Waking up during surgery? The truth about general anesthesia & how awareness is prevented 

I am a Chronic Pain Patient and extremely tolerant to anesthesia. Once during internal surgery i woke up (to an extent) while they were inside my body with me completely opened up. I could hear everything they were saying, and the lights were very bright, but I could not open my eyes, or speak. I felt absolutely no pain, but I found the situation odd to say the least. I managed to flap my arms somewhat, and they freaked. I remember them saying, We understand! We understand! They put me under then. Since I felt no pain and was stoned out of my mind, I found it quite amusing.

I had bunion surgery on both my big toes. While they were still working on my I heard them talking about Christmas shopping, since it was Christmas time. I joined in the conversation talking about a gift I was having trouble finding for my granddaughter, they were quiet then I went out again. I felt no pain nor did I have any negative feelings, I was just happy joining the conversation

I remember my wake up test during my cervical spine surgery. I had complications and they needed me to move my arms & legs. I had a tube down my throat. It felt so weird to not have to breathe out of my mouth, I could feel the air pass into my lungs. The Doctor’s authority in his voice kept me calm, he explained what was happening and that I was ok, I felt ZERO pain. Then they said I was going back to sleep and they’d see me soon. It was really no big deal and kinda neat .

I woke up during oral surgery when I was 14. I told them so later and they tried to convince me I dreamed it, but I know what I felt. Made me not only terrified but mistrusting of all doctors to this day. I'm 58 now.

I remember saying to my anesthesiologist "Nice beard". He smiled and said "Good night". That was it. He also had nice teeth, btw.

What's scary to me is that making memories is somewhat decoupled from feeling pain. It means that theoretically you could be in terrible pain in the moment, yet not remember anything afterwards, which is a terrifying idea to me

I was most afraid of the anesthesia before my surgery last August; I'd never been under general anesthesia before, and of course one hears horror stories. I met the anesthesiologist before surgery, and he was so nice and calm that I felt like I was in good hands. Everything went fine. I remember breathing in the gas and everything going fuzzy, and then waking up in the recovery room with my chest on fire and a nurse ordering pain medication for me because I was moaning like a zombie.

Total unawareness is not "total".. I know from personal experience. In the middle of lung surgery, I became aware of the conversation of the surgeons. While working on one side, they discussed opening me up on the other side but decided against it. Later I learned they were a little concerned about some additional infection in the other lung. The surgery was for damage left by Histoplasmosis from which I nearly died. They removed the lower third of the right lung. The remaining infection did clear up on it's own with meds. I was 19 at the time. I'm 70 now and in pretty good health and no lung problems.

I remember when I had my surgery years ago, my first and only thus far, my biggest fear was awareness during my surgery. I looked at my anesthesiologist, and I told her as such. I must have looked really frightened and concerned, because she got such a compassionate look on her face, and smiled at my reassuringly. She said "Oh, honey, I promise that won't happen." It didn't. I wasn't aware of a thing. The first thing I remember was being on an elevator, being taken up to a room. She made me feel so much better.

In 1988, I underwent gallbladder surgery the “old fashioned “ way. I woke up during surgery while I was cut open and being gutted like a fish. The first feeling I felt was pain so deep and so severe that I thought I had been shot. I could not move or make a sound but I heard the surgeon and his team talking to each other- it was muffled, like being under water but I DID hear them. I tried to open my eyes but they felt like they were glued closed. I was able to open them a little bit and though it was blurry, I saw my surgeon and two people beside him all in their scrubs. I got the sense that more people were there but I could not see them. It seemed to last for a very long time, and the next thing I remembered was hearing people moaning. I thought I was in Hell. It was the most invasive and terrifying experience I’ve ever had. When the surgeon came to my room the next morning, I told him but the egotistical young man said it was IMPOSSIBLE. A week later I was released and came home. A news documentary was on and the name of it was “Surgical Awareness.” It validated everything I had experienced and there were people being interviewed who had also experienced it. My next major surgery was 2 years later and I spoke with my surgeon and anesthesiologist about my horrific gallbladder surgery. They did their job as I made no new memories and the surgery was successful.

