Is anesthesia like dying?

[canyounotbesad]

Next month I have to get ACL/Meniscus surgery, and I have to be put under. It's not something I've been looking forward to cause I get sleep paralysis and don't want to get stuck. I'm also nervous about saying or doing something that is out of character and upsetting someone or making more issues for myself later on. Researching it, the consensus is that no one pays attention to what you say when coming out of it and that I won't even process being put under and coming out. It will kinda be like skipping ahead in a movie. The more I think of that the more I wonder if that is what dying is like. You just stop being. I wonder if being put under will make want too CTB more or less.

 

[sorrowful]

That is what it was like for me, was conscious one second and then suddenly hours had passed. No memory of what happened when I was under at all, nor did I have any dreams or anything, it was as if I had jumped ahead in time. You don't even remember passing out, I was having a conversation with the doctor and then the next moment I was waking up. It's quite nice, really. I wouldn't worry about what you say after.

 

[Lady Laudanum]

I've been under anesthesia twice but never died so can't tell you haha

 

[SoulWhisperer]

My experience with full anesthetic was kind of concerning to me but not for the reason you may think.

I was on the bed with a lot of machinery attached to me and I was talking to the docs like nothing then when they put the mask with the anesthetic gas EVERYTHING starts twisting in my eyesight. I swear everything became a spiral and the doctors became literal wooden sticks in my eyes. I immediately lost track of time and I was able to recall 9 seconds before gking unconscious. However what's actually happened was that around 4 minutes elapsed in the "real" world. But those 4m LITERALLY felt like 9 seconds to me it was so weird... The doctors at the end told me that they had to increase the amount of gas because I wasn't sleeping yet.

Now, lemme tell you, it was a pacific experience. I literally couldn't feel anything, I simply saw the world twist before my eyes and then fell into the deepest sleep of my life. It indeed was very calm. But what concerned me is how the doctors said they had to increase gas. Was I somehow resistant to the medicines or did they miscalculate and didn't give me enough?

Overall though it wasn't a bad experience. I woke up several hours ago and felt like normal, just, woke up after a very long (8-10h) sleep. They gave me some medicine before the operation which made me look like I was on crack but my mind was more or less okay.

If I could die the same way the peaceful anesthetic knocked me out I'd be on cloud nine now.

 

[Ash]

My first general anaesthetic, I was so anxious I had horrible nightmares and punched a nurse when I came to, so I very much hope not.

 

[Morte]

Yes, that's how I imagine instant death. When I had my surgery, the doctor put on me a nitrogen mask and asked me to breathe, I did while trying to stay awake to troll him, but in an instant the surgery was over and several hours had already passed.

 

[Daxter777]

From the accounts I've read online death is like that. You are awake and then nothingness and then they get revived and are back so its very much like anesthesia.

 

[canyounotbesad]

I've been under anesthesia twice but never died so can't tell you haha

Damn was really hoping a ghost would give me some insight :( Guess they wanna gatekeep the info

My experience with full anesthetic was kind of concerning to me but not for the reason you may think.

I was on the bed with a lot of machinery attached to me and I was talking to the docs like nothing then when they put the mask with the anesthetic gas EVERYTHING starts twisting in my eyesight. I swear everything became a spiral and the doctors became literal wooden sticks in my eyes. I immediately lost track of time and I was able to recall 9 seconds before gking unconscious. However what's actually happened was that around 4 minutes elapsed in the "real" world. But those 4m LITERALLY felt like 9 seconds to me it was so weird... The doctors at the end told me that they had to increase the amount of gas because I wasn't sleeping yet.

Now, lemme tell you, it was a pacific experience. I literally couldn't feel anything, I simply saw the world twist before my eyes and then fell into the deepest sleep of my life. It indeed was very calm. But what concerned me is how the doctors said they had to increase gas. Was I somehow resistant to the medicines or did they miscalculate and didn't give me enough?

Overall though it wasn't a bad experience. I woke up several hours ago and felt like normal, just, woke up after a very long (8-10h) sleep. They gave me some medicine before the operation which made me look like I was on crack but my mind was more or less okay.

If I could die the same way the peaceful anesthetic knocked me out I'd be on cloud nine now.

Aw man I hope I don't have to have last minuet adjustments cause I have a high tolerance to over-the-counter sleep aid and pain meds. I also have a high tolerance to stuff like alcohol and pain (I think I do at least cause I've been walking without an ACL and misaligned bones for almost a year now). I'm glad it's at least peaceful

My first general anaesthetic, I was so anxious I had horrible nightmares and punched a nurse when I came to, so I very much hope not.

I'm sorry but this is kinda funny, were they at least understanding? I have read that it isn't super uncommon for people to come to on edge and aggressive

 

[Themogger]

It's like a dreamless slumber

 

[CantDoIt]

I never dreamed when I was under but I guess some do ;0

 

[SomePeacePlease]

I did 20 Electroshock treatments back in 2018, so was put under twice a week for some months.
The anaesthesia was my favorite part. Counting backwards from 10, and hitting 8 I always thought that I wish that was it, that I wouldn't wake up again. It was so peaceful, and so soothing.

