Going under General Anesthesia is NOT like sleep

There are no dreams under General Anesthesia, and pattern of brain waves is quite different then sleep.

✰ 𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐓 𝐌𝐄 ✰
I’m Dr. Myro Figura, an Anesthesiologist, medical school educator and physician entrepreneur in Los Angeles. Let's talk about health while keeping things light!

I work in an academic medical center and teach medical students as well as residents. In addition to my job as a doctor, I am passionate about healthcare innovation. I started a company @healfast which makes products for surgery recovery.

Follow along for #shorts videos about my life as a #doctor, #entrepreneurship, and in general, living life to the fullest.

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→ Opinions expressed are solely my own and do not express the views or opinions of my employer.
→ The information in this video is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. All content, including text, graphics, images, and information, contained in this video is for general information purposes only and does not replace a consultation with your own doctor/health professional.

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[sarahh]

Having a friendly surgical team definitely helps to keep you calm. I remember taking two deep breaths and then they put the drugs in. My eyes went heavy then I remember being in recovery. I am thankful for people who dedicate their lives to medicine.

[ngs]

I had surgery for thyroid cancer July 2020. To say I was terrified is an understatement, I truly believed that I was not going to wake up and see my kids again. My team was incredible, especially the anesthesiologist and the residents. They walked me through the entire thing, held my hand and dried my eyes when they saw that I was crying. They did not administer the sleepy meds until I was calm, told me I was going to take a nap and they would take good care of me. I appreciate them so much, even wrote letters to the hospital letting them know how wonderful they were.

[aubreyyoung]

My anesthesiologist was the person I put all my faith in before my very first general anesthesia surgery for my shoulder. I was scared out of my mind and she said calmly, "it's alright if you're nervous, but we aren't! I'll be there the entire time, and in a couple minutes I'll give you something that will make you like us even more." Her confidence, humor, and compassion settled me down and I woke up in what felt like the blink of an eye.

[nnylasoR]

This video just prompted all the tears.
I struggle with anxiety, and I am so SO thankful to the team that spoke calmly and kindly to me —without infantilizing or patronizing— as they put me under and brought me back — and the dental surgeon who did such a good job [extracting my mostly-gone molar] that I not only healed quickly with no complications, but required NO pain meds through the healing process.
I am beyond grateful that there are some uber experienced, professional, *and* very compassionate specialists out there.

[lisabaginski]

Th me few times I have had anesthesia the teams were so kind I woke up with such happiness. One of the doctors even held my hand and the last words I remember him speaking were, “we are going to take very good care of you.” I was completely comforted.

[JustTheTruth-Please]

Endometriosis lead to a few surgeries for me. My first one, I stopped the team before going under and asked my wonderful dr if he enjoyed doing surgery like this and he gave me a big smile and said "I LOVE it, I love helping people" and I went under so happy. I have a needle phobia and before one surgery I was so sick they couldn't get a vein and I was shaking like a scared dog. The anesthesiologist arranged for me to go on back and get gassed down so they could get the vein. A good medical team is essential and appreciated.

[ambermarieharper]

It's so interesting how it feels like you're going to sleep, but you wake up one second later.

[VM-]

I had general anesthesia some years ago to remove a tumor. I normally never had dreams but this one was very crazy. My mom had passed away not long before my surgery. She came and got me, and I went to heaven with her. It was so real. She was back in her thirties, and very healthy. I was her caretaker before she passed away. I didn't want to go back. There were lots of people there with her. When I woke up, it took me a while to figure out what just happened. The man that was next to me in the other bay asked the nurse, can you dream during surgery? She said no. At my follow-up appointment I spoke to the surgeon's nurse and told her what happened. She thought it was so awesome, and said she felt that my mom did come and visit me during my surgery. I still remember it like yesterday ♥️

[miacolt]

This is SO true. Thanks for touching on this. I have had too much awareness in some minor procedures/occasionally larger surgeries in OR too.
I metabolize anesthesia and opiates faster than average due to my genetics, and often times anesthesiologists will read my history and hear me when I explain this and give me a bit more propofol/sedation to try to avoid this. A rare few haven’t always believed me, and have gaslit me. Those have been the cases where I typically wake up; one time I ripped the endoscope out.
Having previous traumatic experiences and simply not having that trust in your team makes your trauma response fight the anesthesia even more than your body already does genetically. I had some situations in which doctors continued to talk about me inappropriately while I was under but heard some of it, and due to this I have so much trauma I’ve had to work through. A compassionate anesthesiologist who believes you, reads your last couple anesthesia notes and medicates you properly will make all the difference. I always wake up very calm if I have a kind anesthesiologist. It truly is night and day.

[mandibailey]

I love anesthesiologists. I have Narcolepsy with Cataplexy, REM sleep behavior disorder, night terrors, and Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis. The only time I ever get actual "sleep/ rest" is under anesthesia. It really is a blessing. I hope anesthesiologists I have had know how much I appreciate the versed and propofol. I'm not a candidate for Xyrem, so the only time I'll get real sleep is during surgery. Thank you, anesthesia, for giving this red-haired patient with a complicated hx & medications safe, "asleep, " and giving me the amnesia medicine. Anesthesiologists truly have your life in their hands. It's not an easy job. I cry and tell them I love them when the medications are starting to wear off. They always stay with me because I have a history of waking up fighting. I've pulled out my IVs and ETT in the past (pulling out the ETT caused an emergency second surgery). I always request soft restraints now. I don't like using electronic medical record systems, but I'm quite thankful for them.

[juliejanesmith]

I love anesthesia. The idea that we get basically blink and the hard part- the surgery- is over. It’s amazing how we stumbled upon it before even knowing how it works.

[angeliqueangelique]

I was extremely frightened to go under and the nurse anesthesiologist really calmed me down. We chatted and I felt like I could trust her. I was sooo thankful.

[jeanamichelle]

Agree totally. My first surgery, i was ignorant to everything. I woke up and told my husband " I could've died and had no idea. It literally felt like a few seconds" 😮

[WandaGlodowski]

My friend was an anesthesiologist. He told me how important it was to do his job with perfection and compassion.

[gailtrotman]

Absolutely my experience 4 weeks ago! Don't worry a bit. Relax. Your surgical team only want an excellent outcome! Doctors today have their surgical procedures down to a fine science! 4 weeks post - surgery and I am 95% back to normal. I feel wonderful.

[joybarber]

I remember my anesthesiologist was sneaky as hell lol. The surgeon was having me move into the right position. He goes "right there". Before I could even untense from scooting over i noticed the anesthesiologist had picked up my line. I asked him "what's that?" He says "something to relax you before we put you under" i go "oh, okay". It was like a few seconds of interaction total tops. Right after I said "Okay." My life cut to black and I woke up fighting nurses off because I was trying to hang over the edge of the gurney while they were wheeling me to post op area. They didn't even give me the chance to panic. 😂😂😂
I appreciate them.

[texasncgirl]

I'm a recovery room nurse and have had several patients tell me the dreams they had while under. One patient kept apologizing to us because he dreamt he fought with us and hit a female nurse. Also, had patients tell me they were with their loved ones who had passed away, while under general anesthesia. One patient told me he was in the Mandalorian, he was so excited and wouldn't stop talking about it 🤣🤣

[LeslieStead]

The compassion really does help a lot. A lot. It’s so wonderful that you know that. ❤️

[jamessanders]

The last recovery room nurse i had was this amazingly caring guy who made the entire thing a total breeze. Really quality human.

[SureWhatever]

Honestly, surgery is terrifying to me, and I am so so thankful for the team that I had who were there for me, and talked me through all of it.