Woke up during one of my surgeries to the sound of WXPN and the doctor and nurses talking about their plans for the weekend. Sounded like a bunch of really great people. Pain, sure, but the conversation was so pleasantly distracting it wasn't an issue. When I finally asked 'should I be awake right now?' .... Well, that's all I remember.

I experienced recall during surgery (hysterectomy) and remember desperately trying to blink or move. It was horrifying.The doctor downplayed my reaction until she finally said “ I think she needs more medication”. Afterwards I did repeat a conversation, so it was real. The next time I had surgery, two anesthesiologists were with me. I was a staff RN at this hospital, and administered conscious sedation to patients undergoing tests, so they did believe me!!

I had an ovarian cyst removed. I swear it seemed like a blink of an eye from the time I went into the OR to the time I woke up in the recovery room. I even remember asking the nurses when I was gonna have surgery and they said that I already had surgery and that I was in the recovery room.

I love the feeling of trying to stay awake as they put me out. There is this amazing almost high feeling to it.

Watching this has been really helpful in piecing together my memories of laparoscopic abdominal surgery I had in August 2022. I had a huge ovarian cyst and I knew going in that if it was cancer, the surgery would be quite long (5+ hours at the worst, I think) and only a couple hours if it wasn't. I very distinctly remember being brought back awake and clearly asking what time it was. I didn't know til I watched this video that I was still with my anesthesiologist at that point; he told me what time it was and I was very happy. I do not remember being taken to the recovery area at all. Our bodies are pretty amazing. And I'm really grateful to my anesthesiologist (and surgeon, and nurses, etc) for putting me at ease and making a terrifying experience less terrifying. (It wasn't cancer.)

I was totally awake during general anesthesia for a c-section about 30 years ago. I was awake at all times from the paralysis through the intubation, cutting of the skin and right through my son being removed, closing up and extubation. I was totally paralyzed unable to breath, unable to move and unable to get the attention of surgeon. So I made certain I remembered what everyone said during the surgery. I was able to tell the surgeons what they did on vacation and what the nursing staff said such as the time my son was born , his apgar scores and what my coach said about his cuteness. The anesthesiologist never apologized and just said " sometimes people wake up". I felt anxiety over being unable to breath, the sharp pain of the scalpels the tugging and pulling to get my baby out and the pain of the suture placement. I had the emergency surgery because of pre-eclampsia. My B/P was over 250/190 until my baby was pulled out then my B/P dropped down to 110/60 . Because I am a nurse, I originally thought I was hallucinating, however the pressure and the burning pain of the scalpel changed my mind. I thought about the Twilight Zone episode about the man who was paralyzed and about to get autopsied and what he did to get the doctor's attention. He cried. I couldn't cry despite my eyelids being partially open. My pain was real and lasted the whole surgery, I made memories and I was pissed off that I was treated like "awareness was no big deal". Maybe today , 30 odd years later anesthesia is better but don't dismiss those of us that went through that torture. My surgery started at 1800, my son was born at 1835 and I was extubated at 1905. I'm now 66 years old and the memories are as sharp as that scalpel was.

My mom had 2 invasive surgeries, 1 of them she woke up in, she was crying. She felt it all, even though she could not move or open her eyes. Even remembered what they were talking about. They finally realized and knocked her out again. This was the 80s.

I love the friendly shade being thrown to the surgeons

I'm not a student nor a patient, but I find your content very interresting, you speak in clear and easy to understand terms and it helped me better understand what happened 45 years ago when I had my tonsils removed :)

During an outpatient carpal tunnel surgery I became aware, during the final stitching of the incision. The surgeon and two others in the room were discussing Stephen King novels. At the time I was a big fan and had read all of King's novels. I came too hearing one say he had read most of Insomnia, one of my favorites, and had never finished it. I piped in and said, "oh I loved that novel want me to tell you how it ends?" I could barely see the three of them look at each other. Then my surgeon said, " sure". I felt absolutely no pain and my sight was so blurry I could only make out vague shapes. I know there was a bright light but everything was so dim. It was the audio that was so crystal clear. What I find so strange is that my memory has me looking at my surgeon working on my left hand but it was my right hand that had the surgery. I suspect that I didn't actually see anything at all and my addled brain put the scene together simply from the audio. I've had two other instances of breaking through anesthesia. I was told I metabolize anesthesia quicker then most. My daughter inherited this. This was 1998

