgeries over the years and ended up with dementia. I think these drugs played a role.
I woke up during knee replacement when a piece of metal was being pounded up into my legbone. I said, “hey doc, you have a very loud and jarring hammer there.” He laughed and nodded to someone . I said, “bye for now” and woke up in recovery.
I woke up during a knee scope, I just looked at the anesthesiologist and nodded and he said nap time...lol It was a Navy Dr so maybe he wanted to mess with a Marine. Had a spinal done so I didn't feel anything, so no harm no foul.
Awesome, I had a hemorrhoidectomy procedure that stretches my rectum to an ungodly diameter with a device that I nicknamed Shaquille O'Neal for obvious reasons. I am so glad I never woke up during that phase of the procedure.
When my sister had surgery to tie her tubes she remembers becoming aware in the middle of the surgery and felt horrendous searing pain until they upped her anesthesia dose, she can still remember it.
I woke up during my tubal as well. No pain, just a tugging sensation. I remember being pissed I couldn’t see anything because of the blue drape. I looked for the mirror that was there during my delivery but it was gone. After my disappointment, I just relaxed and passed back out.
Woke up during colonoscopy, looked around surgical room and then spotted monitor showing Dr. moving scope thru my colon. Then glanced over to nurse as she was labeling specimen #2 as she called it. Then they noticed me looking around and told him to put me back under. It was painful when I came to during procedure and then the anesthesiologist had a nasty attitude towards me right after I came to
As someone who was blessed to have had a wonderfully successful 4.5 hr. spinal surgery in 2021, I was very thankful for all of my care including my anesthesia! I remember thinking how tiny the OR looked to me, counting backward, and then NOTHING until I was out of recovery & out of post op! I 1st remember waking up back in my room!
I was an Operating Room Nurse for 32 years. You do a superb job relating this to the layperson who may know nothing about the anesthesia process. When I had my own colonoscopy, I was out cold, remembered nothing, and felt no pain - perfect.
I was having oral surgery (bone grafts to prepare an implant) and woke up while he was still in progress. I believe it was deep sedation. I didn't feel any pain, but I was looking at the inside of a drape over my face. I didn't dare move and mess up the surgery. I started tapping my fingers, figuring they might not know I was awake. He said something about awake, and then I was home before I remember anything else. I asked at my next appointment if I had imagined it, and he confirmed it happened as I thought.
Omg, I woke up getting my wisdom teeth out. It was 10 years ago, so I remembered it more vividly then. But I don’t remember going under, but in a second after the nurse told me to count backwards, I was like “Oh, the doctor’s here, haven’t seen him yet.” Then I realized they were all masked up. Then I looked down and saw the equipment coming out of my mouth, and was like “oh sh*t.” I didn’t feel pain until I saw the equipment, but it was deep dull pain. And I think the reason it was so painful after the procedure on that side is because I had seen it. Because the other side never hurt as much, but had the same procedure. I remembered feeling confused because I thought the agreement was to put me asleep, but now they were doing the operation awake. And I had friends who chose to do wisdom teeth awake with laughing gas, so I was starting to panic thinking this was a mistake. I never tried to move and probably couldn’t if I wanted to. But then I saw a nurse look down and make eye contact with me and motioned to the doctor. Then she immediately disappeared away (I assume to crank up the drugs). I figured I wasn’t supposed to wake up and they gave me a ton more drugs when they saw because then I woke up way after my scheduled time. They were waking me up to get me out of the room because they needed it. Lol. And then I immediately conked out for 30 more minutes in the recovery room. So I was out like an hour longer than I was supposed to.
Same thing happened to me. I woke up while they were putting in one of my dental implants. I didn't feel anything. But I was surprised to see he was basically putting in the implant with a ratchet.
Had wisdom teeth pulled, couldn't see anything but could 100% feel the dental drill, no pain though just felt the vibrations from the drill, the heard the surgeons talking too.
Dr. Feinstein, of all the videos you’ve put out so far, I think this was one of the most informative ones 💯 The educator in you is really shinning. Further, it’s clear to see that any patient in your care, is getting a very disciplined anesthesia provider in you 🤙🏾 Keep these videos coming 🙏🏾
A friend of mine woke up during liposuction. Not "twilight sedation", but full on general anesthesia. Fortunatel, she didn't seem to feel any pain, but later on the nurses told her that she was flirting with the doctor, and telling naughty jokes. Apparently she was hilarious, and it was like having stand up comedy in the operating theater. 😂
That's funny... I had gallbladder surgery a few years ago and I must have done the same thing because the nurse told me I called the surgeon "Dr. Cutie", and he came to my room to check on me the next morning and brought me a cup of coffee and gave me his business card....LOL
F....... 😂 I'm undergoing lipo next week with a full general anesthesia and I'm scared to point of waking up god I wish I won't wake up during surgery and go flirt with the doctor hahahaha 😂
I was having a tumor removed in 2002 and during the surgery I clearly remember of being aware enough to hear the OR team talking about SUVs. Then I started having some pain. I was able to groan a little bit and the anesthesiologist patted my arm and told me he would administer more drugs.
My first surgery ever was a clavicle rebuild. They wheeled me into the OR and I lifted myself on to the table while nervously talking while they put the mask on and started administering meds in my iv. I woke up to the surgeon searching for additional bone fragments I had floating around. I watched him go wide eyed in a panic as I started to cry due to anxiety/fear, and discomfort. Heard someone curse before they promised to make me not hurt and that I was doing a great job. Next I was waking in recovery in pain to discover a pain medication allergy that I never knew of so I caused multiple panics. My next surgery that took place, yeeaaahh they went hardcore on meds before they even started heading in the direction of the OR. PLUS as added precaution they administered a nerve block beforehand to boot. It definitely wasn’t the way I expected my first ever surgery in life but I am super thankful for the anesthesiologists that put in extra effort to ensure that never reoccurs.
I had an ICU rotation at a major hospital in the midwest. From what I heard from a preceptor, patients being aware happens a lot more than we think. So during the surgery, you may be conscious of whats going on. However, patients do not retain these memories. All I know is that has to be the most horrible thing, to be aware but unable to communicate with your providers of what you are experiencing. Absolutely no one should have to go thru that.
@@sgleaso A c-section usually does not require general anesthesia that knocks you out. You will be fully aware and only pain is blocked, like a local anesthesia. They inject a drug near your spinal cord from your back to block pain at and below that level, but your motor functions largely remain, and anything above that level stay fully functional.
@@sgleaso Then it looks like a botched general anesthesia to me. Sorry to hear that, can't imagine what pain you'd been through being cut open without working pain management.
Some people, including myself, wake up while under and do remember. Vividly, and yes it is an unpleasant experience to say the absolute least. I was a teenager and way too out of it to communicate what had happened to the nurses afterwards. I imagine that's not an uncommon scenario.
In 1995, I "woke up" screaming out in pain as they cut open my abdomen during a "bad" inguinal hernia surgery (am a natural red head also with asthma, sleep apnea, IBS/ IBD, and now diabetes, who drank and smoked Cannabis occasionally), and they had to give me significantly more anesthesia (which ultimately caused my heart and breathing to stop, even though it was ventilator assisted). They had to use defibrillator paddles to resuscitate my heart (among other assistive/ restorative medical interventions). They then finished the surgery and did a pretty good job considering the stress level. But once in the RR after waking up, I have never felt pain like that in my life (in my brain), and I felt like I was close to being brain dead from lack of Oxygen (only seconds likely). In any event, surgery and anesthesia should be avoided at all costs (unless absolutely necessary) and can be obviously stressful for patient, anesthesiologist, and surgeon/ nurses alike.
Glad you enjoyed! As I med student, I received very little exposure to anesthesia so one of my main goals with these videos is to help med students get a sense of what we do. Happy studying.
@@musman9853 I had surgery a couple weeks ago and when they put the mask on me and told me to breathe in I was asking if I breathe through my mouth or my nose I was so terrified. 😂so I was doing both. I remember feeling like I was slowly going deaf getting scared and the anastesioligist telling me it didn't matter mouth or nose breathing but he never answered why I felt like I was going deaf and then I just woke up in recovery. Thanks for all your studying!!! I feel like they should be paying you to go to medical school!!
I'm not afraid of waking up, but I am afraid of being sick when I wake up. My mother, myself and my daughter, all experience extreme nausea when waking from surgery. For my last surgery, when the anesthesiologist spoke with me before the surgery, I mentioned that I would love to wake from surgery without feeling horrible. It was like magic, he made some adjustment and I woke up feeling normal. When my mother had a surgery, I mentioned the same thing to her anesthesiologist and viola! she woke up feeling fine too. It was like a miracle!
This is something I am actually really scared of too, I haven’t had a surgery yet at 23 years old but my dad has had a lot of them, and is very sick every time. I have emetophobia and when I was in the recovery room with him when he has a neck surgery some years back, I fled out of the room having a panic attack and the nurses in the hallway looked confused at me. I came back after 15 mins or so and he was not vomiting anymore but was in the process of getting anti-emetics. If I am conscious when I am going into surgery one day, I want to make a point of saying I am terrified of that happening to me (along with not being put out during surgery, which happened to my mom when having an emergency c section for me, so the idea of surgeries at all are literally anxiety attack inducing). I should bring this up with my therapist
@@L1ttlef0ot Ya, what I have been seeing, they can mix up the right stuff for anxiety or what not , just let em know prior so they can do a touch of research on the mix.
There is a very real phenomenon whereby people under a general anaesthtic become conscious, able to feel the scapel, hear the voices of doctors, yet are completely paralysed. Happened to me and I remembered every moment, traumatised for months.
Was an OR nurse for 35 years and saw thousands of patients receiving general anesthesia. This video is accurate and consistent with I witnessed over the years.
Ugh I went in for an emergency "old fashioned" appendectomy 12 years ago. I woke up. I knew there was tape on my eyes and something was in my throat. I felt an insane pain and tried to scream but then the next thing I knew, I was waking up in recovery. Horrible. Thankfully two subsequent surgeries went without such issues. Still freaks me out today.
Thank you for this presentation. I have been a science nerd my whole life and have worked in a large hospital for over twenty years. The medical field has fed my curiosity very well for all these years. On a side note I had a bad experience years ago where I woke up, sat up and and pulled out my endotracheal tube and had a lot of blood coming out of my throat. I was darn sure making memories. Oddly the nurse anesthetist had just stepped away for a moment. One of the surgery techs called me by name (we were friends) and told me I could not do that. Someone put a mask on my face and it was lights out. Oddly, I still had pain control. I felt absolutely nothing.
You should react to Med School Insider's "So You Want to Be an Anesthesiologist?" It would be interesting to see how accurate their video was from the perspective of an actual anesthesiologist.
@@MaxFeinsteinMD Also if you can touch on the stressors of the job? I heard there is a higher burnout rate among anesthesiologists compared to other specialties.
@@BoogieDownProduction in my training and journey I heard over and over and over that anesthesia is 95% “complete boredom” and 5% “sheer terror”. Lol I can see how something like that could be possible. Very much depends also on where you work (ie outpatient off-site surgery center with a 9-5ish schedule, vs being on a heavy call schedule level 1 trauma hospital with a lot more complex patients and likely (at times) very stressed out surgeons). All that info and experience took me down a different career path... but it’s definitely personal preference and once trained and in the field, you can tailor your job/career choices to what you most enjoy as well as lifestyle etc. it’s a lot of work during your training but it should be lol!
I woke up during a procedure. I had tubes in my mouth but was able so say "Hurt" "hurt". The doctors eye got so big and he yelled at he nurse to put me back to sleep. Hope I never have to do that again.
I've never considered this specialty until watching your videos. You're a great teacher! I had an Endoscopy and I was terrified until it was over and I had the best nap of my life. I wish I saw this video prior, I'd be more calm.. Also, my Mom said during her c-section (about 30 yrs ago), she woke up and felt everything! They eventually noticed and "knocked her back out". She still has anxiety and speaks about it often, especially when watching Medical shows that show surgery.
Thanks for watching, and I appreciate the nice feedback! Your mom's experience sounds really scary, and this isn't helpful to her, but anesthesia has progressed a long way in 30 years.
@@MaxFeinsteinMD You're welcome! Knowing that is extremely comforting to hear. I look forward to learning a lot more from you. Good luck in your career, I wish you the best!
It's true! Happened to me twice! I'm still upset about the first time having to watch the surgeon hammer and chisel my broken facial bones but I couldn't move or speak. Absolute horror and I'm still afraid many years later to get two major surgeries I need now. Thanks a lot! 😡
I remember "coming to" during my wisdom teeth remvoal surgery when I was in my teens. I was put out for the procedure via IV. I was not feeling pain, but pressure from my jaw being held open with the equipement, and I couldn't move even if I wanted to. I remember my vision and hearing coming clearer by the second. I remember I first looked down towards my feet, and then straight into the surgeon's face. To which he immediately exclaimed, "She's coming to! Put her out fast!" I was out again what felt like a second or two later.