Waking up after the ECT was a different story...

 

[GuessWhosBack]

Next month I have to get ACL/Meniscus surgery, and I have to be put under. It's not something I've been looking forward to cause I get sleep paralysis and don't want to get stuck. I'm also nervous about saying or doing something that is out of character and upsetting someone or making more issues for myself later on. Researching it, the consensus is that no one pays attention to what you say when coming out of it and that I won't even process being put under and coming out. It will kinda be like skipping ahead in a movie. The more I think of that the more I wonder if that is what dying is like. You just stop being. I wonder if being put under will make want too CTB more or less.

I've been under anesthesia around 7 times. A couple of times it was administered through some kind of gas mask, and a couple others via my left arm through a needle. I can describe the process in excruciating detail, as follows:

1. The anesthesiologist will be distracting you with some dumbass questions
2. You wink and ask their number, completely disregarding social norms and etiquette
3. You wake up post-surgery on a bed (without their number)

Point number 2 will vary on an individual basis. Oh and if you're ginger and dye your hair, let them know. If all goes right it's exactly like skipping ahead in a movie from your perspective. If its being administered via needle, you might feel your chest decompress and cool down. It's a nice feeling, but by the time you're aware, you're already about to go unconscious.

 

[canyounotbesad]

I've been under anesthesia around 7 times. A couple of times it was administered through some kind of gas mask, and a couple others via my left arm through a needle. I can describe the process in excruciating detail, as follows:

1. The anesthesiologist will be distracting you with some dumbass questions
2. You wink and ask their number, completely disregarding social norms and etiquette
3. You wake up post-surgery on a bed (without their number)

Point number 2 will vary on an individual basis. Oh and if you're ginger and dye your hair, let them know. If all goes right it's exactly like skipping ahead in a movie from your perspective. If its being administered via needle, you might feel your chest decompress and cool down. It's a nice feeling, but by the time you're aware, you're already about to go unconscious.

I get very flirty/horny when I drink so point 2 may be me hitting on them and asking to bone, I am a blunt person sober and even blunter drunk. I know the feeling you're describing with the cool sensation, I think, with the needle. I had to get an MRI that required contrast and it felt so cool, not really cold, going through my veins. I also got a really cool photo from it

 

[escape_from_hell]

I find this thread pretty comforting. I was only put under once for a dental procedure (gas) and indeed it was like skipping ahead in time at the snap of a finger. Worried about the procedure to come and suddenly someone saying "it went well" and being driven home.

The unfortunate aspect is that, if the universe undergoes infinite permutations, you will also end up in another hell many untold googleplex-trajillions of years later at the snap of a finger, when the exact conditions that brought us into this hell are realized in a slight variation such that your being is re-instantiated back into hell. Hopefully the ultimate nature of reality does not allow such a thing to transpire, but we are in hell now somehow so anything is possible -- if that's the case though there's just literally nothing we can do but keep suffering in hell, no amount of meditation and manbun haircuts will save us.

 

[martinso67]

Yes, that's how I imagine instant death. When I had my surgery, the doctor put on me a nitrogen mask and asked me to breathe, I did while trying to stay awake to troll him, but in an instant the surgery was over and several hours had already passed.

Really? Nitrogen masks are used as a method for anesthesia?
Then maybe a very low dosis. It makes one unconscious and starts after that to damage one's brain. Because there is no oxygen going to the different brain cells and they start to die one after another due to non access to oxygen.
Also the thinking of their would be another life or hell/heaven is a symptom of being afraid of death. Or not being able to deal with it, than one'e existence will vanish.

When I did lose my anxiety of dying, then the thought of any existence (like hell, or reincarnation) did go away. I also read science books, observer the world, and thought about reality.

When death is mentioned humans tend to get emotional and lose their rational sense. Also one distances oneself from reality. It's like experiencing a trauma.

 

[Epikur]

Its like death, but with a return ticket. Pure nothingness.

 

[Soupster]

The part about being a ginger is important actually. We generally react very differently to anesthesia and require more than most for it to be effective. That said, if you're a ginger and dying your hair another color you're a traitor ;)

 

[Exitwings]

Personally I tend to dream during longer anesthesia/surgery. I also come out of it cognizant but the disconnect between mind and body is way bigger so I'm either semiverbal or nonverbal for some time (depending).

Anyway for me it's pretty much the same as sleeping. Don't remember passing out. The usual weird dreams. Waking up, remembering where I am and why and going wtf was so-and-so dream about.

TBF I react weirdly to drugs, I trained myself to have vivid dreams and remember my dreams (was trying to lucid dream), and alcohol just makes me sleepy, so ymmv.

About if it's similar to death: probably not

If you use weed Tell The Anesthesiologist! It affects... something about anesthesia idr

good luck on everything

 

[cowboypants]

I think only someone from the afterlife if any can answer this

 

[outrider567]

Yes, I imagine that's what death is--I was put under for 3 hours getting my gallbladder removed, it was like only 1 second went by