Comments on: Anesthesia May Leave Patients Conscious—and Finally Show Consciousness in the Brain

By: SocraticGadfly

SocraticGadfly — Wed, 08 May 2013 14:45:00 +0000

The phrase “subjectively conscious” is a bit of an eyebrow squinter, especially since the piece started with the idea of portraying consciousness objectively.

By: Zach

Zach — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 20:00:30 +0000

when I had my wisdom teeth removed they had a bit of difficulty putting me under (back then I had been abusing opiates) after the third try I seemed to be asleep but I remember a large portion of the procedure. I recall them removing the teeth though to me it felt like they were cracking them inside my mouth, at some point they realized I was conscious because they told me that they just had to “stitch you up and then it will be over.” my last memory is of one of the people in there sling shooting his rubber glove into a pan across the room and chuckling, I think he said “watch this.” It should be noted that at this point in my life I had a serious tolerance for a variety of pharmaceuticals but they didn’t seem to terribly surprised that I was trying to talk to them during the last part of the procedure.

By: George Jochnowitz

George Jochnowitz — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 15:01:11 +0000

The most horrible experience of my life took place when I woke up after surgery unable to try to move. I wasn’t breathing and couldn’t feel the air being pumped into my mouth. Here is the story in greater detail:
http://www.jochnowitz.net/Essays/Operation.html

By: Old Bill

Old Bill — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 02:53:51 +0000

Had prostate surgery 9 yrs ago. Was worried I would wake up during the operation. But like Roger poster #12 went out then woke up in recovery room. But was still afraid even after the operation.

By: Victor Grauer

Victor Grauer — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 03:20:18 +0000

One of my oldest “dreams” was also the most vivid and memorable. Though I can’t be sure, I have a feeling it was based on my experiences as a young boy while having my tonsils out. I remember I was given ether and still remember very clearly having a mask put over my mouth and nose and being asked to count. The “dream” involved my being magically transported to the top of a pyramid, controlled by a group of “Indians.” One of them took out a knife and stabbed me. I “saw” concentric circles emanating from the pyramid, very much like radio waves.

Many years later it occurred to me that the events of my “dream” could have taken place prior to and during surgery. For example, being transported to the top of the pyramid could have been a memory of being taken to an upper floor in an elevator, and the “Indian” with the knife could have been the surgeon.

This “dream” was absolutely unique, totally different from any other I’ve ever had and it’s stayed with me all my life. It was very very weird, and somewhat upsetting, but not totally unpleasant and I don’t recall being in any pain. Afterward I had ice cream and everyone made a big fuss over me, so all in all it wasn’t too bad. But this “dream” haunted me throughout my childhood. I wonder if anyone else has had a similar experience.

By: Veda

Veda — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 12:21:58 +0000

As just after a minor surgery i woke up with a recollection that ‘I heard a longish bell ringing, which gradually faded… and felt that all the docs had goneawaay leavimg me alone on the table and that I have had to scream out for HELP’ ….I recounted this to the nurse and asked her if any unusual thing happened….

WEll she tokd me that the anaesthesia in the cylinder which they thought would suffuce for the purpose was not enough .. and that I woke up[ halfway through and gave a kick..towards the doc… and the bell did ring… as I was connected on to a new cylinder !!!!!

By: Roger

Roger — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 00:33:56 +0000

My own experience is completely different. Anesthesia was like being turned off. There was no sense of anything. One second you’re counting backwards from 100, and the next you’re in the recovery room.

By: castor pollux

castor pollux — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 21:10:33 +0000

I had a surgery to remove an epidermoid tumor from my spine when i was young. Though i had been “put under” i can vividly remember the doctors conversing above me for quit a while. I also remember feeling heavy pressure at the site if removal, which apparently was me being cut open. This being said, i feel this study is quite important my experience has, in turn, caused an eternal fear of going under the knife in the future.
I hope this study helps other patients experiences be a little more dream-like.

By: Doctor Watchdog

Doctor Watchdog — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 04:01:36 +0000

I wonder whether there is a connection to this and women patients who report being molested by their anesthesiologists. Many such reports have been dismissed as hallucinations induced by the anesthesia. Given that the “hallucinations” seem to almost exclusively to happen to women patients, and given that periods of consciousness do occur with anesthesia, perhaps these women are not experiencing hallucinations after all?

By: Gaspasser

Gaspasser — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 23:42:23 +0000

As a study looking at consciousness and brain function, it may be of some value. However I think the title uses a bit of sensationalism – Anesthesia leaves patients conscious? At least in the article the frequency and poor correlation to anesthesia in surgery is explained fairly well.