My biggest fear is that it will happen to me again. Every time I've been put under something similar has happened to that and I am terrified to get those teeth out of my mouth. Horrifying. Still want those things out of my mouth as fast as possible
Exact same thing happened to me, I only later found out I had red hair and thus the MC1R gene mutation (my head hair was dirty blond, strawberry blond at best, and I'd never grown out my facial hair, which is very red)
I prefer to have just novacain with tooth extractions. I have to admit the oral surgeons and assistants think I'm crazy. Takes some explaining to talk them into it. I could only have it done during my 3 hr break driving a school bus. And even if I took the time off there was no one to take me to and from. Even had a gum graft that way. But going back and driving I couldn't talk. Loved my kids but they are kids. I wrote out my message and had one of my really good kids come read it off into the microphone. Those kids were so good to me. And most wanted to see the stitches lol They all got treats the next week.
In the 70’s the doctors started surgery while I was awake but already paralyzed. Left me very phobic about medical settings. I think they used sodium pentathol? Years later, 1990’s, had hernia surgery, given my history doctor said they would do light sedation along with local anesthesia. I think they used versed and valium. Did not work at all! I seemed to be completely immune, even at the maximum dose. The local did not work all that well either… was very painful. BUT, I did not find the experience to be a bad one. Pain I can take. It was no worse than a bad migraine. It was being paralyzed that was so scary. I had a good discussion with the doctor and nurses about all sorts of things, and the doctor gave me the unused outer part of my hernia patch. In the 2010’s learned that Propofol knocks me right out, yay. Finally I am a normal patient. :-)
I woke up during surgery on my two badly broken legs, when my left leg was WIDE open and having titanium plates installed. They had to hold me down because I was franticly trying to figure out what was happening. It was about 3 years ago, and I remember every second like it was yesterday. It was HORRIFYING.
My grandma has memories from during a surgery. My mom once woke up during one of her surgeries. I've woken up immediately after my surgeries. We're quite the family.
My family does, too. Both surgeries I've had, I woke up while they were still sewing me up. It is almost like my body is telling my mind they are finished enough for me to get outta there! Gotta love neuro conditions mixed with being resistant to staying under!
I've only been under general anesthesia once. When I was wheeled back to the operating room and transferred to the table, they put the mask on me and told me to count backwards from 100. I started to but got bored and started talking to the guy about living out in the country and I could hear somebody counting the instruments across the room. Then they come over and asked "is that really on? What's wrong with her?" We talked for a couple more mins then it seemed like I blinked and woke up on the operating table again right after they finished. I started grabbing my stomach asking if it was done yet, of course I got yelled at and told not to do that but then I never went back to sleep until I got home hours later. I had a second procedure a month later under local anesthesia and felt everything, I cried the whole time and just tried to stare at the ceiling so I could concentrate and stay still. I didn't tell my doctor until afterwards that I remembered conversations from the first operating room and that I felt everything the second time. His face was pure shock. But I wasn't surprised, I have to take enough sleep medicine every night to knock out a horse. I think more needs to be looked into for people with very high tolerances.
Hi, so actually everyone thinks we put people to sleep with our gas (sevoflurane, isoflurane, desflurane) but actually we usually don't (we do this for kids or people who don't have an IV), we just use the gas to keep you asleep (for most procedures, we can also do a TIVA if needed). Actually you go to sleep thru your IV. When the mask is placed on you it's just oxygen so we can remove all the nitrogen from your lungs so we can make the most of the time before we intubate. Propofol (sometimes etomidate) is used to put you to sleep, you're usually given fentanyl or esmolol too to blunt sympathetic responses to laryngoscopy, and you are also paralyzed (usually rocuronium or some other paralytic). Before you get to the operating room we drug you with versed/midazolam, which is kind of like super strong xanax. Some people feel it, others don't (depends on your social life and biology) but it helps calm you down and also has some retroactive amnesia so you forget going into the OR. Again you're probably young so it didn't hit you so hard! As for local, yes that can happen, the thing about local is it takes time. So for small procedures surgeons will inject and just cut, if anesthesiologists/CAAs/CRNAs do a block or local they do a better job and it works better since its our specialty! But yes even for generals different people have different tolerances. We measure gas with levels called a MAC. Its like the ED50 for the various gases we use. There are a variety of factors that are involved based on how much we give to people, and it can also be measured with a BIS (the sticker he had on in the beginning of the video).
I haven’t gone under GA but have had a few eye procedures done under local anesthesia. I feel you on the pain/uncomfortable bit. I’m highly sensitive too and would communicate it to the surgeon that I am feeling the pain or highly uncomfortable at which point they increase the blocks they put on to your body. Keep them informed and don’t be internalizing that pain! Can be traumatizing 🙈
I have fully woken up during surgery 4 times. From the comments, this is a common occurrence. Every time was painful and/or traumatic. Each time I was fully awake and aware, and definitely making new memories. I now require Valium with my Propofol drip. I now understand why some people refuse life saving surgery. I really wish you'd talk more about this problem, instead of sweeping it under the rug, like our traumatic experiences don't matter. We are patients too. We deserve better than to be dismissed.
I had ankle replacement surgery where I could recall most everything . I had no pain, couldn’t move, but I could hear all kinds of things, and time passed very slowly. I could hear the nurses respond to doctors, and hear the doctors asking for instruments. Frankly, it was horrifying. I always mention this when facing surgery again, as I have at least twice since.
As someone who "woke up" during both my tonsils and wisdom teeth surgeries, this was quite interesting. Luckily, I felt no pain either time. I do remember the dentist tugging in my mouth before he noticed that I was "awake". Oddly enough, I have a hard time "coming out of it" once the procedure is over. The body is weird.
I was a patient once there! I love this hospital!! Thanks so much for this, I have major surgery coming up & you made me feel better knowing I'll be well cared for.
I came to while getting a hip replacement. I could open my eyes and saw the nurses putting warming blankets on me. They were saying that my temperature was up to 94 degrees. I remember asking them 94 ! Then I ask them if I was dieing. I saw lights in the operating room and other people. No one answered me. Then I woke up. I felt like crap! Found out next day I had lost 2 units of blood! They didn't understand. I thought I maybe I dreamed it. Then I got a bill with the warming blankets included. I knew then I was not dreaming. I kept having flashbacks of this, I had to get on the side of the rode one time. It was very traumatic! It changed me permanently.
I had read every account of walking up during surgery and was convinced it was going to happen to me. Stories about being awake but totally paralyzed had me terrified. It couldn’t have been further from reality. Yes, a little sickness from the anesthesia and sore from the surgery, but nothing I had imagined. This isn’t the 1800s anymore
I'm happy to say that I had two lumpectomies two weeks apart last summer and my anesthesiologists were fantastic. I asked for and received anti nausea meds ahead of time, and I felt great after. I had two great "naps".
As retired RN in the EP lab I used to administer moderate sedation and circulate during general anesthesia. During moderate sedation cases patients were often semi-aware, however I was able to produce retrograde amnesia in almost every case. EP cases can sometimes take many hours and general anesthesia is generally preferred for safety and control. In my two plus decades in this arena I cannot remember a single patient who reported awareness during general anesthesia. We always used a local for incision and puncture procedures. As you mention, we always used a combination of anesthetic agents plus narcotics and other analgesics. Good communication between the surgeon and anesthesiologist allowed us to prepare for potentially painful portions of the procedure by administering narcotics and making sure the patient is quite deep. It is fairly easy to tell when a patient lightens enough to potentially emerge and immediately address this. We definitely avoided personal discussions about any patient during procedures.
Just want to mention people who have near death experiences have proven so by mentioning the conversation in the OR. I can't imagine it happens very often. I'm sure you would know something about that
Aw, you wish it was just a pinky moving! Man, I rolled over and started trying to rock myself back to sleep right in the middle of the procedure (it's my standard response to pain). I still remember how the tube sticking into my abdomen felt when I rolled over, pulling on it, and all the doctors and the operating room became chaos as they screamed at me not to open my eyes (and to stop moving while they tried to restrain me from actually moving). When I woke up in the recovery area asking if I could open my eyes yet, the surgeon was at my bedside with a gaggle of others asking me questions about what I remembered. I told them, and they looked less than happy. Apparently, it's possible to go from being totally under to being fairly awake in a very short period of time (though they suspected it was related to my unusual neurology and the chronic pain condition I've had from birth).
I've been under general anesthesia three times in my life and I've woke up each time. The first time I could hear everything happening and started looking around, I felt someone tap my shoulder and say "take a big deep breath" and then I was out until it was over. Next time I woke up during surgery to remove a tumor in my neck, I looked around and tried to talk, I heard someone say "let's give her more (medication) before we continue". Last time I woke up during surgery was when the fire alarm was going off in the hospital! They were discussing if the evacuation applied to the OR, and what to do next. I heard a person say the OR was fireproof and we should just continue. I went back under after that. In recovery I asked if the fire alarm was going off earlier. They said yes but I should have no memory of that! If I ever need surgery again i'm just going to ask if I can stay awake for it.
My grandpa woke up during his open heart surgery and they imeditly knocked him back out and later when he mentioned it they just told him he was dreaming and put it off as nothing. He was scared for life because of it. He really woke up. And he felt pain the moment he was awake to. Everyone in my family has a super high tolerance to any kind of medication why not anesthesia
I was wide awake during my colonoscopy. It was agonisingly painful, and remember everything. They gave me extra anaesthesia, and said they'd maxed the amount they could give me. It was horrific.
Same here! I was awake during the whole procedure and it was excruciating. They gave me fentanyl after I screamed "stop!". I have refused to go back for more....
I woke up during during two different procedures..One was a cystacyl and sling the other was a colonoscoy where he flipped a volulus I had in the lower left gut. Both time the anesthesiologist had tough time getting me back under..the drs doing procedures in both cases just kept talking me through it. I did feel some pain too with both of them but I remeber both procedures very well. Years later I found out I have Ehlers Danlos Syndrome and now that's all I need to tell the anesthesiologist (well that and I have the history of waking up) and I've never had another problem and I've had a lot of surgeries.
I had my knee replaced last year and had an epidural and complete sedation. I woke up mid surgery, was awake for several minutes, and finally told them I was awake. I wasn’t happy as clearly nobody was paying attention. They put me back under.
Elaine Matthys , I woke up during my first knee replacement, remember hearing sounds like a construction site ( banging sounds, like a hammer ! ) I stated " what the hell are they doing rebuilding the twin towers "
Thank you so much for this video, Dr. Feinstein. I already knew a little about anesthesia. This video connected the dots, so to speak. I'm just a patient, but I do my best to know as much as I can about my conditions, and the medications and procedures that are used to treat them. I think my physicians and surgeons deserve intelligent conversation. In the "me, too" department, I had minimal sedation for a kyphoplasty. During the procedure, I remember joking around with one of the nurses, but I have no idea what either of us said. I'm pretty sure midazolam was on the menu. Not sure about propofol, although I had it for a different procedure. Thanks again. You're an excellent teacher.
My wife had surgery under general anesthesia and remembers a few things.. severe pain and hearing the doctor saying. "She's waking up".. and the commotion about this. Obviously she formed these memories to speak of it later and now has a miserable memory and dread of ever repeating the whole thing one day. Kind of a horror actually. I don't know what chemical she was administered.
Maybe it was a new drug and the dosage was wrong. If not, patients' medical notes should probably highlight 'unusual tolerance' or something to help get the dose right next time. Agree, stuff of nightmares.
I just posted about this above in another video about “lonely people under anesthesia?” I wasn’t lonely, but I DID regain conciousness while under general for major abdominal surgery. When I mentioned what happened, the doc chuckled until I repeated a verbatim conversation he had during the surgery about a new car he had just purchased, which I could not have possibly known! Plus I repeated the OR conversation back to him. He quickly left to talk with the Anesthesiologist, and all my follow-up spots were with his interns. No matter what they say, it DOES happen!
My precious grandma woke up during her exploratory abdominal surgery 8 years ago. She now has PTSD and short term memory loss. What happened was the anesthesiologist left the OR and the surgeon didn’t even know until after. the Anastasia dr said “it just happenes sometimes” then walks out the room. The surgeon had a better vibe and was crying to my grandma after. My grandma woke up and said she could her all the comments being said, or different names of tools requested from the surgeon. She woke up thinking the surgery was over when she was in the middle of it
I wish I’d found your channel before my kidney surgery. I was very worried about anesthesia before going in. You covered a broad range of technical detail in a way that lay people could understand. 👍
Woke up in surgery to reverse a colostomy. I heard what the Drs were saying to each other, could feel them touching my stomach but felt no pain. The worst part was when I realized I couldn't take a breath and was completely paralyzed so in my mind I didn't know how I was going to tell them that I was awake! They must've realized pretty quickly because it didn't last too long, thank God. It was the most terrifying thing that's ever happened to me!