I’ve had over a dozen surgeries, and was gutted like a fish each time. Luckily most of them went ok. I’ve had four transplants. During my second transplant, which was a multi visceral transplant of both a kidney and small intestine, I woke up. My intestines were on the table. The paralytic did not wear off, thus it took a few minutes for them to notice I was awake. I was split from my mid chest down to my privates and across my lower abdomen as well. It was a 28 hour surgery. The pain is something indescribable, and I know pain. I had a midgut volvulus and mal rotation around the mesenteric artery, cutting off the blood supply to my small bowel. Basically my entire small intestine died and turned gangrene while I was awake and it was truly hell on earth. That’s how I originally got sick. But even that, when I thought I was dying, wasn’t as bad as waking up during the double transplant. I still have ptsd from it, with constant flashbacks of that moment of waking up. There were a lot of apologies from nurses and others, but not from the doctor. The anesthesiologist never even came to speak with me. I’ve had many surgeries since and have been fine, as I’ve spoken in detail to my doctors about what happened. They now make doubly sure I’m out, as I have a very high tolerance. That was almost twenty years ago. I still have that small bowel, but later rejected the kidney I got during that awful surgery. Eleven years ago I got a second kidney, a living donor the second time; my best friend saved my life. I’ll always be grateful I’m still here and especially that I’m still here for my daughters, but I’ll never get the image, terror and pain out of my mind. I pray no one else ever experiences what I did-waking up during a transplant. I feel it will continue to terrorize me for the rest of my life.

When I woke up in heart surgery my chest felt like it was on fire. It was horrific. I could hear the nurses talking in the background to each other. Also heard what sounded like metal instruments being dropped into a metal container. The pain was unimaginable and the memory of this has caused much stress. This happened 8 days after my cabg 2 surgery when I had to go in for a second open heart surgery because I was bleeding which had been caused by a clip that nicked the heart plus blood thinner. The Pericardium was full of blood and pressure was on the heart. Several clots were removed. I understand this is a complex operation and I have made it through all of this.

A friend of mine woke up during liposuction. Not "twilight sedation", but full on general anesthesia. Fortunatel, she didn't seem to feel any pain, but later on the nurses told her that she was flirting with the doctor, and telling naughty jokes. Apparently she was hilarious, and it was like having stand up comedy in the operating theater. 😂

I've had a successful major surgery (craniotomy) with general surgery and was quite pleased with the whole experience. But soon afterwards I had another surgery and I was awake near the end. I was not in much pain, but I could hear voices and feel the stitches being done on my eyelid and I was immediately terrified. In post-op they made a big deal about how high my heart rate was and didn't want to send me back up to my room until my heart rate decreased. The kicker was that being there in that environment was part of what had me so scared and I really just wanted to go back to my room in Neurology where I felt safe. Unfortunately, I was unable to speak clearly enough to be understood by strangers and no one would get me something to write with so I could 'talk'. The doctors were so sure they knew what the problem was and the correct way to proceed, none of them was going to take even a minute to try communicating with the patient. Frustrating, and in the end, not the best care provided to a patient☹

Back in 2013 I stepped an IED in Afghanistan. Lost my left leg, left arm, and severely messed up my right leg (I wish it had been cut off). During one of the many, many surgeries I went through I have memory that I will never forget. I "woke up" during a surgery. I remember feeling everything, immense pain!! Being able move my eyes but not open them. Trying to move and scream but being unable to. Feeling the breathing tube in my throat and feeling like I can't breath and am choking. I knew I was in surgery and could feel everything without being able to do anything. It lasted maybe 5 to 8 seconds, but it felt like eternity! None of my doctors said anything to me about it and I never said anything about it to them. But I knew and remember that it happened. I was terrified and thought that no one would know I was "awake" and that I was going to die. Again. I know there are many variables at play with any surgery and sometimes shit happens. I was that 1/10 of 1%. It sucked and it will always stick with me, but I'm still here and able to share my experience with others so that's gotta count for something. So yeah...That's my story of "waking up" during surgery.

