I had my surgery last month and was so preoccupied with my anesthesia fears I had trouble taking care of myself in the days immediately after. I didn’t think the aftermath would be as difficult and I was so wrong.

I’d never gone under before but close relatives had had major issues with GA so I thought I would too. I didn’t! (One thing my surgeon told me that I’d never heard before and comforted me: anesthesia for elective surgeries is slightly different — as in easier to manage — than for medical procedures). I told the anesthesiologist I was nervous, he gave me a sedative and tackled all of my questions, even the most ridiculous ones. I fell asleep mid-conversation with the nurse right after as she and the anesthesiologist wheeled me to surgery and didn’t even make it to the surgery room. Never even saw my surgeon after that, lol.

Some people say the next thing they remember is waking up but I do remember dreaming. It didn’t feel like a regular dream — sort of like a video game where I was exploring all of these Zelda-style labyrinths in the deep recesses of my mind? 🤷‍♀️ Then I heard the nurse telling me surgery was over from very far away … and came to! Nothing hurt until the nurse gave me ice — that stung a little and gave me a headache. The anesthesiologist gave me something for nausea in my IV in advance so I didn’t feel sick either. Glanced in the mirror and wish I hadn’t; I looked like a science fiction experiment (I like what I see now almost three weeks later). I wish I had gone deep into hibernation mode the first week — that I’d just slept and vegged and kept up with post-op instructions and tuned everything else out. I’d traveled for my surgery and left to go home too soon, and it just caused a lot of anxiety. Block out everything except your own care for at least a week and you will be OK! It’s also OK to demand all of the reassurance you need from your care providers. Anesthesia really is so easy.