I have anesthesia intolerance and have actually worked up to surgery. I also have resistance to other things like opiates and analgesics like lidocaine. i felt a lot of pain and remember heating the doctors talking and then I fell back asleep. after I woke up, they did confirm this "minor complications" as the surgeon said lol. had no clue why until I learned years later I had a genetic condition linked to anesthesia intolerance!
I am a Chronic Pain Patient and extremely tolerant to anesthesia. Once during internal surgery i woke up (to an extent) while they were inside my body with me completely opened up. I could hear everything they were saying, and the lights were very bright, but I could not open my eyes, or speak. I felt absolutely no pain, but I found the situation odd to say the least. I managed to flap my arms somewhat, and they freaked. I remember them saying, We understand! We understand! They put me under then. Since I felt no pain and was stoned out of my mind, I found it quite amusing.
There's certainly no feeling like the 'milk' going in your arm and then it's lights out!
Apparently when I was having a surgical abortion under moderate sedation I managed to stay conscious but thought the whole thing was absolutely hysterical, and decided to narrate it like I was in a medical drama. I remember absolutely nothing, but the nurses said it was the highlight of their year.
@@biosparkles9442 Yeah, the whole thing sounds absolutely hilarious. Not.
@@lindahandley5267 I mean, apparently I thought I was pretty funny.
@@biosparkles9442 pfft that’s hilarious, I know several people that would probably do that. Do you have any quotes or vague idea of what you said?
I had bunion surgery on both my big toes. While they were still working on my I heard them talking about Christmas shopping, since it was Christmas time. I joined in the conversation talking about a gift I was having trouble finding for my granddaughter, they were quiet then I went out again. I felt no pain nor did I have any negative feelings, I was just happy joining the conversation
I love this
When I first read your comment, I thought you said that you'd had 'brain' surgery on both of your big toes! 🤣 I need both of my bunions fixed but just can't get up the nerve. I've had them for so long that I guess I'll keep them. Was the recovery hard and painful?
During bunion surgery, they usually give you a block and heavy sedation. Not General Anesthesia, So you would be somewhat aware, of what's going on.
Spunkygma happy I also had that surgery both feet at the same time omg it was so painful recovering,,but it was worth it,,my feet are doing very well
How ironic. Same! I was having bunion surgery, and woke up to my surgeon tapping his instrument on my foot. No pain, just the pressure and sound. I vocalized and quickly was put under. My anesthesia was not a general, but a spinal with sedation (same as I had for three joint replacements with the same doc). I wasn’t afraid or angry, just an interesting story.
I remember my wake up test during my cervical spine surgery. I had complications and they needed me to move my arms & legs. I had a tube down my throat. It felt so weird to not have to breathe out of my mouth, I could feel the air pass into my lungs. The Doctor’s authority in his voice kept me calm, he explained what was happening and that I was ok, I felt ZERO pain. Then they said I was going back to sleep and they’d see me soon. It was really no big deal and kinda neat .
I had a really long shoulder surgery, and I remember them waking me up after surgery was complete while the ET tube was still in. Once I responded a little, they pulled the tube out. It was wierd.
@@shadypark78 OMG , would not like that at all. I had shoulder surgery also and thank God that didn't happen.
That’s because yours was planned
@@debbiekonkin5768 well put, they absolutely are.
I’m so glad I don’t recall this happening with my cervical spine surgery. Lol. I’m a nurse, and although I have a long list of uneventful surgeries (🙏🏻), anesthesia awareness is still one of my biggest fears. Thankful you didn’t feel pain, and that you had such a great surgeon & anesthesiologist caring for you.
I was most afraid of the anesthesia before my surgery last August; I'd never been under general anesthesia before, and of course one hears horror stories. I met the anesthesiologist before surgery, and he was so nice and calm that I felt like I was in good hands. Everything went fine. I remember breathing in the gas and everything going fuzzy, and then waking up in the recovery room with my chest on fire and a nurse ordering pain medication for me because I was moaning like a zombie.
X'D ahh the way you chose to describe the last part was quite hilarious, though I'm very sorry you were pained!
Yes, this is how the vast majority of procedures go. I hope people aren’t scared away from medical help by less common negative experiences that do happen unfortunately
I have been put to sleep 5 different times for surgeries not counting twice for GI tests and another time to have my molars 🦷 removed. I’m still here to talk about it. I’m scared to death to fly on a airplane and at the age of 45 I have no intention to. But, general anesthesia no problem. If I had flown on a airplane since I was a child I’m sure I wouldn’t be afraid to fly. I had my first surgery when I was 9. Ps I have never heard of a anesthesiologist given gas at this day and age. I had gas when I was 9 as a child in the 1980’s. They usually put medicine through your iv line now.
I've flown seven times on a europe round trip after being afraif all my life and now next year I am studying aerospace engineering-I loved it. And I was put to sleep only once and it was far scarier
@@rosealexander9007 Actually they do both. You get the gas until you get to sleep, before they put the tube down your throat to breathe for you, although you don't remember it a lot of the time. They put the mask over your face and tell you it's just a gas and oxygen combination. Then give you Versed and usually Propofol in your IV to make you forget the surgery and surrounding fear of going under the knife. I've had 21 major surgeries where I've been put to sleep, and another coming next week. Also woken up during back surgery and 2 others. They have always followed this procedure in every OR I've been in. May be different in different countries, but that's how they do it in the USA
I remember when I had my surgery years ago, my first and only thus far, my biggest fear was awareness during my surgery. I looked at my anesthesiologist, and I told her as such. I must have looked really frightened and concerned, because she got such a compassionate look on her face, and smiled at my reassuringly. She said "Oh, honey, I promise that won't happen." It didn't. I wasn't aware of a thing. The first thing I remember was being on an elevator, being taken up to a room. She made me feel so much better.
That's so nice !
and in 2022
Pfizer data listed vaccine injuries including:
Cardiac diseases.
Hematological conditions.
Renal conditions.
Autoimmune disorders.
Neurological conditions.
That is a good result. Thank you!
Thanks for sharing. I want to add if you voice your concern to the Anesthesiologist upon meeting them, they will make note of it and closely monitor your vitals to be sure to keep you under and comfortable. Also they will give you a lil extra "relaxation" medicine before going to the operating room and being put under anesthesia.
I’ve had 4 surgeries and never had a problem.
I also told an anesthesiologist the same thing. I said, “ Don’t let me wake up.” The response was, “Wake up at all?” You know what I mean.
What's scary to me is that making memories is somewhat decoupled from feeling pain. It means that theoretically you could be in terrible pain in the moment, yet not remember anything afterwards, which is a terrifying idea to me
Well, you won't remember it, so it's like it didn't happen
@@devtekve1396 but you will still actively experience it in the moment, it's only afterwards that you won't remember it
Also, even if you don't consciously remember the pain, the body still does which can lead to central sensitization and other CNS changes that could contribute to the development of chronic pain, alongside the surgical stress and its negative consequences
@@cristina8868 that is not comforting at all.. and the fact that it seems some people are okay with that scares the heck out of me. I don't want my surgical team to just accept that it is fine if I'm in pain because they think I won't remember it later.
being that pain is directly experienced by the individual it would literally be like it never happened. to stop being terrified by this idea you need a new way of thinking about pain and why/how we even feel it in the first place.
I remember saying to my anesthesiologist "Nice beard". He smiled and said "Good night". That was it.
He also had nice teeth, btw.
I was having a joke with the anesthesiologist just as i was going under he gave a hi five to me. when i woke up he had my arm up in the hi five. acting as if it was still the same time. He came to recovery just to carry on the jokes.
I heard “follow the yellow brick road” right before I was completely out for my wisdom tooth surgery 😂
@@Foxstar1387 ok that’s funny
Hahahaa! "Good night"..thats funny.
....lol
I woke up during oral surgery when I was 14. I told them so later and they tried to convince me I dreamed it, but I know what I felt. Made me not only terrified but mistrusting of all doctors to this day. I'm 58 now.
You have every reason and right to be terrified and mistrusting. They're not perfect and there's no excuse for it!!!
Quite narrow minded to be mistrusting of ( all ) doctors
@@Jr-od2rp Yes, I realize that, and I'm working to overcome my fear. But it happened at an early age and affected me deeply. Thank you for your kind concern.
@@Jr-od2rp What about when a Dr. kills your parent with a drug they TELL you has a high mortality rate and refuses to prescribe a less dangerous drug like Oxazepam like you asked for? Or a dr who lets your parent collapse of Congestive Heart Failure to prove a point? YOU want names? I'm more than happy to name these psychos and where they practise. I call that PSYCHOTIC, criminal and reason to pull their licence from ever practising ever again. That was just with my parents, I won't even start to go into what my grandmother endured with the quacks that butchered her. I will never go to a doctor again, where I drop is where I die.
It happened to me also but I still didn't feel any pain. I can still remember the staff looking directly into my eyes. I guess they gave me a bit more as I only remember waking up in recovery. I don't blame anyone.
When I woke up in heart surgery my chest felt like it was on fire. It was horrific. I could hear the nurses talking in the background to each other. Also heard what sounded like metal instruments being dropped into a metal container. The pain was unimaginable and the memory of this has caused much stress. This happened 8 days after my cabg 2 surgery when I had to go in for a second open heart surgery because I was bleeding which had been caused by a clip that nicked the heart plus blood thinner. The Pericardium was full of blood and pressure was on the heart. Several clots were removed. I understand this is a complex operation and I have made it through all of this.
I had a cabg 1 and cannot imagine waking up, especially on a heart/lung machine.
@@UserName-rg7zy The should NEVER take their eyes off of the patient and watch the readings on the machines very closely!
@@lindahandley5267 what happened…I had a cabg 2. I went to the head of surgery at one of the top heart hospitals in NJ (at least that’s what they say) and I was released after 8 days and luckily my ride was late to pick me up. The left part of my chest became heavy and expanded. I had to have emergency surgery because I bleed out. I was told I was given too much blood thinner but later was told the doctor nicked my heart. Anyway the second surgery was the one where I woke up.
@@abigailwester2477 I had already been seeing a cardiologist for some unexplained issues and the tests never really showed up anything. I was visiting my late husband's grave one day and as I walked up a slight incline, I started having chest, back and left arm pain. When I stopped, the pain stopped and I didn't get terribly concerned. I went on to do some shopping and was carrying a pretty heavy box to the car, when I felt the same thing again. Then, I WAS very concerned, called my doctor and saw him the next day. I ended up having a cath and my main (R) main artery was 98%% blocked and had the surgery the next morning. I was very blessed to have had no complications. I'm so sorry that happened to you. It was a nightmare! You're very fortunate to have pulled through all of that!
But would you rather not have the surgeries? I get that it's a horrible memory. But you are alive to post a comment on RUclips about it. Things could be worse.
This happened to me during the birth of my first child. I had a fourth degree laceration, so they put me under general anesthesia to repair it. I was under enough that I could not voluntarily move, but could still feel the resident suturing me. It was this horrible, absolutely unbearable jabbing pain, the only way that I can describe it is that it was worse than childbirth pain. I tried so hard to scream because the pain was so bad, but my mouth wouldn't move. My husband said that he saw my whole body jerk (like when they defibrillate you), then the obstetrician yelled at the anesthesiologist. Then he said a few moments later, my whole body jerked again and then the obstetrician cursed at the anesthesiologist. Today 36 years later I still have vivid memories of that awful experience. The anesthesiologist did get some kind of reprimand on his medical license though, thank goodness.
Ditto
That's horrible. You're the one lying there feeling everything. There is NO excuse for it! So sorry!
I know an anesthesiologist who would have taken an ass whoopin' that day.
😉
ditto with epidural cesarean, the stabbing is bad enough but the yanking to pull it together was even more painful. painful.
@@lindahandley5267 Try having an episiotomy as an emergency during labour with NO anaesthetic whatsoever….
I had an ovarian cyst removed. I swear it seemed like a blink of an eye from the time I went into the OR to the time I woke up in the recovery room. I even remember asking the nurses when I was gonna have surgery and they said that I already had surgery and that I was in the recovery room.
That's exactly how it's supposed to be!!!