I woke up during knee replacement when a piece of metal was being pounded up into my legbone. I said, “hey doc, you have a very loud and jarring hammer there.” He laughed and nodded to someone . I said, “bye for now” and woke up in recovery.

I recently had surgery on a torn rotator cuff. The last thing that I remember is a small mask being put on my face in the operating room and the next thing I know I am in recovery with the doctor showing me pictures of my surgery. It was a pleasant and painless experience. My thanks to the Anesthesiologist, surgeon and everyone involved.

I've been really scared for every surgery I have ever had due to the unknown of anesthetics. This video genuinely helped me calm down and not be so worried anymore. Thank you!

This happened to me during the birth of my first child. I had a fourth degree laceration, so they put me under general anesthesia to repair it. I was under enough that I could not voluntarily move, but could still feel the resident suturing me. It was this horrible, absolutely unbearable jabbing pain, the only way that I can describe it is that it was worse than childbirth pain. I tried so hard to scream because the pain was so bad, but my mouth wouldn't move. My husband said that he saw my whole body jerk (like when they defibrillate you), then the obstetrician yelled at the anesthesiologist. Then he said a few moments later, my whole body jerked again and then the obstetrician cursed at the anesthesiologist. Today 36 years later I still have vivid memories of that awful experience. The anesthesiologist did get some kind of reprimand on his medical license though, thank goodness.

Anesthesia doctors are my hero, equal to my surgeon in respect and admiration.

You all are the people I pay attention to before having any surgery and I have had plenty! You're the ones keeping me alive!

As someone who was blessed to have had a wonderfully successful 4.5 hr. spinal surgery in 2021, I was very thankful for all of my care including my anesthesia! I remember thinking how tiny the OR looked to me, counting backward, and then NOTHING until I was out of recovery & out of post op! I 1st remember waking up back in my room!

I was one of the 'infrequent' cases. After an open appendectomy, my first memory was of the endotrachial tube being pulled out of my throat. I immediately coughed and stretched my sutures, which entirely changed my perception of what pain was. Anesthesiologist's eyes went wide and he shouted for fentanyl. Once that hit my veins everything was immediately okay. Still an experience I hope to never repeat.

My dad was given too low of general anesthesia for his hip replacement surgery. He never fell asleep but was paralyzed and unable to feel any sensation. He could only hear. He handled it pretty well mentally, considering the detail he provided of hearing them sawing his bones for a while. Lol

My first question to anesthesiologists has always been whether or not they use a BIS monitor. Even as a nurse who has had multiple surgeries, I am still very scared of anesthesia awareness. I have my next major abdominal surgery in April, and in the past two days, the doctors that I follow on RU-vid have been making videos about the subject of anesthesia awareness. Mostly, their videos have been in a funny, light-hearted manner, which I usually really like…not so much when I’m this nervous. Thank you for clarifying the BIS monitor and for showing all of the other equipment that is used to monitor depth of sleep and wakefulness. I had been told that pain (whether awake or unconscious) would cause bp to rise, and not necessarily indicate that the patient was waking up. That made me even more scared, and that’s when I started researching and found out about the BIS monitor. Normal people fear not waking up, afterward. I fear waking up, during 😂

I have a lot of respect for anesthesiologists. Their sole focus is taking care of you while you are under. I have had great experiences.

I remember waking up during sinus surgery in 2018. I remember hearing voices, feeling pressure in my forehead, and remembered that I couldn't feel my body. I felt at ease though when I realized that I couldn't feel any pain. I kept telling myself that someone would realize it, and that if I could only move something, it could help. I remember being able to twitch my foot and then I woke up in the recovery room. I brought it up to the nurse and she was really shocked. The anesthesiologist came in and tried to tell me that sometimes people dream of that. Then I told her what I heard and felt, and that I remember my foot moving. She seemed caught off guard and didn't really want to talk about it. She did say that yes I appeared to be awake and that I moved my foot. She didn't say much after that. But I've had 4 surgeries since then and I make it very clear that I don't want that to happen again. The surgeon later confirmed that she was in the area of my forehead when I woke up and that it wasn't the first time that's happened.

