Being under general anaesthetic

If you haven’t been under general anaesthetic before, I will try to explain how it feels so that you know what to expect. When the anaesthetist pressed the syringe, I felt a small, almost insignificant amount of tingling in my hand near the cannula. I decide at this point to lay back and shut my eyes. I just felt really, really sleepy – like I had just woken up from a long lay-in. Personally, it felt like ‘choosing to go asleep’ but it just happened very quickly. Again, other people experience slightly different sensations, but all of them are good and relaxing! From leaving my bed on the ward to being put under took no more than around 7 minutes in total. It isn’t a long or drawn out process. Once they give you the needle, you are out within about 5 seconds!

When you are asleep, you do not experience anything. You have no sensation of anything that happens whilst you are under. You do not dream. You are not aware that anything is happening to you. In effect, it is like no time passes. Very hard to explain until you have it done; but, again, quite cool!