I had twilight sedation (conscious sedation) to have a Hickman (central line) placed in my chest and I remember the anesthesiologist gave me 1mg of Versed and Fentanyl as well. That low of a dose I’m always awake but 2mg of Versed and I’m out like a light. I remember suddenly asking the surgeon “are you going to start the surgery soon”? He said “I’m almost done with the surgery”. In this surgery the anesthesiologist was giving me small doses of the Versed instead of a larger dose to put me under quickly. I was told I was given a total of 6mg of Versed and not sure about the fentanyl. Fentanyl has never made me groggy. I’m used to getting a large dose to put me under within seconds and they keep administering meds to keep me under and this surgery was just a smaller dose but more frequently so I wouldn’t remember anything. This year alone I’ve had 2 surgeries with twilight (moderate or conscious sedation depending on how you call it) and 2 with general anesthesia where I was given sedation, paralytics, and I was intubated. When I get general anesthesia I tell the anesthesiologist that I don’t want any students using me as their guinea pig because I’m always afraid they will knock out a tooth since I’m always intubated and they can’t use a blind airway on me due to bad acid reflux. Some surgeries I’ve had they give me Versed and Propofol to keep me under. I’ve given general anesthesia several times as a medic on the ambulance when I was needing to put someone under and intubate them.
@@debrakleid5752 I know they let students do procedures for teaching, but the patient should have a say in it. After knee surgery, I woke up in recovery screaming in pain. My upper lip was 10 times the normal size and the skin in the roof of my mouth was peeled all the way back. I spent 3 days in the hospital trying to get my pain under control. I should have asked to speak to the anesthesiologist to explain the condition of my mouth, which was incredibly painful in addition to my knee.
@@lindahandley5267 I’ve been one of those students when I was in the paramedic program as well as the RT program and some people are hard to intubate. You know when you see the anesthesiologist before surgery and they ask to open your mouth so they can look inside? They are looking all the way back at the uvula and the opening and it’s graded 1-4. 1 is an easier intubation and 4 is the hardest. I know that I’m a 3 so I do get nervous when they are intubating me and I pray they don’t fuck up. I’ve intubated probably about 100 when I was a medic and RT so I unfortunately know what all is involved in doing it. We even carried the same sedation and paralytics as operating rooms and now I kind of wish I didn’t know. I had general anesthesia when I had a bronchoscope in late July or early August when I was admitted for a bad pneumonia yet again and there was someone in scrubs very young looking standing by me in pre op. He was a medical student and all I could think about is that I hope he wasn’t using me as a guinea pig.
@@debrakleid5752 Yeah, I know that not everyone is easy to intubate, but dang! I imagine you WERE nervous when you saw that young person standing off to the side. So many of us ARE used as guinea pigs and never know it, but my mouth was a MESS! I pray to the dear Lord that I never need anything medical again!
Watching this has been really helpful in piecing together my memories of laparoscopic abdominal surgery I had in August 2022. I had a huge ovarian cyst and I knew going in that if it was cancer, the surgery would be quite long (5+ hours at the worst, I think) and only a couple hours if it wasn't. I very distinctly remember being brought back awake and clearly asking what time it was. I didn't know til I watched this video that I was still with my anesthesiologist at that point; he told me what time it was and I was very happy. I do not remember being taken to the recovery area at all. Our bodies are pretty amazing. And I'm really grateful to my anesthesiologist (and surgeon, and nurses, etc) for putting me at ease and making a terrifying experience less terrifying. (It wasn't cancer.)
I had a similar surgery in December, and I found out there were cancer cells in the fluid of the large ovarian cyst at my follow up appointment with the oncologist who did the surgery. I also found out that it took them 15 minutes to drain the fluid before removing it along with the ovaries and entire uterus. Those were cancer free, but as a precaution, I'm getting chemotherapy. The only thing I remember was the anesthesiologist telling me to take deep breaths before waking up in recovery. My main issue was nausea after waking up, but the nurses gave me some anti-nausea medicine in the IV. Went home later that evening.
I was one of the 'infrequent' cases. After an open appendectomy, my first memory was of the endotrachial tube being pulled out of my throat. I immediately coughed and stretched my sutures, which entirely changed my perception of what pain was. Anesthesiologist's eyes went wide and he shouted for fentanyl. Once that hit my veins everything was immediately okay. Still an experience I hope to never repeat.
Back in 2013 I stepped an IED in Afghanistan. Lost my left leg, left arm, and severely messed up my right leg (I wish it had been cut off). During one of the many, many surgeries I went through I have memory that I will never forget. I "woke up" during a surgery. I remember feeling everything, immense pain!! Being able move my eyes but not open them. Trying to move and scream but being unable to. Feeling the breathing tube in my throat and feeling like I can't breath and am choking. I knew I was in surgery and could feel everything without being able to do anything. It lasted maybe 5 to 8 seconds, but it felt like eternity! None of my doctors said anything to me about it and I never said anything about it to them. But I knew and remember that it happened. I was terrified and thought that no one would know I was "awake" and that I was going to die. Again. I know there are many variables at play with any surgery and sometimes shit happens. I was that 1/10 of 1%. It sucked and it will always stick with me, but I'm still here and able to share my experience with others so that's gotta count for something. So yeah...That's my story of "waking up" during surgery.
Thank you for your sacrifice.
I’m sorry that happened to you.
Semper Fi.
Army surgeons, gotta be leary of them. I wish they would have sent you to an outside specialist. No person should go through what you have personally experienced in combat and in the rear. Thank you for your service brother in arm's
@@imfloridano5448 Thank you for the kind words. But, it was that 99.999999% chance of happening , and I'm ok with that. If anything that day was changing by seconds, I might not be here right now to tell my story. Also, I couldn't be sent anywhere but where I was sent. There were no outside specialists. I was lucky enough to have my brothers around me that stayed calm and cool, and knew what to do. As well as being able to try to preform self aid to myself. On top of that, I was picked up within ten minutes by a bird and rushed to Kandahar Air Force Base, which was maybe 20-30 minutes from where we were ( by helicopter, and an hour or more driving) I was sent to the best places I could have been sent to, at the time and in the state I was. "they" couldn't risk sending me back to the states just to have me die on the 10+ hour flight back. So, to answer your question. I got sooo fucking lucky!!! Every puzzle piece fell exactly where it needed to. I can not thank everyone that helped me that day enough. I guess just keep on keepin' on, is all I can do to say thank you to them, as well as giving a giant fuck you to the POS (S) that planted the bomb in the first place. Thank you for your service and signing that dotted line of up to you life. Have a great night.
😲 I am so very sorry for you.. Sound like a very and incredibly strong man and soldier..stay that way and walk worthy..yes walk, you still walk just not physically. God Bless you Brethren.
@@kathleensullivan4547 Thank you. I'm trying to stay out of the rabbit hole. Some days are easier than others. Luckily I have an amazing wife that I don't deserve, and four crazy ass kids that always keep me on my toes. hahaha. And yes I can still walk. I gotta chase my kids somehow! Happy New Year to you and yours.
Anesthesia doctors are my hero, equal to my surgeon in respect and admiration.
Absolutely. No doubt!
Hey let’s not forget about our anesthesia nurses Ie our CRNA’s
Cool
Lol...why? Most anesthesia is being handled my nurses now...?
Alot of responsibility!
Woke up during one of my surgeries to the sound of WXPN and the doctor and nurses talking about their plans for the weekend. Sounded like a bunch of really great people. Pain, sure, but the conversation was so pleasantly distracting it wasn't an issue. When I finally asked 'should I be awake right now?' .... Well, that's all I remember.
Sounds like laughing gas
My mom had 2 invasive surgeries, 1 of them she woke up in, she was crying. She felt it all, even though she could not move or open her eyes. Even remembered what they were talking about. They finally realized and knocked her out again. This was the 80s.
Thats horrible!!
My genuine FEAR.
I feel like a lot of these incidents happened a fair while back, so I'm hoping anesthesiologists are getting better at preventing these wakeups.
@@nobody.of.importance they still do. It happened to my sister about four years ago. She has PTSD from it.
In 1988, I underwent gallbladder surgery the “old fashioned “ way. I woke up during surgery while I was cut open and being gutted like a fish. The first feeling I felt was pain so deep and so severe that I thought I had been shot. I could not move or make a sound but I heard the surgeon and his team talking to each other- it was muffled, like being under water but I DID hear them. I tried to open my eyes but they felt like they were glued closed. I was able to open them a little bit and though it was blurry, I saw my surgeon and two people beside him all in their scrubs. I got the sense that more people were there but I could not see them. It seemed to last for a very long time, and the next thing I remembered was hearing people moaning. I thought I was in Hell. It was the most invasive and terrifying experience I’ve ever had. When the surgeon came to my room the next morning, I told him but the egotistical young man said it was IMPOSSIBLE. A week later I was released and came home. A news documentary was on and the name of it was “Surgical Awareness.”
It validated everything I had experienced and there were people being interviewed who had also experienced it. My next major surgery was 2 years later and I spoke with my surgeon and anesthesiologist about my horrific gallbladder surgery. They did their job as I made no new memories and the surgery was successful.
I had surgery and woke during it was very painfully I starting screaming OH SHIT HELP!!! they did nothing while they pulled the long tube going up my leg to the heart
My daughter woke up during eye surgery when she was 11. The nurse came out and told me because it doubled the time she was there. They also cautioned me she might have bruises because she'd actually been thrashing and everyone jumped on her to hold her down. I am sooooo thankful she didn't remember anything. In fact her first words to me were to ask if I would take her to Red Lobster for dinner lol was a hard no but she talked the surgeon allowing her a small swim in the pool before dinner 😀
The same thing happened to my mom when she had to get an emergency C-section for me at 7 months since we contracted e.coli, it was the worst thing she ever experienced, and I am terrified at the idea of needing a surgery one day for myself (which I know is probably inevitable).
Your eyes are taped closed during surgery
@@intowngirl102 Not back in 1988!
I’ve had over a dozen surgeries, and was gutted like a fish each time. Luckily most of them went ok. I’ve had four transplants. During my second transplant, which was a multi visceral transplant of both a kidney and small intestine, I woke up. My intestines were on the table. The paralytic did not wear off, thus it took a few minutes for them to notice I was awake. I was split from my mid chest down to my privates and across my lower abdomen as well. It was a 28 hour surgery. The pain is something indescribable, and I know pain. I had a midgut volvulus and mal rotation around the mesenteric artery, cutting off the blood supply to my small bowel. Basically my entire small intestine died and turned gangrene while I was awake and it was truly hell on earth. That’s how I originally got sick. But even that, when I thought I was dying, wasn’t as bad as waking up during the double transplant. I still have ptsd from it, with constant flashbacks of that moment of waking up. There were a lot of apologies from nurses and others, but not from the doctor. The anesthesiologist never even came to speak with me. I’ve had many surgeries since and have been fine, as I’ve spoken in detail to my doctors about what happened. They now make doubly sure I’m out, as I have a very high tolerance. That was almost twenty years ago. I still have that small bowel, but later rejected the kidney I got during that awful surgery. Eleven years ago I got a second kidney, a living donor the second time; my best friend saved my life. I’ll always be grateful I’m still here and especially that I’m still here for my daughters, but I’ll never get the image, terror and pain out of my mind. I pray no one else ever experiences what I did-waking up during a transplant. I feel it will continue to terrorize me for the rest of my life.
Great idea for a video and a channel! Well done! Definitely comforting to hear this info.
its great you still have that same small bowel almost twenty years later! you're getting some good mileage on that baby. sorry about what it took to get it.
It sounds like something out of a horror movie! I am SO sorry that you had to go through that nightmare! I really hope that you're doing well now. 🙏
Amen!! I still have no one to talk to about it, my arms were tied down with boards around them because of the cameras and heart catheter they were putting in my wrist vain and I would like to add I was awake for that too. There's nothing like your brain waking up while your heart and lungs are hooked up to a machine and a tube is down your throat. I didn't feel pain for some reason after the the catheter was put in but I could feel pressure and also the spreading of my ribs. It's a very lonely world to live in when this doesn't happen to many people. I'm terrified of having future surgeries.
Have you considered doing EMDR therapy? I woke up too early once after a tonsillectomy. I didn't have the horror you did, but I couldn't breathe in or out, move, or open my eyes. It was scarey as hell! I couldn't imagine what you went through. 😰
I was totally awake during general anesthesia for a c-section about 30 years ago. I was awake at all times from the paralysis through the intubation, cutting of the skin and right through my son being removed, closing up and extubation. I was totally paralyzed unable to breath, unable to move and unable to get the attention of surgeon. So I made certain I remembered what everyone said during the surgery. I was able to tell the surgeons what they did on vacation and what the nursing staff said such as the time my son was born , his apgar scores and what my coach said about his cuteness. The anesthesiologist never apologized and just said " sometimes people wake up". I felt anxiety over being unable to breath, the sharp pain of the scalpels the tugging and pulling to get my baby out and the pain of the suture placement. I had the emergency surgery because of pre-eclampsia. My B/P was over 250/190 until my baby was pulled out then my B/P dropped down to 110/60 . Because I am a nurse, I originally thought I was hallucinating, however the pressure and the burning pain of the scalpel changed my mind. I thought about the Twilight Zone episode about the man who was paralyzed and about to get autopsied and what he did to get the doctor's attention. He cried. I couldn't cry despite my eyelids being partially open. My pain was real and lasted the whole surgery, I made memories and I was pissed off that I was treated like "awareness was no big deal". Maybe today , 30 odd years later anesthesia is better but don't dismiss those of us that went through that torture. My surgery started at 1800, my son was born at 1835 and I was extubated at 1905. I'm now 66 years old and the memories are as sharp as that scalpel was.