I woke up during my C-section! My doc didn't believe me until I recounted his conversation about his recent vacation to London. He turned white and almost passed out. It was a ripping tearing searing pain. Then I heard my daughter cry and him say Viable female. Then the anesthesiologist screaming She's waking up! Then I was out.

This series was extremely helpful and easy for me to understand. Dr. Feinstein made this complex process- anesthia -understanable without dumbing it down or talking down to his viewers. I hope he is continuing to do well in his chosen specialty.

Doc, Thank you so much for making this. It's a great tool to help prep patients who have understandably high levels of anxiety pre op. This is just a beautiful presentation. Well done.

I've 52 surgeries starting from July of 2002, thru to last year. The final surgery was an amputation of my right arm bc of the 19 year battle I was in with osteomylitis, bone infections, that is very painful and can be fatal. But of the 52 operations, I never once had an anesthesiologist that I did not like. I feel they r more understanding and compassionate, towards us patients. They sometimes r more kind and caring, then some of the surgeons.

I’m very glad my mom’s anesthesiologist knew what her tiny index finger movement meant. During knee replacement she woke up. Fully aware and feeling everything. Thankfully the anesthesiologist was watching her closely and picked up the rhythmic tapping she was able to make her index finger do. Within moments he had a nurse take her hand and reassure my mom they knew and were getting her back under ASAP. The feel of that nurses hand holding hers and the sounds of the anesthesiologist hard at work were her grounding and she still remembers them vividly years later. The funny part came in recovery when she said she needed something for pain and was told that the paralytics wouldn’t wear off for hours and that she really wasn’t feeling pain. Should have seen them scramble for meds when she told them to take off the bedsheet and they saw her moving her feet and toes. She’s had many surgeries since and is labeled as high risk for waking now so they really knock her out good. Despite this experience, or maybe because of it, I have huge respect for anesthesiologists and what they do for us. Without them we wouldn’t be able to preform these operations safely, if at all. (EDIT: Later questions to my parents revealed I was mistaken in my memory of paralytics being used. Sorry for the mix up)

I came to while getting a hip replacement. I could open my eyes and saw the nurses putting warming blankets on me. They were saying that my temperature was up to 94 degrees. I remember asking them 94 ! Then I ask them if I was dieing. I saw lights in the operating room and other people. No one answered me. Then I woke up. I felt like crap! Found out next day I had lost 2 units of blood! They didn't understand. I thought I maybe I dreamed it. Then I got a bill with the warming blankets included. I knew then I was not dreaming. I kept having flashbacks of this, I had to get on the side of the rode one time. It was very traumatic! It changed me permanently.

Thank you for taking the time to make this video! I’m a new OR nurse and this helps me get a better understanding of things

My only bad experience with anesthesia was my sinus surgery when they induced me with propofol and I went to sleep terrified that I was going to die. Now I make sure I get the medazolam first and it's all good. I'm sure glad that I spoke up to make things easier on myself. Never be afraid to advocate for yourself.

Very informative! Years ago I was one of those patients that woke up in the middle of open-heart surgery. To this very day I can still recall the words of the anesthesiologist saying "she's coming out of it" and the surgeon saying " I'm not done yet, put her back under". I struggled to open my eyes thinking I might get a glimpse of my open chest, but no such luck, however I did manage to see a green drape in front of me as my eyes were somewhat taped shut... that eye tape isn't very effective obviously...lol🤣🤣. Anyway, I was put back under, the surgeon finished the procedure, and I am alive and well, doing great, thanks to that amazing cardiologist and his staff!👨‍⚕️👩‍⚕️❤👍👍😀

Was an OR nurse for 35 years and saw thousands of patients receiving general anesthesia. This video is accurate and consistent with I witnessed over the years.

