I might have to get some orthodontic surgery on my jaw and will have to be put under general anesthesia. Never have before so I'm a bit concerned. Watching the horror stories on YouTube aren't helping either. Kanye West's mother died from general anesthesia, for example. I've read that if you are allergic to general anesthesia your brain can swell. Fucking shit.
general anesthesia is pretty safe in a proper facility. Kanye's mother died because she had a tummy tuck + liposuction + breast reduction at the same time, which is risky practice, not from general anesthesia. nowadays, they have nurse anesthetists doing the anesthesia for some places.
I've been under atleast 5 times I can remember. Waking up from it is pretty relaxing, but you should try to make yourself wake up (apparently it's bad if you don't who would have guessed)
Man, I hate general anesthesia. I've had it around 10-15 times (because I have a chronic kidney condition, so many surgeries). After you wake up, the effect lingers. It is sooo hard to get your eyes open, and you feel like absolute shit for a long time. Your throat hurts, and it is just uncomfortable. The good part is that when they put you out the meds feel really good. Lately they have just been sedating me (Had sedation like 10-20 times, can't remember). It feels incredible because it is like a huge does of Valium, Phentynal (opiate) and something else that burns a little but knocks you out and puts you to sleep. From there, you wake up an hour or more later, and you are fine. Within 5 minutes you feel fine and as long as you have no pain from your surgery you can go home quickly. Anasthesia is for major procedures though. For smaller or minor procedures, definitely go with sedation. BUT, you probably need GA. It isn't as bad as people make it out to be. You will be fine. Your brain won't swell. You won't die. You won't be awake through the procedure without being able to move and feeling the pain of the surgery while the doctors have no clue and continue cutting you open.
There is a risk of death in any surgery from the use of general anesthetic. According to WikiPedia, 3 to 5 deaths per million times it is used. According to this site: http://www.dentalfearcentral.org/general_anesthesia_dental.html, they don't use general anesthesia in dentistry very often, so it isn't clear this is what you mean. I had 4 wisdom teeth pulled and asked them to knock me out while they pulled them. They administered NO2 and it was like waking up after a few seconds had passed, but my teeth were pulled. Hope this helps.
Nitrous won't do you any good when you're "out". It's only used for when one has local anesthesia. And BTW, I love nirtrous. It makes me realize how people become addicted to drugs. I could easily get addicted to that stuff. It makes me feel like I'm floating without a care in the world. Then I get kicked out of the operatory, pay up the wazoo for the dentistry, go hom to this board and realize how messed up the world is. Oh to live with my nitrous...
If you are a numbers person... if sleeping was as dangerous as general you could expect to live for 2758 years before you'd go to sleep without waking up (on average). I had surgery recently and my whole memory is whipped from that time... I do not recall leaving the hospital... puking in a bag in the car... nothing. Now... I was definitely awake and talking afterwards... I just can't remember it at all. Kinda freaky.
It involves screws and drilling, I believe. The swelling afterwards is insane. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hy74x6g3qS0&feature=player_embedded If I can avoid GA I will.
I have had it twice in the last couple years. It's crazy how quick it knocks you out. Both times, I was out within 5 seconds.