The feeling of not being able to breathe scared me when I woke up. My situation was quite a bit like yours, except my surgery was for gall bladder removal.
I had sections with all 3 of my kids, the first being in 79. I only had a spinal so was completely awake with all 3 of them. Just felt pressure, pulling and tugging but nothing hurt.
I have a history of waking up under anesthesia and I remember what was done during the surgery and I felt the pain along with it. Thank you, Dr.Feinstein.
I experienced recall during surgery (hysterectomy) and remember desperately trying to blink or move. It was horrifying.The doctor downplayed my reaction until she finally said “ I think she needs more medication”. Afterwards I did repeat a conversation, so it was real. The next time I had surgery, two anesthesiologists were with me. I was a staff RN at this hospital, and administered conscious sedation to patients undergoing tests, so they did believe me!!
RN?
@@AlchemistOfNirnrootrn stands for registered nurse in this context
I had that happen and my eyes were all I could move I tried my best but they never even noticed. Ever since I tell them every time to use more It was painful enough. But some of my other surgeries would have been far worse.
Don’t they tape your eyes shut during surgery?
I love the feeling of trying to stay awake as they put me out. There is this amazing almost high feeling to it.
Probably 'cause you essentially are high 😜
Me too least you the extent of trying, yet I failed very fast lol. I had joked that if this is what it’s like for those they put to death under lethal injection, hell they got it easy.
Dr F? Are smokers esp those with a long history of smoking have more anesthesia difficulty for you Drs? I had once heard it creates difficulty.
I always concentrate and try to stay awake. It never works
We have to count backward and forward and by about half-way back to one (the second time) I wake up in recovery where, within 30 minutes, I’m drinking a generic cola and conversing with my nurse who is convinced I’m superhuman. Woke up during 2 different surgeries. Told the anesthesiologist who worked my GB surgery, and he said he’d make absolutely certain that wouldn’t happen. Gave me massive dose of Valume before going back, and I still got myself up on the table. But, I only got halfway back up through ten before I went out, and I indeed did not wake up. I’m Autistic. I believe that has something to do with it, but I have no research to back me up on that.
I've had a successful major surgery (craniotomy) with general surgery and was quite pleased with the whole experience. But soon afterwards I had another surgery and I was awake near the end. I was not in much pain, but I could hear voices and feel the stitches being done on my eyelid and I was immediately terrified. In post-op they made a big deal about how high my heart rate was and didn't want to send me back up to my room until my heart rate decreased. The kicker was that being there in that environment was part of what had me so scared and I really just wanted to go back to my room in Neurology where I felt safe. Unfortunately, I was unable to speak clearly enough to be understood by strangers and no one would get me something to write with so I could 'talk'. The doctors were so sure they knew what the problem was and the correct way to proceed, none of them was going to take even a minute to try communicating with the patient. Frustrating, and in the end, not the best care provided to a patient☹
I’m really sorry you had experienced that ☹️
Thank you, in reading through all the other posts I realize that it could have been much worse. Since that time I have learned to stand up for myself, becoming my own healthcare advocate, or when necessary, asking a trusted friend to step up and provide support.
I've 52 surgeries starting from July of 2002, thru to last year. The final surgery was an amputation of my right arm bc of the 19 year battle I was in with osteomylitis, bone infections, that is very painful and can be fatal. But of the 52 operations, I never once had an anesthesiologist that I did not like. I feel they r more understanding and compassionate, towards us patients. They sometimes r more kind and caring, then some of the surgeons.
Dear Jayme, your perception about the differences between surgeons and anesthesiologists relationships with patients is not completely out of the way, but, as an anesthesiologist, I must say something on behalf of my surgical colleagues. I reckon their “colder” hearts (by comparison to ours, not on an absolute scale) as a result of a self-protective psychological mechanism. Can you figure how hard would it be to perform all the cutting and sewing and manipulate vital organs of a live person if they couldn’t put their minds a little further away from the suffering human being in front of them? We give confort to the patients we anesthetize, but also we take away from surgeons a good share of stress that otherwise could compromise their performance. At the very bottom, surgical procedures are huge aggresions and normally wired people don't feel good when harming others.
I so agree! Mine was great when I had my first baby emergency cesarean! Explaining everything to me. The doctores said nothing to me!!😡
I fricking loved my anaesthetist. He was lovely and said that I was one of the funniest people he had when putting to sleep. I loved that he was there when I came around (I'm guessing that's part of his job too) but I was so confused at how different he looked without all his medical garb on and I kept telling him 🤭
@@henriquelaydner4080 Indeed, you guys do a job that in many ways is even more important than the surgeon and we applaud this! You are responsible for keeping the patient alive by continual monitoring of vital signs! Though I would state to you from personal experience; NOT all people will react the same way when given a general anaesthesia? I can only say maybe work just outside the box and deliberately look for just that one in a hundred that is not going under in the usual way. We exist and we wish we didn't react to general anaesthetic in this manner!
@@henriquelaydner4080 still they could try act more normal in a regular environment, like, my cancer surgeon almost always answered me as if I was a criminal while I tried to be friendly, in the end I was kinda afraid of makind a mistake in what I do or say cause it would be greeted by no human responce and ashamed of myself, having anxiety doesn't help with that.
I remember waking up during sinus surgery in 2018. I remember hearing voices, feeling pressure in my forehead, and remembered that I couldn't feel my body. I felt at ease though when I realized that I couldn't feel any pain. I kept telling myself that someone would realize it, and that if I could only move something, it could help. I remember being able to twitch my foot and then I woke up in the recovery room. I brought it up to the nurse and she was really shocked. The anesthesiologist came in and tried to tell me that sometimes people dream of that. Then I told her what I heard and felt, and that I remember my foot moving. She seemed caught off guard and didn't really want to talk about it. She did say that yes I appeared to be awake and that I moved my foot. She didn't say much after that. But I've had 4 surgeries since then and I make it very clear that I don't want that to happen again. The surgeon later confirmed that she was in the area of my forehead when I woke up and that it wasn't the first time that's happened.
I wake up to , I won't have surgery ever again. Most of the doctors are arrogant,and the nurse's seem to just wanna go home and not be bothered. Sense then I have know 3 nurses in my life. They are trainwrecks, personal life is mess. One was even a practicing drunk. She was a awefull human
My only bad experience with anesthesia was my sinus surgery when they induced me with propofol and I went to sleep terrified that I was going to die. Now I make sure I get the medazolam first and it's all good. I'm sure glad that I spoke up to make things easier on myself. Never be afraid to advocate for yourself.
Why does it make a difference?
@@ryno4ever433 Gets you slightly sedated, but more importantly lowers anxiety. Medazolam is a very effective anxiolytic with a pretty short half-life. Bad for achieving whatever sedation levels desired, but good for those who are uncomfortable with having control of their bodies essentially taken from them by a drug. It's a scary thing for a lot of people. The benzodiazepine calms you down, increases memory loss, and of course speeds up the whole process of going under. Just a little smoother, experience-wise.
@@differentbutsimilar7893 Thanks for explaining.
@@differentbutsimilar7893 I couldn't have gone under without it. I was petrified and it really helped put me at ease.
Midazolam all the way, I got it instead of propofol, easier to handle and just calms you down, instant calm but doesn't make you loopy like propofol.
My first question to anesthesiologists has always been whether or not they use a BIS monitor. Even as a nurse who has had multiple surgeries, I am still very scared of anesthesia awareness. I have my next major abdominal surgery in April, and in the past two days, the doctors that I follow on RUclips have been making videos about the subject of anesthesia awareness. Mostly, their videos have been in a funny, light-hearted manner, which I usually really like…not so much when I’m this nervous. Thank you for clarifying the BIS monitor and for showing all of the other equipment that is used to monitor depth of sleep and wakefulness. I had been told that pain (whether awake or unconscious) would cause bp to rise, and not necessarily indicate that the patient was waking up. That made me even more scared, and that’s when I started researching and found out about the BIS monitor.
Normal people fear not waking up, afterward. I fear waking up, during 😂
I'd rather be aware as much as possible as a patient! I want to know what's going on and be in control as much as possible even as a patient. The idea of wanting to bee knocked out completely and losing all control is weird to me. If it was possible I'd prefer local and not general anaesthesia for all possible surgeries.
Patient here, I've had 30+ surgeries and this taught me SO much! I thought I knew a lot but now I know so much more.
Wow that's a ton of surgeries! Glad you found the video interesting.
30+ huh? What kind?
Do you wake up immediately after going to sleep
30+???? Thats surprisingly alot! What surgeries did u had? and what anesthesias did they gave you?
@@eliselawless5410 some yes and no you sleep ALOT- at least I did-
I’ve been under general anesthesia 3 times in a year. I had great doctors each time. Stayed out, no sickness waking up. Thank you for what you do!
Same here.
me too
I’m very glad my mom’s anesthesiologist knew what her tiny index finger movement meant.
During knee replacement she woke up. Fully aware and feeling everything. Thankfully the anesthesiologist was watching her closely and picked up the rhythmic tapping she was able to make her index finger do. Within moments he had a nurse take her hand and reassure my mom they knew and were getting her back under ASAP. The feel of that nurses hand holding hers and the sounds of the anesthesiologist hard at work were her grounding and she still remembers them vividly years later.
The funny part came in recovery when she said she needed something for pain and was told that the paralytics wouldn’t wear off for hours and that she really wasn’t feeling pain.
Should have seen them scramble for meds when she told them to take off the bedsheet and they saw her moving her feet and toes.
She’s had many surgeries since and is labeled as high risk for waking now so they really knock her out good.
Despite this experience, or maybe because of it, I have huge respect for anesthesiologists and what they do for us. Without them we wouldn’t be able to preform these operations safely, if at all.
(EDIT: Later questions to my parents revealed I was mistaken in my memory of paralytics being used. Sorry for the mix up)
That’s great! I’ve awoken and remember all but one of my surgeries. I keep telling them I’m hard to knock out/keep out, but they never believe me until they try it themselves. 🤦🏻♀️
@@thehutch7728 Oh man...that sounds terrible. I don’t know if will help but maybe if it happens again request that the anesthesiologist make a note in your chart about it. Or maybe ask for a letter from him/her describing the issues and what meds were used? If you could present that letter to next one that might help a lot.
Good luck!! 🤞🏻🤞🏻
Jediempress that’s a good idea! Thanks for the suggestion!
Have a friend whose family commonly is very resistant to anesthesia. His sister woke during surgery and no one noticed. The paralytic kept her from letting them know until afterward. They argued with her that there was no way she was awake. They panicked when she told them what they were taking about and the music they were listening to. I guess the docs face went pale when she told him.
@@cessna295sp that’s horrible that no one believed her. Why would someone make that up?
I recently had surgery on a torn rotator cuff. The last thing that I remember is a small mask being put on my face in the operating room and the next thing I know I am in recovery with the doctor showing me pictures of my surgery. It was a pleasant and painless experience. My thanks to the Anesthesiologist, surgeon and everyone involved.
My dad was given too low of general anesthesia for his hip replacement surgery. He never fell asleep but was paralyzed and unable to feel any sensation. He could only hear. He handled it pretty well mentally, considering the detail he provided of hearing them sawing his bones for a while. Lol
Likely had a spinal or epidural with sedation and not uncommon to have those memories. Would have been a problem if he felt the surgery. They were avoiding the risk of general anesthesia with your dad
My late husband had hip replacement in 2010 in a major regional hospital in the midwest. He told me later that he felt the pounding utilized for putting the new prosthetic hip joint in place. He didn't experience pain, per se, but "felt the pounding".
Yep...I woke during knee replacement surgery, twice, and "formed memories" of "ZZZZZ..ZZZZ" saw sounds, then "whack..whack.." of a hammer, driving the parts into the femur...
Strange, it was...
And, with about 10x tolerance to opioids, need to clarify that to anaesthesia folks... I had a brachial block, but "breakthrough pain", and got 1000 ug fentanyl to hold it off... like 100 mg morphine equivalent. If they don't know, it's impossible for them to titrate... The fun of knowing too much about surgery, pain, medication, procedures...
My mom woke up partly through knee replacement surgery - sedation plus nerve blocks - and wanted to stay awake and watch! Her mother and I both agreed we’d probably react the same way. But they very quickly knocked her back out.