Max: Thanks for this great information about Anesthesia! Your videos are informative and really well produced. My husband was the video finishing editor of the PBS Television series "Wishbone". He has watched several of your videos and was very impressed by your work!

Patient here, I've had 30+ surgeries and this taught me SO much! I thought I knew a lot but now I know so much more.

I have a history of waking up under anesthesia and I remember what was done during the surgery and I felt the pain along with it. Thank you, Dr.Feinstein.

Outstanding! I wish I had this information before my procedure eight years ago. Dr Feinstein’s voice is easy to hear and understand and the information flow was easy to follow for me. His demeanor and attitude are excellent. 🙂☕️👍🏻

This video showed up in my random feed and watched it out of curiosity. I usually move on after watching just a few minutes of these videos due to boredom. This video was so well done, that I watched the whole thing. This video was not filled with technical jargon and was well spoken. Just the right combination of facts and humor mixed for a well done video... good work.

I read a story in the readers digest in the 90s of a woman who could feel the entire major surgery she was going through and I’ve never ever forgotten that story. I’ve also woken up a couple of times still intubated and it’s the most horrific thing to wake up to, it’s terrifying that you can’t breathe and then your reflexes kick in so hard that it’s brutal. I am known to require heavier anesthetics with local, and now I assume general is the same thing. Anesthesiologists don’t listen to me when I tell them that, and I wake up with the scope or tube in my throat. Probably my worst fear at this point when they think they know me best and can get away with regular amounts and then I have to say I told you so. I’ve had a renal auto transplant, 18 kidney surgeries, thyroid cancer surgery, many scopes, and many ear related surgeries and I have woken up about 10 times throughout all of those. It sucks and I wish they would chart me as a high risk so I don’t have to beg anymore.

I’ve been under general anesthesia 3 times in a year. I had great doctors each time. Stayed out, no sickness waking up. Thank you for what you do!

My sister woke up during surgery about four years ago while she was having a pacemaker installed. She was in excruciating pain, could hear what everyone in the operating room was saying, but she could not move or open her eyes. Even to this day, she can’t even talk about it. She has PTSD from the mere thought of it.

thanks doctor, you made me smile ... with that kind of subject, I'd never have expected it.

I’ve undergone close to 20 surgeries under general anesthesia and the more times I go under the more I find myself trying to force myself to remember as many details as possible before and/after going under. Just for fun lol. Well, I can never remember anything past “ok we are putting you to sleep” and always just remember waking up in the recovery room 🤣 This video was very interesting!

Years ago I had a 3hour finger reconstruction surgery, and during the surgery I started to hear my doctor telling jokes, but they must have bumped up the aesthetic before I could hear the punch line. The next day I asked him what the punch line was to the joke, he went ghostly white and said that was halfway through the operation and there was no way i could know that, and he walked out. Thankfully I couldn't feel anything but I never did find out the punch line.

Hi Max, good to meet you! First video, new subscriber. Thanks for explaining so much!

In 2021 during total knee replacement I woke up and felt the surgeon hammering in my new knee. I told him to take down the shield so I could watch. Someone said “ He’s awake “. I said again move the shield so I could watch. Someone said “ no you don’t want to see “ I said “yes I do”. That was the last thing I remember. I did wake up again as my knee was being wrapped up.

This is one of my fears because I have woken up during surgery and let me tell ya. The pain is ... Horrible! Thank God they noticed and put me back to sleep. But, they had the audacity to ask me weird questions about if I remember if I woke up! So, having to have surgery again to have a tumor removed I'm freaking out because I don't want to go through that again.

When my sister had surgery to tie her tubes she remembers becoming aware in the middle of the surgery and felt horrendous searing pain until they upped her anesthesia dose, she can still remember it.

As someone getting psyched up for a surgery, thank you for your RU-vid videos!

I’m just glad we are finally getting transparency in so many aspects of our everyday - and not everyday - life.

