First of all, I’m male and in my 40s. Unintentionally, due to an injury 4-5 years ago, cosmetic surgeries went wrong and had to be repeated, so I have experienced general anesthesia and sedation anesthesia more than 7 times. Please note that I’m speaking from my own standards and my own perspective.
Right before surgery, you probably looked up, heard, and studied a lot of knowledge and information. In fact, the condition of your attending doctor is just as important as that. Before entering the hospital, before changing into hospital clothes, tell the family members or acquaintances you need to contact that you’re having surgery, so you’ll contact them late today or again tomorrow. Even if the surgery ends 4 hours later, 4 hours later you may be mentally hazy and not in a state for ordinary conversation or common-sense judgment. So say goodbye to your phone in advance, take deep breaths, and think only good thoughts. “Now this tiresome thing is over. I can become happier...” Put the phone down a little earlier.... It’s good for your mental health.... And.... for general anesthesia, once you lie down on the bed, first of all you need to be in the most comfortable position for yourself. If you’re uncomfortable but undergo surgery anyway, after the anesthesia wears off, that area can really hurt for 3-4 days. It keeps hurting enough to make you angry. Even if you get into the most comfortable position, basically the arm with the IV will still make you wonder why it hurts so much, and you’ll suffer for a few days.... I was in a slightly uncomfortable position and thought, “This much is fine,” then just underwent general anesthesia and surgery, and truly.... for 4-5 days, my neck, back, and shoulders were in severe pain from what felt like a huge bruise and muscle soreness. I’m someone who tolerates pain well, but this felt like too much.... So for every general anesthesia surgery, the first thing is to set yourself in the most comfortable posture and position before anesthesia. It may seem like nothing, but it is very much something. Before and after this general anesthesia surgery, I was mentally very stable, and even after waking from anesthesia I was very stable, with almost no painful areas. (I think pain on the arm side where the injection is placed can’t be helped. Compared with the previous pain, it was really about a 9:1 level, so I thought I was fortunate.)
Now, then, you wake up from anesthesia. It will vary a lot depending on the surgical details and area, but in my case it was nose surgery (functional surgery included), osteotomy, inferior turbinate, etc. I stayed in the hospital for 2-3 days with a PCA pain-control pump attached. If you wake up from anesthesia early, many internal organs may still not be fully awake. Among them, the most uncomfortable area is urination. Some places said it was okay to drink water, and some said to drink water after urinating. At a place where I woke up a little early from anesthesia, I felt like I needed to urinate, but when I went to the bathroom I couldn’t, and this happened more than 10 times. It was subtly uncomfortable, and I wondered if I needed to take medicine to make urine come out. If it doesn’t come out once, don’t just go right away because you feel a slight signal. Just wait. If a lot of time has passed, drink water and try again. Time passing is the answer, but if 7-8 hours have passed after surgery, drink water. First drink water, then eat food 2 hours later. It differs slightly by hospital, so please keep that in mind.
Also, after anesthesia, the most important things are supplies and a route for patient movement that is not inconvenient.
Supplies Humidifier!!! (If you’re being admitted, absolutely bring a humidifier. If it’s a cold season, choose one with warm humidification; if it’s a hot season, it doesn’t matter. Especially with general anesthesia, a breathing tube is inserted through the throat, so when you wake up from anesthesia, your throat hurts first. The next day and the day after that too, a humidifier is extremely essential. And since there are many periods when the nose is blocked, a humidifier is essential even after going home.) Throat candies sold at the hospital, and ordinary candies sold at supermarkets. If you drink water often or keep candy in your mouth, saliva forms, which can reduce throat pain or strain. Wet wipes (Your hands keep reaching for them constantly. You need to wipe blood, and wipe itchy areas and dirty areas.) Alcohol swabs (I had surgery at a hospital. Your hand may go to the surgical area, and you may wipe areas where blood is coming out. I used these the most and they were very useful. Plenty, about 100.) Cotton swabs (There are many places to use them, such as applying medication, removing eye discharge, etc.) Trash bin (Put it somewhere you can immediately throw things into, whether you’re lying down or sitting/standing.) Paper cups (Especially for people who had nose surgery, since you have to breathe only through your mouth, your throat hurts and gets strained a lot. You need to drink small amounts of water often.) Straws (If you had surgery where you must not lift your head, or depending on what you eat, people who need a straw should drink/eat through a straw. It’s comfortable and lets you consume things.) Mouthwash (You’re bleeding and need to rest, but are you going to brush your teeth?? For the first few days, just use mouthwash~) Phone charger, and a 2-3 meter power strip, phone holder, earphones. On the first and second days, I just had things like konjac jelly drinks. Also protein drinks and things that are easy to consume and can supplement nutrition seemed best.
That’s all for my writing about before and after general anesthesia and supplies. I hope you always think of it as the last time, and I hope all your surgeries go well.
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