I'm not a student nor a patient, but I find your content very interresting, you speak in clear and easy to understand terms and it helped me better understand what happened 45 years ago when I had my tonsils removed :)
Very informative! Years ago I was one of those patients that woke up in the middle of open-heart surgery. To this very day I can still recall the words of the anesthesiologist saying "she's coming out of it" and the surgeon saying " I'm not done yet, put her back under". I struggled to open my eyes thinking I might get a glimpse of my open chest, but no such luck, however I did manage to see a green drape in front of me as my eyes were somewhat taped shut... that eye tape isn't very effective obviously...lol🤣🤣. Anyway, I was put back under, the surgeon finished the procedure, and I am alive and well, doing great, thanks to that amazing cardiologist and his staff!👨⚕️👩⚕️❤👍👍😀
Well that is quite an experience which I hope U will never have to repeat!
This happens. My grandfather heard his surgeons and my cousin felt pain during eye surgery.
Did you feel horrible pain?
In 2021 during total knee replacement I woke up and felt the surgeon hammering in my new knee. I told him to take down the shield so I could watch. Someone said “ He’s awake “. I said again move the shield so I could watch. Someone said “ no you don’t want to see “ I said “yes I do”. That was the last thing I remember. I did wake up again as my knee was being wrapped up.
I love the friendly shade being thrown to the surgeons
😂😂😂
I’ve undergone close to 20 surgeries under general anesthesia and the more times I go under the more I find myself trying to force myself to remember as many details as possible before and/after going under. Just for fun lol. Well, I can never remember anything past “ok we are putting you to sleep” and always just remember waking up in the recovery room 🤣 This video was very interesting!
I read a story in the readers digest in the 90s of a woman who could feel the entire major surgery she was going through and I’ve never ever forgotten that story. I’ve also woken up a couple of times still intubated and it’s the most horrific thing to wake up to, it’s terrifying that you can’t breathe and then your reflexes kick in so hard that it’s brutal. I am known to require heavier anesthetics with local, and now I assume general is the same thing. Anesthesiologists don’t listen to me when I tell them that, and I wake up with the scope or tube in my throat. Probably my worst fear at this point when they think they know me best and can get away with regular amounts and then I have to say I told you so. I’ve had a renal auto transplant, 18 kidney surgeries, thyroid cancer surgery, many scopes, and many ear related surgeries and I have woken up about 10 times throughout all of those. It sucks and I wish they would chart me as a high risk so I don’t have to beg anymore.
I've been really scared for every surgery I have ever had due to the unknown of anesthetics. This video genuinely helped me calm down and not be so worried anymore. Thank you!
I’m having a laparoscopic bariatric procedure in a couple of months. Terrified of waking up during surgery so I’m doing some research and found your videos. All I can say is I hope my anesthesiologist is as talented as you are. Thanks so much for these fantastic explanations Doc!
I'm sure you'll have an excellent anesthetic experience, and your anesthesiologist will have more years of training under their belt than I do (since I'm just a 2nd year resident, and your anesthesiologist will have already completed residency and be board certified. Best wishes!
How are you doing? Everything go okay?
Mine was awesome, like him.
How did it go
Yes, how are you?? Got a bypass in 2005, dropped 60kg i dont miss at all
This is one of my fears because I have woken up during surgery and let me tell ya. The pain is ... Horrible! Thank God they noticed and put me back to sleep. But, they had the audacity to ask me weird questions about if I remember if I woke up! So, having to have surgery again to have a tumor removed I'm freaking out because I don't want to go through that again.
I had that happen too but jt was a couple times during the same procedure. I remember seeing them move around and I said made a groan noise and then I fell back asleep. I woke up again and I remember them asking, "is she awake?" And then I fell asleep again and when I woke up next I was in the wake up room. I now fear when I have go have a big procedure, like tmrw, that I will make up in the middle. I hope I do not
@@vitani16 how did it go? did you wake up during it again?
@@god4346 it went decently and thank goodness I never woke up~ It was a bit rough going in and coming out when it was done (the wake up room) but that was just due to being tired/hungry/in pain from other things and I was just overstimulated. The people caring for me were so soooo sweet and tried to talk with me to help distract me, but I was a bit panicky and whiny so I think they got it started right away 😭😭🤦♀️🤣 overall it was fine, speedy, and I barely even had a sore throat. Just a big baby. Thank you for checking up on me~ you're very very kind 🥰
@@vitani16
How are you coming along now? 😊
This is not related to the subject of general anesthesia, I'm speaking of local, a nerve block.. I had carpal tunnel release surgery.. to distract myself from the talking, noises ( sounded like they were separating silverware) I kept making a rhythmic sound of " uh, uh, uh"
The anesthesiologist kept asking, " are you feeling pain".. I'm sure I drove him crazy.
This is the most impressive science and art combined ever!
Agreed, anesthesia is a great field!
@@MaxFeinsteinMD
Yep great field to be in and what the patient considers soooo important. One of the biggest fears for people is that they are not fully sedated.
No one wants to sign up for torture with the fear that they cannot ask for help
Nightmare stuff
Luckily because of great training and dedication from anaesthetists it’s rare
You all are the people I pay attention to before having any surgery and I have had plenty! You're the ones keeping me alive!
Years ago I had a 3hour finger reconstruction surgery, and during the surgery I started to hear my doctor telling jokes, but they must have bumped up the aesthetic before I could hear the punch line.
The next day I asked him what the punch line was to the joke, he went ghostly white and said that was halfway through the operation and there was no way i could know that, and he walked out.
Thankfully I couldn't feel anything but I never did find out the punch line.
How did the joke start?
My worst experience was when I had tubal ligation surgery and I woke up with a tube in my throat, on the stretcher heading to recovery. Since then I found out that I have the mcr-1 gene. I make sure to let the anesthesiologist know so they can adjust my anesthetics accordingly.
Redhead gene!!! I always wake up. Even when I tell them and I have bright orange hair, they never listen.
When I had my Tubal when I was being brought up something happened. Idk what I felt I was drowning felt I was going to die next I woke up and coughing a ton .. how do you get this test and from who
My tubal was done with my epidural and mild sedation. It was super trippy to be awake
@@cratcliff8820 I wish I was awake than to have had this experience
@@cratcliff8820 now I'm traumatized for life and scared of surgery and I have to have one. . Every day stress
I woke up during my C-section! My doc didn't believe me until I recounted his conversation about his recent vacation to London. He turned white and almost passed out. It was a ripping tearing searing pain. Then I heard my daughter cry and him say
Viable female. Then the anesthesiologist screaming
She's waking up! Then I was out.
Girl u need to sue
@@missmaam3765 people like you are the reason why health insurance is so high
@@chad5577 people like you are why this keeps happening
@@missmaam3765 you’re clearly spouting bullshit given that 0.1% of patients regain awareness during operations. Take a break off social media, it’s polluting your brain.
Just shows how reckless doctor are when they don't know patients aren't listening. 90,000 Americans die due to medical 'accidents' in US hospitals annually due to the medical system's incompetence.
When my wife was young (5 years old) she was undergoing an abdominal surgery that had never been performed on a pediatric patient. (This was 1971) Her condition had left her quite ill and impacted her development. Due to her weakened state and small size, when the surgery went much longer than anticipated the anesthesiologist was insistent that she could not tolerate general anesthesia any longer so she was awakened for the last part of the surgery.
They had given her an epidural so she didn't feel anything but they provided a mirror so she could see and talked through everything with her as they closed her up.
The anesthesiologist was her lifeline during that and she is forever grateful. Even though she was so young, the clear and honest communication made the experience fascinating rather than terrifying for her.
Anesthesiologists are the angels of the OR.
I woke up during my appendectomy and still had the tube down my throat. I remember fighting them because I was choking and then I guess they knocked me back out. I’ve had several other surgeries and thank goodness that has not happened again. I now wake up in recovery with a nurse monitoring me.
In my eternal wanderings through RUclips, I have just discovered this highly informative series about anesthesiology. Thank you, Dr. Feinstein. You're doing a wonderful job with these reports! Here's wishing you well!
He's nuts.
I'm in this boat as well. I loved it. Entertaining, informative and reassuring. Great job Dr.!
After my recent cervical spine fusions, I had a problem waking up. I was out for over 8 hrs and was sent to ICU. My family said my surgeon was distressed and angry at the anesthesiologist who tried to blame me saying I must have overdosed before surgery which everyone knew was not true. At one point my surgeon tried that painful knuckle to the sternum. I opened my eyes and he said stay awake, don’t shut your eyes and I was gone again. OD meds didn’t work. Finally I just woke up and asked for pain meds and was refused any so that I could stay awake. It was not a bad experience for me because I knew nothing but my loved ones were very frightened.
I need spinal surgery as well and having this happen (along with being awake during surgery) is one of my worst fears. I think age plays a role. I'm in my 60's and have never been put under before. I have a parent who had the same thing happen. They had several surgeries over the years and ended up with dementia. I think these drugs played a role.
I have a lot of respect for anesthesiologists. Their sole focus is taking care of you while you are under. I have had great experiences.
I woke up during knee replacement when a piece of metal was being pounded up into my legbone. I said, “hey doc, you have a very loud and jarring hammer there.” He laughed and nodded to someone . I said, “bye for now” and woke up in recovery.
I woke up during a knee scope, I just looked at the anesthesiologist and nodded and he said nap time...lol
It was a Navy Dr so maybe he wanted to mess with a Marine. Had a spinal done so I didn't feel anything, so no harm no foul.
Awesome, I had a hemorrhoidectomy procedure that stretches my rectum to an ungodly diameter with a device that I nicknamed Shaquille O'Neal for obvious reasons. I am so glad I never woke up during that phase of the procedure.
@@danf2 😱😱😱😱
@@danf2 gonna be honest w/ya Danny...that sounds like absolutely NO fun. Whatsoever
Yeah please explain how you were able to speak while having a tube up your windpipe?
When my sister had surgery to tie her tubes she remembers becoming aware in the middle of the surgery and felt horrendous searing pain until they upped her anesthesia dose, she can still remember it.
Ouch I'm sorry she went through that :/
Me too! What is with us women waking up!?!! It's my second I have woken up during!
@@OfficialMyxomatosis ....... Wow yikes
I woke up during my tubal as well. No pain, just a tugging sensation. I remember being pissed I couldn’t see anything because of the blue drape. I looked for the mirror that was there during my delivery but it was gone. After my disappointment, I just relaxed and passed back out.
@Patriotic Pepe You apparently confuse gender with sex. Whoopsie.
I love the eloquent yet simple way you explain all of this, it’s super interesting! You’re a fantastic teacher - keep up the great work! 👌
Agreed!
I really appreciate that, thank you!
Agreed, I hope you continue doing videos like this after Residency. -- a PACU nurse
agreed, he makes the OR not such a scary place for some 1 with a fear of the OR
Woke up during colonoscopy, looked around surgical room and then spotted monitor showing Dr. moving scope thru my colon. Then glanced over to nurse as she was labeling specimen #2 as she called it. Then they noticed me looking around and told him to put me back under. It was painful when I came to during procedure and then the anesthesiologist had a nasty attitude towards me right after I came to
As someone who was blessed to have had a wonderfully successful 4.5 hr. spinal surgery in 2021, I was very thankful for all of my care
including my anesthesia! I remember thinking how tiny the OR looked to me, counting backward, and then NOTHING until I was out of recovery & out of post op! I 1st remember waking up back in my room!
I was an Operating Room Nurse for 32 years. You do a superb job relating this to the layperson who may know nothing about the anesthesia process. When I had my own colonoscopy, I was out cold, remembered nothing, and felt no pain - perfect.
I had wanted to be an O.R. nurse when I went into nursing school, but I couldn't stand the mask! Imagine that! I ended up in urology and med/surg.
I had a colonoscopy in 2021. I woke up about 5-10 minutes in. I eventually spoke and asked for more anesthesia.
I was having oral surgery (bone grafts to prepare an implant) and woke up while he was still in progress. I believe it was deep sedation. I didn't feel any pain, but I was looking at the inside of a drape over my face. I didn't dare move and mess up the surgery. I started tapping my fingers, figuring they might not know I was awake. He said something about awake, and then I was home before I remember anything else.
I asked at my next appointment if I had imagined it, and he confirmed it happened as I thought.
Ummm this is scary.
0_O wow 😳
Omg, I woke up getting my wisdom teeth out. It was 10 years ago, so I remembered it more vividly then. But I don’t remember going under, but in a second after the nurse told me to count backwards, I was like “Oh, the doctor’s here, haven’t seen him yet.” Then I realized they were all masked up. Then I looked down and saw the equipment coming out of my mouth, and was like “oh sh*t.” I didn’t feel pain until I saw the equipment, but it was deep dull pain. And I think the reason it was so painful after the procedure on that side is because I had seen it. Because the other side never hurt as much, but had the same procedure.