In my eternal wanderings through RU-vid, I have just discovered this highly informative series about anesthesiology. Thank you, Dr. Feinstein. You're doing a wonderful job with these reports! Here's wishing you well!

This is the most impressive science and art combined ever!

I got the privilege to assist the anestesiologist during a robot-assisted hysterectomy a few months ago. The amount of control they have over the patients vitals back there is truly impressive and the risk of a patient waking up by accident seemed almost impossible.

I just posted about this above in another video about “lonely people under anesthesia?” I wasn’t lonely, but I DID regain conciousness while under general for major abdominal surgery. When I mentioned what happened, the doc chuckled until I repeated a verbatim conversation he had during the surgery about a new car he had just purchased, which I could not have possibly known! Plus I repeated the OR conversation back to him. He quickly left to talk with the Anesthesiologist, and all my follow-up spots were with his interns. No matter what they say, it DOES happen!

I woke up during my appendectomy and still had the tube down my throat. I remember fighting them because I was choking and then I guess they knocked me back out. I’ve had several other surgeries and thank goodness that has not happened again. I now wake up in recovery with a nurse monitoring me.

I woke up, told the Doc " I'm awake now." He told me, We are almost done. Lol I guess I went back to sleep.

Thanks for explaining this, it's given me more confidence to trust the process. Once I woke up as they were moving me from the surgical table to the gurney, but I felt no pain or discomfort.

Extremely well done presentation. Thank you Max Feinstein!

I’m having a laparoscopic bariatric procedure in a couple of months. Terrified of waking up during surgery so I’m doing some research and found your videos. All I can say is I hope my anesthesiologist is as talented as you are. Thanks so much for these fantastic explanations Doc!

There is a very real phenomenon whereby people under a general anaesthtic become conscious, able to feel the scapel, hear the voices of doctors, yet are completely paralysed. Happened to me and I remembered every moment, traumatised for months.

I have fully woken up during surgery 4 times. From the comments, this is a common occurrence. Every time was painful and/or traumatic. Each time I was fully awake and aware, and definitely making new memories. I now require Valium with my Propofol drip. I now understand why some people refuse life saving surgery. I really wish you'd talk more about this problem, instead of sweeping it under the rug, like our traumatic experiences don't matter. We are patients too. We deserve better than to be dismissed.

By the looks of the comments below, and by my own experience, a lot of people wake up during surgery, although the doctors may not truly realize this. I know when I woke up, it scared my doctors. The Anesthesiologist freaked out but handled it well. He guided me to what he needed to do and comforted me every step until he was able to get me back to sleep. Hours later, back in my hospital room, both doctors came to see me and apologize again. They were precious. That's also when I found out I was PC Deficient.

I was having oral surgery (bone grafts to prepare an implant) and woke up while he was still in progress. I believe it was deep sedation. I didn't feel any pain, but I was looking at the inside of a drape over my face. I didn't dare move and mess up the surgery. I started tapping my fingers, figuring they might not know I was awake. He said something about awake, and then I was home before I remember anything else. I asked at my next appointment if I had imagined it, and he confirmed it happened as I thought.

My worst experience was when I had tubal ligation surgery and I woke up with a tube in my throat, on the stretcher heading to recovery. Since then I found out that I have the mcr-1 gene. I make sure to let the anesthesiologist know so they can adjust my anesthetics accordingly.

i woke up while I was having a surgery and was joining in the conversation with the surgeon and nurses, they were in shock!

Thank you for the most interesting and educational video on this topic. You explained things so well and I enjoyed your humor 😊

I've never waken up under anesthesia. I will never forget going under to, "STOP! She's not supposed to have that!" Everything worked out fine but,...yeah...

I love the eloquent yet simple way you explain all of this, it’s super interesting! You’re a fantastic teacher - keep up the great work! 👌

Just wow! Once I did corrective surgery for strabismus. I have to say I owe it all to the anesthesiologist, Dr. Lucas, who was joking with me before the surgery and keeping me calm haha. It was weird laying down on that table, having a mask put on and all of it going dark. Then I just woke up in the recovery room. Unfortunately Dr. Lucas passed away some time later, but I can never forget his kindness in such a tense moment for me.

