Question 1

how does general anesthesia wear off after surgery?

Accepted Answer

Many mechanisms: Two most common is blowing off anesthetic gases from your lungs and second decrease in concentration of anesthetic, sedative and pain medications in your blood. You will get an oxygen mask immediately after for a little while. Relax, take nice deep breaths in and out and you'll be out of the recovery unit in no time.

Question 2

could having a bad seizure when i'm waking up after surgery be a reaction to general anesthesia?

Accepted Answer

Probably not: Usually general anesthetics suppress seizures rather than make you more susceptible to them. However some medications can lower your seizure threshold. You should go over all your meds and their interactions with your doctor. If you had brain surgery, that could play a role in this situation too.

Question 3

noticing eye floaters three months after surgery under general anesthesia.  can drugs used for anesthesia cause eye problems such as floaters?

Accepted Answer

Not related: You most probably have a vitreous floater.  The clear gel that fills eyeball is normally attached to all parts of the inside of the eye.  As we get older it can become more liquid (watery) and detaches from the back of the retina causing your "dirt" floater.  This can also reult in a retinal tear or detachment  you should see your eye doctor to check the retina for this or hemorrhage (blood).

Question 4

i am 68 years and my eye doctor wants to do tear duct surgery which will require thirty minutes of general anesthesia. i am concerned about cognitive problems after surgery. is my age a problem for anesthesia or do think it would be safe?

Accepted Answer

: If you are healthy and have no cognitive issues you will be fine. But discuss your apprehension with your MD and the anesthesiologist.

Question 5

can general anesthesia cause constipation and swelling for more than 3 days after surgery! if yes, what are the remedies?

Accepted Answer

Not likely: It's extremely unlikely for General Anesthesia to cause these symptoms- but very common for opioid based pain medications to cause constipation- and nearly every general anesthetic / surgery is accompanied by opioid pain meds-  though 3 days out probably not related to that either, so much as any Norco/Percocet/hydrocodone, etc.  you may have been taking after surgery for pain.

Question 6

my husband needs a surgery soon and we want to try to get pregnant. is it possible that general anesthesia has any effect on sperm, is it safe to try to get pregnant quickly after surgery?

Accepted Answer

: General anesthesia per se would not affect fertility. The reason for surgery may be a consideration more than anesthesia.
Wish you and your husband good health!

Question 7

are there any long-term side-effects of general anesthesia, such as memory loss or dementia?

Accepted Answer

Possible: Very rare but I have seen patients where this has happened - get a consult with aneurologist

Question 8

what are the major side effects of general anesthesia?

Accepted Answer

Many side effects: The side effects are many but fortunately short lived.  Probably the most significant is post operative nausea in the immediate period after surgery, this is treatable.  Prolonged "grogginess", confusion in the elderly, sleepiness, sore throat(transient) are other side effects.  It is important to know that these are typically absent on day two.

Question 9

what side effects does general anesthesia have on a 30 week fetus?

Accepted Answer

Short-lived: General anesthesia that a mother receives passes through her system into the baby's system. However, it goes away quickly too. If the baby were born right away, it might be sleepy or need help with breathing. But assuming that the baby is not born yet, the anesthesia meds will be gone within a few hours. At 30 weeks, all the baby's organs and limbs are formed, so there is no risk of birth defects.

Question 10

could you tell me what are side effects of being put under general anesthesia?

Accepted Answer

Varied: When we discuss possible side effects we may group them into "more likely", "less likely", and "rare" and  personalize the information for the patient's health issues and procedure. Example list: nausea, vomiting, sore throat, tooth damage,  inadequate post-op pain relief, allergies or other reaction to medication ranging from minor to severe, heart rhythm problems, urinary retention, etc.

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Doctor answers about:

Long term side effects of general anesthesia after surgery

A member asked:

How does general anesthesia wear off after surgery?

A member asked:

Could having a bad seizure when i'm waking up after surgery be a reaction to general anesthesia?

A member asked:

Noticing eye floaters three months after surgery under general anesthesia. can drugs used for anesthesia cause eye problems such as floaters?

A member asked:

I am 68 years and my eye doctor wants to do tear duct surgery which will require thirty minutes of general anesthesia. i am concerned about cognitive problems after surgery. is my age a problem for anesthesia or do think it would be safe?

A member asked:

Can general anesthesia cause constipation and swelling for more than 3 days after surgery! if yes, what are the remedies?

A member asked:

My husband needs a surgery soon and we want to try to get pregnant. is it possible that general anesthesia has any effect on sperm, is it safe to try to get pregnant quickly after surgery?

A member asked:

Are there any long-term side-effects of general anesthesia, such as memory loss or dementia?

A member asked:

What are the major side effects of general anesthesia?

A member asked:

What side effects does general anesthesia have on a 30 week fetus?

A member asked:

Could you tell me what are side effects of being put under general anesthesia?

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