I remembered feeling confused because I thought the agreement was to put me asleep, but now they were doing the operation awake. And I had friends who chose to do wisdom teeth awake with laughing gas, so I was starting to panic thinking this was a mistake. I never tried to move and probably couldn’t if I wanted to. But then I saw a nurse look down and make eye contact with me and motioned to the doctor. Then she immediately disappeared away (I assume to crank up the drugs).
I figured I wasn’t supposed to wake up and they gave me a ton more drugs when they saw because then I woke up way after my scheduled time. They were waking me up to get me out of the room because they needed it. Lol. And then I immediately conked out for 30 more minutes in the recovery room. So I was out like an hour longer than I was supposed to.
Same thing happened to me. I woke up while they were putting in one of my dental implants. I didn't feel anything. But I was surprised to see he was basically putting in the implant with a ratchet.
Had wisdom teeth pulled, couldn't see anything but could 100% feel the dental drill, no pain though just felt the vibrations from the drill, the heard the surgeons talking too.
Dr. Feinstein, of all the videos you’ve put out so far, I think this was one of the most informative ones 💯 The educator in you is really shinning. Further, it’s clear to see that any patient in your care, is getting a very disciplined anesthesia provider in you 🤙🏾 Keep these videos coming 🙏🏾
Thanks very much Steve, I appreciate the kind feedback!
A friend of mine woke up during liposuction. Not "twilight sedation", but full on general anesthesia. Fortunatel, she didn't seem to feel any pain, but later on the nurses told her that she was flirting with the doctor, and telling naughty jokes. Apparently she was hilarious, and it was like having stand up comedy in the operating theater. 😂
"Yocheved Chana" I wonder how someone cannot remember saying such things while under anesthesia.
That's funny... I had gallbladder surgery a few years ago and I must have done the same thing because the nurse told me I called the surgeon "Dr. Cutie", and he came to my room to check on me the next morning and brought me a cup of coffee and gave me his business card....LOL
F....... 😂 I'm undergoing lipo next week with a full general anesthesia and I'm scared to point of waking up god I wish I won't wake up during surgery and go flirt with the doctor hahahaha 😂
I was having a tumor removed in 2002 and during the surgery I clearly remember of being aware enough to hear the OR team talking about SUVs. Then I started having some pain. I was able to groan a little bit and the anesthesiologist patted my arm and told me he would administer more drugs.
My first surgery ever was a clavicle rebuild. They wheeled me into the OR and I lifted myself on to the table while nervously talking while they put the mask on and started administering meds in my iv. I woke up to the surgeon searching for additional bone fragments I had floating around. I watched him go wide eyed in a panic as I started to cry due to anxiety/fear, and discomfort. Heard someone curse before they promised to make me not hurt and that I was doing a great job. Next I was waking in recovery in pain to discover a pain medication allergy that I never knew of so I caused multiple panics. My next surgery that took place, yeeaaahh they went hardcore on meds before they even started heading in the direction of the OR. PLUS as added precaution they administered a nerve block beforehand to boot. It definitely wasn’t the way I expected my first ever surgery in life but I am super thankful for the anesthesiologists that put in extra effort to ensure that never reoccurs.
I had an ICU rotation at a major hospital in the midwest. From what I heard from a preceptor, patients being aware happens a lot more than we think. So during the surgery, you may be conscious of whats going on. However, patients do not retain these memories. All I know is that has to be the most horrible thing, to be aware but unable to communicate with your providers of what you are experiencing. Absolutely no one should have to go thru that.
@@sgleaso A c-section usually does not require general anesthesia that knocks you out. You will be fully aware and only pain is blocked, like a local anesthesia. They inject a drug near your spinal cord from your back to block pain at and below that level, but your motor functions largely remain, and anything above that level stay fully functional.
@@bskull3232 Nope...knocked totally out.
@@sgleaso Then it looks like a botched general anesthesia to me. Sorry to hear that, can't imagine what pain you'd been through being cut open without working pain management.
@@bskull3232 decades ago
Some people, including myself, wake up while under and do remember. Vividly, and yes it is an unpleasant experience to say the absolute least. I was a teenager and way too out of it to communicate what had happened to the nurses afterwards. I imagine that's not an uncommon scenario.
In 1995, I "woke up" screaming out in pain as they cut open my abdomen during a "bad" inguinal hernia surgery (am a natural red head also with asthma, sleep apnea, IBS/ IBD, and now diabetes, who drank and smoked Cannabis occasionally), and they had to give me significantly more anesthesia (which ultimately caused my heart and breathing to stop, even though it was ventilator assisted).
They had to use defibrillator paddles to resuscitate my heart (among other assistive/ restorative medical interventions). They then finished the surgery and did a pretty good job considering the stress level. But once in the RR after waking up, I have never felt pain like that in my life (in my brain), and I felt like I was close to being brain dead from lack of Oxygen (only seconds likely). In any event, surgery and anesthesia should be avoided at all costs (unless absolutely necessary) and can be obviously stressful for patient, anesthesiologist, and surgeon/ nurses alike.
As a med student currently learning anesthesia medications, this is a nice break from studying haha
Glad you enjoyed! As I med student, I received very little exposure to anesthesia so one of my main goals with these videos is to help med students get a sense of what we do. Happy studying.
@@MaxFeinsteinMD thanks! it was very neat to have you talk about the various inhaled flouranes and actually know what was going on haha
I enjoy your videos alot. I Grew up w CRNA from your Hospital, Janeen .
@@musman9853 I had surgery a couple weeks ago and when they put the mask on me and told me to breathe in I was asking if I breathe through my mouth or my nose I was so terrified. 😂so I was doing both. I remember feeling like I was slowly going deaf getting scared and the anastesioligist telling me it didn't matter mouth or nose breathing but he never answered why I felt like I was going deaf and then I just woke up in recovery. Thanks for all your studying!!! I feel like they should be paying you to go to medical school!!
@@MaxFeinsteinMD Can an amputee become a doctor?
I'm not afraid of waking up, but I am afraid of being sick when I wake up. My mother, myself and my daughter, all experience extreme nausea when waking from surgery. For my last surgery, when the anesthesiologist spoke with me before the surgery, I mentioned that I would love to wake from surgery without feeling horrible. It was like magic, he made some adjustment and I woke up feeling normal. When my mother had a surgery, I mentioned the same thing to her anesthesiologist and viola! she woke up feeling fine too. It was like a miracle!
thats the amount of zofran , and wen hey give it GREAT STUFF
This is something I am actually really scared of too, I haven’t had a surgery yet at 23 years old but my dad has had a lot of them, and is very sick every time. I have emetophobia and when I was in the recovery room with him when he has a neck surgery some years back, I fled out of the room having a panic attack and the nurses in the hallway looked confused at me. I came back after 15 mins or so and he was not vomiting anymore but was in the process of getting anti-emetics. If I am conscious when I am going into surgery one day, I want to make a point of saying I am terrified of that happening to me (along with not being put out during surgery, which happened to my mom when having an emergency c section for me, so the idea of surgeries at all are literally anxiety attack inducing). I should bring this up with my therapist
@@L1ttlef0ot Ya, what I have been seeing, they can mix up the right stuff for anxiety or what not , just let em know prior so they can do a touch of research on the mix.
There is a very real phenomenon whereby people under a general anaesthtic become conscious, able to feel the scapel, hear the voices of doctors, yet are completely paralysed. Happened to me and I remembered every moment, traumatised for months.
Was an OR nurse for 35 years and saw thousands of patients receiving general anesthesia.
This video is accurate and consistent with I witnessed over the years.
Ugh I went in for an emergency "old fashioned" appendectomy 12 years ago. I woke up. I knew there was tape on my eyes and something was in my throat. I felt an insane pain and tried to scream but then the next thing I knew, I was waking up in recovery. Horrible. Thankfully two subsequent surgeries went without such issues. Still freaks me out today.
Thank you for this presentation. I have been a science nerd my whole life and have worked in a large hospital for over twenty years. The medical field has fed my curiosity very well for all these years.
On a side note I had a bad experience years ago where I woke up, sat up and and pulled out my endotracheal tube and had a lot of blood coming out of my throat. I was darn sure making memories. Oddly the nurse anesthetist had just stepped away for a moment. One of the surgery techs called me by name (we were friends) and told me I could not do that. Someone put a mask on my face and it was lights out. Oddly, I still had pain control. I felt absolutely nothing.
You should react to Med School Insider's "So You Want to Be an Anesthesiologist?" It would be interesting to see how accurate their video was from the perspective of an actual anesthesiologist.
This is a great idea, I will do that eventually! Thanks for the suggestion
@@MaxFeinsteinMD Also if you can touch on the stressors of the job? I heard there is a higher burnout rate among anesthesiologists compared to other specialties.
Thanks
Thanks for your expertise, very interesting.
@@BoogieDownProduction in my training and journey I heard over and over and over that anesthesia is 95% “complete boredom” and 5% “sheer terror”. Lol I can see how something like that could be possible. Very much depends also on where you work (ie outpatient off-site surgery center with a 9-5ish schedule, vs being on a heavy call schedule level 1 trauma hospital with a lot more complex patients and likely (at times) very stressed out surgeons). All that info and experience took me down a different career path... but it’s definitely personal preference and once trained and in the field, you can tailor your job/career choices to what you most enjoy as well as lifestyle etc. it’s a lot of work during your training but it should be lol!
I woke up during a procedure. I had tubes in my mouth but was able so say "Hurt" "hurt". The doctors eye got so big and he yelled at he nurse to put me back to sleep. Hope I never have to do that again.
I've never considered this specialty until watching your videos. You're a great teacher! I had an Endoscopy and I was terrified until it was over and I had the best nap of my life. I wish I saw this video prior, I'd be more calm.. Also, my Mom said during her c-section (about 30 yrs ago), she woke up and felt everything! They eventually noticed and "knocked her back out". She still has anxiety and speaks about it often, especially when watching Medical shows that show surgery.
Thanks for watching, and I appreciate the nice feedback! Your mom's experience sounds really scary, and this isn't helpful to her, but anesthesia has progressed a long way in 30 years.
@@MaxFeinsteinMD You're welcome! Knowing that is extremely comforting to hear. I look forward to learning a lot more from you. Good luck in your career, I wish you the best!
It's true! Happened to me twice! I'm still upset about the first time having to watch the surgeon hammer and chisel my broken facial bones but I couldn't move or speak. Absolute horror and I'm still afraid many years later to get two major surgeries I need now. Thanks a lot! 😡
It's inexcusable!!!!
And NOBODY and I mean NOBODY should blame you. I'd feel like that, too!
I remember "coming to" during my wisdom teeth remvoal surgery when I was in my teens. I was put out for the procedure via IV. I was not feeling pain, but pressure from my jaw being held open with the equipement, and I couldn't move even if I wanted to. I remember my vision and hearing coming clearer by the second. I remember I first looked down towards my feet, and then straight into the surgeon's face. To which he immediately exclaimed, "She's coming to! Put her out fast!" I was out again what felt like a second or two later.
My biggest fear is that it will happen to me again. Every time I've been put under something similar has happened to that and I am terrified to get those teeth out of my mouth. Horrifying. Still want those things out of my mouth as fast as possible
Exact same thing happened to me, I only later found out I had red hair and thus the MC1R gene mutation (my head hair was dirty blond, strawberry blond at best, and I'd never grown out my facial hair, which is very red)
Most dental surgeries are with moderate to heavy sedation. Not uncommon to remember some things.
I prefer to have just novacain with tooth extractions. I have to admit the oral surgeons and assistants think I'm crazy. Takes some explaining to talk them into it. I could only have it done during my 3 hr break driving a school bus. And even if I took the time off there was no one to take me to and from. Even had a gum graft that way. But going back and driving I couldn't talk. Loved my kids but they are kids. I wrote out my message and had one of my really good kids come read it off into the microphone. Those kids were so good to me. And most wanted to see the stitches lol They all got treats the next week.
@@twillbdone3273 I had wisdoms out also when I was a teen and I told off on myself. Good boy image was gone. LOL. You are tough. Good luck to you!
In the 70’s the doctors started surgery while I was awake but already paralyzed. Left me very phobic about medical settings. I think they used sodium pentathol?
Years later, 1990’s, had hernia surgery, given my history doctor said they would do light sedation along with local anesthesia. I think they used versed and valium. Did not work at all! I seemed to be completely immune, even at the maximum dose. The local did not work all that well either… was very painful. BUT, I did not find the experience to be a bad one. Pain I can take. It was no worse than a bad migraine. It was being paralyzed that was so scary. I had a good discussion with the doctor and nurses about all sorts of things, and the doctor gave me the unused outer part of my hernia patch.
