Frequently Asked Anesthesia Questions

Will I say things I wouldn't otherwise say?
No, this never happens.

Will I dream?
No, the anesthetic state is more profound than the usual type of sleep in which dreams occur.

Will I wake up in the middle of the operation? The anesthesiologist will stay right with you at all times, and watches that the anesthetic depth is appropriate. There have been instances of patients hearing things (but no pain is usually felt) while anesthetized, but this is very seldom the case; when it happens, the explanation can be provided by your anesthesiologist.

Will I be in pain afterwards?
Any operation can hurt, but the anesthesiologist will provide pain relief for the expected amount of injury. Should that be insufficient then one only needs to ask for further therapy.

Will I be sick to my stomach afterwards?
This was a much more common event with our former drugs, such as ether, but by themselves modern anesthetics do not cause a lot of vomiting. However, pain, the narcotics used to control pain, motion sickness, and surgical procedures that affect the lining of the stomach, can and do cause patients to be nauseated. There are effective medications that greatly reduce this complication; please make your anesthesiologist aware if you have a tendency to be sick, for prophylactic therapy can reduce the incidence and severity of this unpleasant feeling.

When can I resume normal activities?
This is more often a function of your surgical procedure, and your surgeon will advise you accordingly. The anesthetic drugs are largely gone within hours of your operation, though we advise against performing fine procedures such as driving or signing legal papers for the first 24 hours after any anesthetic.

Will the pills I take interfere with the anesthetic drugs?
Any drugs you take, including those used for recreation, should be known by your anesthesiologist prior to your procedure, for interactions are always possible. However, modern anesthetic techniques allow you to continue to take your scheduled medications even prior to the operation, unless you are specifically advised not to do so. Please check with your hospital if in doubt.

What is the difference between "anaesthetist" and "anesthesiologist?
The former term is used throughout the world, and particularly in Britain, to designate "one who administers an anaesthetic", and includes both nurses and doctors. In Canada, only trained physicians provide anesthetic services, so the Canadian Anaesthetists' Society adopted the designation "anesthesiologist" to separate physician providers from others, as has already been done in the USA, and recently became the Canadian Anesthesiologists' Society.

Can I choose my anesthesiologist?
In most hospitals this is possible, though the multiple duties and assignments shared by the anesthetic staff may make it logistically difficult to have a given member of the staff available on the day of your operation. Please check with your surgeon about your local situation.