You make wonderful and informative videos. I have had several surgeries in my life and your videos help me to understand the surgery experiences that I have had at a deeper level. Thank you!!

After my recent cervical spine fusions, I had a problem waking up. I was out for over 8 hrs and was sent to ICU. My family said my surgeon was distressed and angry at the anesthesiologist who tried to blame me saying I must have overdosed before surgery which everyone knew was not true. At one point my surgeon tried that painful knuckle to the sternum. I opened my eyes and he said stay awake, don’t shut your eyes and I was gone again. OD meds didn’t work. Finally I just woke up and asked for pain meds and was refused any so that I could stay awake. It was not a bad experience for me because I knew nothing but my loved ones were very frightened.

I had an ICU rotation at a major hospital in the midwest. From what I heard from a preceptor, patients being aware happens a lot more than we think. So during the surgery, you may be conscious of whats going on. However, patients do not retain these memories. All I know is that has to be the most horrible thing, to be aware but unable to communicate with your providers of what you are experiencing. Absolutely no one should have to go thru that.

Thank you. Very interesting and reassuring. I was just about swipe it away due to the juvenile and theatric antics at the start but watched it through. I'm glad you didn't continue with them. It's a serious subject.

This was INCREDIBLY INSIGHTFUL and VERY DETAILED! Very nice job and really entertaining! Thank you

I've only been under general anesthesia once. When I was wheeled back to the operating room and transferred to the table, they put the mask on me and told me to count backwards from 100. I started to but got bored and started talking to the guy about living out in the country and I could hear somebody counting the instruments across the room. Then they come over and asked "is that really on? What's wrong with her?" We talked for a couple more mins then it seemed like I blinked and woke up on the operating table again right after they finished. I started grabbing my stomach asking if it was done yet, of course I got yelled at and told not to do that but then I never went back to sleep until I got home hours later. I had a second procedure a month later under local anesthesia and felt everything, I cried the whole time and just tried to stare at the ceiling so I could concentrate and stay still. I didn't tell my doctor until afterwards that I remembered conversations from the first operating room and that I felt everything the second time. His face was pure shock. But I wasn't surprised, I have to take enough sleep medicine every night to knock out a horse. I think more needs to be looked into for people with very high tolerances.

I was a patient once there! I love this hospital!! Thanks so much for this, I have major surgery coming up & you made me feel better knowing I'll be well cared for.

I woke up during a procedure. I had tubes in my mouth but was able so say "Hurt" "hurt". The doctors eye got so big and he yelled at he nurse to put me back to sleep. Hope I never have to do that again.

I was having a tumor removed in 2002 and during the surgery I clearly remember of being aware enough to hear the OR team talking about SUVs. Then I started having some pain. I was able to groan a little bit and the anesthesiologist patted my arm and told me he would administer more drugs.

I'm not afraid of waking up, but I am afraid of being sick when I wake up. My mother, myself and my daughter, all experience extreme nausea when waking from surgery. For my last surgery, when the anesthesiologist spoke with me before the surgery, I mentioned that I would love to wake from surgery without feeling horrible. It was like magic, he made some adjustment and I woke up feeling normal. When my mother had a surgery, I mentioned the same thing to her anesthesiologist and viola! she woke up feeling fine too. It was like a miracle!

Thank you for this video. It helps to make surgery less scary.

That was very informative. Learned alot of terms and will make me more comfortable as well when need surgery.

As a med student currently learning anesthesia medications, this is a nice break from studying haha

Thank you, Dr. Feinstein. I really enjoyed this video. I appreciate and value the hard work of nurses and doctors. Thank you for your service. 🙏🏾💙🙏🏾

After taking tegretol for 28 years, I was very nervous about having aware surgery. Being a hypermetabolizer worried me. I discussed this with anesthesia before having back surgery. I am happy to report anesthesia and the surgery went well.

Thank you. I was legit worried about this.

*Me in the recovery room getting annoyed and angry at the person moaning and groaning with every exhale... time passes and I realize it is me and abruptly stop making noises* 😂🤣