In the 2010’s learned that Propofol knocks me right out, yay. Finally I am a normal patient. :-)
I woke up during surgery on my two badly broken legs, when my left leg was WIDE open and having titanium plates installed. They had to hold me down because I was franticly trying to figure out what was happening. It was about 3 years ago, and I remember every second like it was yesterday. It was HORRIFYING.
My grandma has memories from during a surgery. My mom once woke up during one of her surgeries. I've woken up immediately after my surgeries. We're quite the family.
My family does, too. Both surgeries I've had, I woke up while they were still sewing me up. It is almost like my body is telling my mind they are finished enough for me to get outta there! Gotta love neuro conditions mixed with being resistant to staying under!
I've only been under general anesthesia once. When I was wheeled back to the operating room and transferred to the table, they put the mask on me and told me to count backwards from 100. I started to but got bored and started talking to the guy about living out in the country and I could hear somebody counting the instruments across the room. Then they come over and asked "is that really on? What's wrong with her?" We talked for a couple more mins then it seemed like I blinked and woke up on the operating table again right after they finished. I started grabbing my stomach asking if it was done yet, of course I got yelled at and told not to do that but then I never went back to sleep until I got home hours later. I had a second procedure a month later under local anesthesia and felt everything, I cried the whole time and just tried to stare at the ceiling so I could concentrate and stay still. I didn't tell my doctor until afterwards that I remembered conversations from the first operating room and that I felt everything the second time. His face was pure shock. But I wasn't surprised, I have to take enough sleep medicine every night to knock out a horse. I think more needs to be looked into for people with very high tolerances.
Hi, so actually everyone thinks we put people to sleep with our gas (sevoflurane, isoflurane, desflurane) but actually we usually don't (we do this for kids or people who don't have an IV), we just use the gas to keep you asleep (for most procedures, we can also do a TIVA if needed). Actually you go to sleep thru your IV. When the mask is placed on you it's just oxygen so we can remove all the nitrogen from your lungs so we can make the most of the time before we intubate. Propofol (sometimes etomidate) is used to put you to sleep, you're usually given fentanyl or esmolol too to blunt sympathetic responses to laryngoscopy, and you are also paralyzed (usually rocuronium or some other paralytic). Before you get to the operating room we drug you with versed/midazolam, which is kind of like super strong xanax. Some people feel it, others don't (depends on your social life and biology) but it helps calm you down and also has some retroactive amnesia so you forget going into the OR. Again you're probably young so it didn't hit you so hard! As for local, yes that can happen, the thing about local is it takes time. So for small procedures surgeons will inject and just cut, if anesthesiologists/CAAs/CRNAs do a block or local they do a better job and it works better since its our specialty! But yes even for generals different people have different tolerances. We measure gas with levels called a MAC. Its like the ED50 for the various gases we use. There are a variety of factors that are involved based on how much we give to people, and it can also be measured with a BIS (the sticker he had on in the beginning of the video).
@@sm5pac3 that was very insightful, thank you!
I’ve never been awake during an entire procedure but always wake and need more medication. I feel so bad for you.
I’m so sorry that happened to you. I hope your doing better 🙁
I haven’t gone under GA but have had a few eye procedures done under local anesthesia. I feel you on the pain/uncomfortable bit. I’m highly sensitive too and would communicate it to the surgeon that I am feeling the pain or highly uncomfortable at which point they increase the blocks they put on to your body. Keep them informed and don’t be internalizing that pain! Can be traumatizing 🙈
I have fully woken up during surgery 4 times. From the comments, this is a common occurrence. Every time was painful and/or traumatic. Each time I was fully awake and aware, and definitely making new memories. I now require Valium with my Propofol drip. I now understand why some people refuse life saving surgery. I really wish you'd talk more about this problem, instead of sweeping it under the rug, like our traumatic experiences don't matter. We are patients too. We deserve better than to be dismissed.
I had ankle replacement surgery where I could recall most everything . I had no pain, couldn’t move, but I could hear all kinds of things, and time passed very slowly. I could hear the nurses respond to doctors, and hear the doctors asking for instruments. Frankly, it was horrifying. I always mention this when facing surgery again, as I have at least twice since.
Sounds like you had a spinal and not a general anesthetic.
As someone who "woke up" during both my tonsils and wisdom teeth surgeries, this was quite interesting. Luckily, I felt no pain either time. I do remember the dentist tugging in my mouth before he noticed that I was "awake". Oddly enough, I have a hard time "coming out of it" once the procedure is over. The body is weird.
I was a patient once there! I love this hospital!! Thanks so much for this, I have major surgery coming up & you made me feel better knowing I'll be well cared for.
I came to while getting a hip replacement. I could open my eyes and saw the nurses putting warming blankets on me. They were saying that my temperature was up to 94 degrees. I remember asking them 94 ! Then I ask them if I was dieing. I saw lights in the operating room and other people. No one answered me. Then I woke up. I felt like crap! Found out next day I had lost 2 units of blood! They didn't understand. I thought I maybe I dreamed it. Then I got a bill with the warming blankets included. I knew then I was not dreaming. I kept having flashbacks of this, I had to get on the side of the rode one time. It was very traumatic! It changed me permanently.
I had read every account of walking up during surgery and was convinced it was going to happen to me. Stories about being awake but totally paralyzed had me terrified. It couldn’t have been further from reality. Yes, a little sickness from the anesthesia and sore from the surgery, but nothing I had imagined. This isn’t the 1800s anymore
I'm happy to say that I had two lumpectomies two weeks apart last summer and my anesthesiologists were fantastic. I asked for and received anti nausea meds ahead of time, and I felt great after. I had two great "naps".
As retired RN in the EP lab I used to administer moderate sedation and circulate during general anesthesia. During moderate sedation cases patients were often semi-aware, however I was able to produce retrograde amnesia in almost every case. EP cases can sometimes take many hours and general anesthesia is generally preferred for safety and control. In my two plus decades in this arena I cannot remember a single patient who reported awareness during general anesthesia. We always used a local for incision and puncture procedures. As you mention, we always used a combination of anesthetic agents plus narcotics and other analgesics. Good communication between the surgeon and anesthesiologist allowed us to prepare for potentially painful portions of the procedure by administering narcotics and making sure the patient is quite deep. It is fairly easy to tell when a patient lightens enough to potentially emerge and immediately address this. We definitely avoided personal discussions about any patient during procedures.
Just want to mention people who have near death experiences have proven so by mentioning the conversation in the OR. I can't imagine it happens very often. I'm sure you would know something about that
Aw, you wish it was just a pinky moving! Man, I rolled over and started trying to rock myself back to sleep right in the middle of the procedure (it's my standard response to pain). I still remember how the tube sticking into my abdomen felt when I rolled over, pulling on it, and all the doctors and the operating room became chaos as they screamed at me not to open my eyes (and to stop moving while they tried to restrain me from actually moving). When I woke up in the recovery area asking if I could open my eyes yet, the surgeon was at my bedside with a gaggle of others asking me questions about what I remembered. I told them, and they looked less than happy. Apparently, it's possible to go from being totally under to being fairly awake in a very short period of time (though they suspected it was related to my unusual neurology and the chronic pain condition I've had from birth).
I've been under general anesthesia three times in my life and I've woke up each time. The first time I could hear everything happening and started looking around, I felt someone tap my shoulder and say "take a big deep breath" and then I was out until it was over. Next time I woke up during surgery to remove a tumor in my neck, I looked around and tried to talk, I heard someone say "let's give her more (medication) before we continue". Last time I woke up during surgery was when the fire alarm was going off in the hospital! They were discussing if the evacuation applied to the OR, and what to do next. I heard a person say the OR was fireproof and we should just continue. I went back under after that. In recovery I asked if the fire alarm was going off earlier. They said yes but I should have no memory of that! If I ever need surgery again i'm just going to ask if I can stay awake for it.
That would be your best bet! I NEVER want to see an O.R. suite again!!!
No bueno! 😵💫
My grandpa woke up during his open heart surgery and they imeditly knocked him back out and later when he mentioned it they just told him he was dreaming and put it off as nothing. He was scared for life because of it. He really woke up. And he felt pain the moment he was awake to. Everyone in my family has a super high tolerance to any kind of medication why not anesthesia
It can definitely run in families, it does in mine, and we have been instructed to tell an relevant docs!
I was wide awake during my colonoscopy. It was agonisingly painful, and remember everything. They gave me extra anaesthesia, and said they'd maxed the amount they could give me. It was horrific.
Same here! I was awake during the whole procedure and it was excruciating. They gave me fentanyl after I screamed "stop!". I have refused to go back for more....
Oh I'm sorry to hear that :/
You're supposed to be awake during a colonoscopy
@@MaxFeinsteinMD you're a doctor aren't you? You're not even gonna say anything. Sedated does not mean asleep.
@@theywalkinguptoyouand4060 Not necessary.
I woke up during during two different procedures..One was a cystacyl and sling the other was a colonoscoy where he flipped a volulus I had in the lower left gut. Both time the anesthesiologist had tough time getting me back under..the drs doing procedures in both cases just kept talking me through it. I did feel some pain too with both of them but I remeber both procedures very well. Years later I found out I have Ehlers Danlos Syndrome and now that's all I need to tell the anesthesiologist (well that and I have the history of waking up) and I've never had another problem and I've had a lot of surgeries.
I had my knee replaced last year and had an epidural and complete sedation. I woke up mid surgery, was awake for several minutes, and finally told them I was awake. I wasn’t happy as clearly nobody was paying attention. They put me back under.
Ah that sounds really frustrating, sorry you had that experience.
Elaine Matthys , I woke up during my first knee replacement, remember hearing sounds like a construction site ( banging sounds, like a hammer ! ) I stated " what the hell are they doing rebuilding the twin towers "
@@MaxFeinsteinMD Do you think that this is happening because the man was not monitoring the patient?
90,000 Americans die in hospitals annually due to "accidents" and other medical malpractice. 90,000. Many of the deaths are covered up.
@@lindamercantini5731 LOLOLOLOLOLOL DID YOU FEEL PAIN?????
Thank you so much for this video, Dr. Feinstein. I already knew a little about anesthesia. This video connected the dots, so to speak. I'm just a patient, but I do my best to know as much as I can about my conditions, and the medications and procedures that are used to treat them. I think my physicians and surgeons deserve intelligent conversation.
In the "me, too" department, I had minimal sedation for a kyphoplasty. During the procedure, I remember joking around with one of the nurses, but I have no idea what either of us said. I'm pretty sure midazolam was on the menu. Not sure about propofol, although I had it for a different procedure. Thanks again. You're an excellent teacher.
My wife had surgery under general anesthesia and remembers a few things.. severe pain and hearing the doctor saying. "She's waking up".. and the commotion about this. Obviously she formed these memories to speak of it later and now has a miserable memory and dread of ever repeating the whole thing one day. Kind of a horror actually. I don't know what chemical she was administered.
Maybe it was a new drug and the dosage was wrong. If not, patients' medical notes should probably highlight 'unusual tolerance' or something to help get the dose right next time. Agree, stuff of nightmares.
I just posted about this above in another video about “lonely people under anesthesia?” I wasn’t lonely, but I DID regain conciousness while under general for major abdominal surgery.
When I mentioned what happened, the doc chuckled until I repeated a verbatim conversation he had during the surgery about a new car he had just purchased, which I could not have possibly known! Plus I repeated the OR conversation back to him. He quickly left to talk with the Anesthesiologist, and all my follow-up spots were with his interns. No matter what they say, it DOES happen!
My precious grandma woke up during her exploratory abdominal surgery 8 years ago. She now has PTSD and short term memory loss. What happened was the anesthesiologist left the OR and the surgeon didn’t even know until after. the Anastasia dr said “it just happenes sometimes” then walks out the room. The surgeon had a better vibe and was crying to my grandma after. My grandma woke up and said she could her all the comments being said, or different names of tools requested from the surgeon. She woke up thinking the surgery was over when she was in the middle of it
Is her name Donna by any chance
@@enby_of_chaos2008 what grandma isnt named donna?
I wish I’d found your channel before my kidney surgery. I was very worried about anesthesia before going in. You covered a broad range of technical detail in a way that lay people could understand. 👍
Woke up in surgery to reverse a colostomy. I heard what the Drs were saying to each other, could feel them touching my stomach but felt no pain. The worst part was when I realized I couldn't take a breath and was completely paralyzed so in my mind I didn't know how I was going to tell them that I was awake! They must've realized pretty quickly because it didn't last too long, thank God. It was the most terrifying thing that's ever happened to me!
I have anesthesia intolerance and have actually worked up to surgery. I also have resistance to other things like opiates and analgesics like lidocaine. i felt a lot of pain and remember heating the doctors talking and then I fell back asleep. after I woke up, they did confirm this "minor complications" as the surgeon said lol. had no clue why until I learned years later I had a genetic condition linked to anesthesia intolerance!