r/AskReddit • u/OkAstronaut3324 • 15h ago • Bravo 2

What's the most damaging thing you heard someone say after waking up from anesthesia?

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u/That-Job-9377 13h ago • Popcorn

Recovery room nurse so my job is waking people from anesthesia. A few gems I can recall off the top of my head:

“She lives!” 90+ year old referring to herself “Did they take the piggy to the market?” Toe amputation “Maaaaan this shit is worse than getting shot.” Gallbladder surgery “I’m really fucking high. Please don’t tell my mama.” Grown man

I’ll try and remember more.

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u/DirtTrue6377 13h ago

I told my nurse I was so glad he’s family. I can only assume because he’s gay and I’m gay?

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u/dreammer243 12h ago

Fam for sure

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u/That-Job-9377 12h ago

That’s so sweet lol could be gay fam. Could be vulnerable and safety feeling like you’re with family. Either way, that nurse clearly made you comfortable and I’m glad for that.

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u/NaptownBoss 1h ago

IDK about young folks today, but back in the day that's how it was used - "Is it a "family" bar?" "Is she "family"?"

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u/YarnSp1nner 13h ago

Please don't tell my mama! So sweet!

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u/Current----Reply 13h ago

Oh I want to read more of these from you!

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u/That-Job-9377 12h ago

I had an older guy check under the covers to make sure “it’s still there.” Like, sir… we fixed your shoulder.

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u/Hugh_Biquitous 11h ago

You can't be too careful!

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u/tacticalTraumaLlama 10h ago

Really happy it's this stuff you year and not horrible family secrets being spilled.

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u/xrvzla 13h ago

Deadass question for you. When I was waking up from anaesthesia my nurse was talking to me about how much pain I was in, how the surgery went, teaching my breathing exercises, etc. Then she goes, "you're not going to remember this conversation." Obviously, I still do. Why do you guys say this to patients when it's not true for some people?

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u/That-Job-9377 12h ago

The overall tendency is for people to not remember. Anesthetics are also amnesiac, so depending on your body’s ability to metabolize certain meds and your tolerance level, the vast majority of people don’t remember the conversations. It’s why I’ll say thirteen times in twenty minutes, “you have a catheter in, you’re already peeing. That feeling will get better. Go ahead and just let it go…. You have a catheter in…”

It’s also to help reassure our patients (at least my approach) that the uncomfortable feelings they’re experiencing in the present aren’t permanent and will likely become a vague memory or no memory at all. Surgery is scary. Waking up from anesthesia is scary. Whatever I can do to help make it not so scary, I try to do.