You may get medicine to make you sleepy before you are given anesthesia. This is called a sedative. It can be used with all kinds of anesthesia. This is called a sedative. It can be used with all kinds of anesthesia. The sedative can calm you and help you feel less nervous. A strong sedative can make you unaware of what is going on around you. This sedation is called premedication.

There are there levels of sedation.

• Anxiolysis – decreases or gets rid of nervous feeling

• Conscious sedation – you feel drowsy. You can follow directions and answer questions. You can talk normally.

• Deep sedation – you do not respond to slight pain you may respond to more severe pain. You respond to loud talking or commands. Shaking wakes you up.

After the sedative you are given anesthesia. This may be

• Local

• Regional , or

• General

        Regional anesthesia numbs a larger area of the body. The choice of anesthesia is affected by the body part to be operated on. Usually a sedative intravenously is combined with regional anaesthesia. With regional anesthesia the sedative is always put into a vein. There are different kinds of regional anesthesia.

• Medicine is put into the spine with a needle
• You usually have a slow feeling of warmth that spreads over your body. Then the area becomes numb.
• The lower half of the body loses all feeling
• This loss of sensation lasts for one – four hours depending on medicine used after which you make complete recovery of all sensation.

• Medicine is put around a group of nerves with a needle.
• You may have an electric shock feeling for a couple of seconds as the medicine is put in. then the area becomes numb.
• An entire area such as an arm or leg loses all feeling.

        General anesthesia affects the entire body. It is a though you are asleep. You do not feel any pain. The medicine is given through an intravenous ( IV ) line and / or breathed by mask. You are asleep within seconds. A sedative is either given just before the anesthesia or at the same time.

General anesthesia - you do not respond to loud talking or commands. Shaking does not wake you up. You do not feel any pain.

With general anesthesia

• You are not aware of what is going on
• You will not remember your surgery
• You do not feel any pain
• Your muscles relax , and
• Your reflexes slow ( your heart rate slows down).

        Your preparation for surgery depends on the kind of anesthesia you are having. Ask your doctor what you can eat and drink before surgery. Usually you are told not to eat or drink for six to eight hours before surgery. This is mostly true with general anesthesia. This is mostly true with general anesthesia. This helps decrease the chance of vomiting. If you vomit, some of the liquid could get into the lungs. This can cause serious problems. It is best not to eat before any surgery. If problems develop, general anesthesia might be needed.

Do not drink

• Full liquids ( milk , coffee with cream ) for four to six hours before surgery , or )
• Clear liquids ( water , apple juice , soda ) for two to four hours before surgery

In most cases you take your normal medicines before surgery. Check with your doctor or anesthesia care provider to be sure.

        Anesthesia is safer today than ever before. The anesthesia care provider carefully watches your vital signs. This includes your heart rate and blood pressure. It also includes your temperature, breathing, and oxygen level. Problems are rare. If they do happen, the anesthesia care provider knows what to do.

        If you have general anesthesia, you may not be able to breathe on your own. Your muscles become relaxed. Your body no longer senses carbon dioxide. You are given oxygen during surgery . you also may have a breathing tube.

        A few people have claimed that they were aware of what was happening during surgery. This is very rare but it can happen in the following situations.

• Cesarean section birth : you may be given only a small amount of anesthesia. This is done to keep the baby from getting too much medicine . you may have some awareness.
• Hearty surgery : during surgery the amount of blood is increased. More anesthesia may be needed. If the right amount is not given, you may have some awareness.
• Shock : After an accident, you can go into shock. If surgery is need , no anesthesia or only a small amount of anesthesia is given. All anesthesia lowers the blood pressure. This is dangerous.

        The anesthesia care provider watches for awareness. Your blood pressure and heart rate are checked. The size of your pupils are watched.

        Talk to your anesthesia care provider about any concerns you have.

        Your recovery depends on the type of surgery you had. It also depends on the kind of anesthesia you had. If you had minor surgery, local anesthesia , and no sedation. You may be able to walk out of the health care center. You may be able to go home by home by yourself. It is better to have someone with not be able to walk or drive on your own.

        If you had general anesthesia, you will slowly wake up in a recovery room. You may in the hospital overnight or for several days. You may feel sick to your stomach or vomit. You also may shiver or feel thirsty. You may have a sore throat or a sore jaw. You are given medicine to help. You may also get medicine before any problems start.