What "going under" really means
General anaesthesia is a carefully controlled, medication-induced sleep. You are completely unconscious and feel nothing — not a deeper version of ordinary sleep, but a reversible state we create and maintain second by second.
Before you sleep
We meet and review your health and any past anaesthetics, then place a small cannula in your hand or arm. Monitors go on, you breathe some oxygen, and the medicines flow in through the drip. Most people are asleep within a minute, usually while taking a few slow breaths.
While you're under
Throughout your surgery I stay beside you — continuously watching your breathing, heart, blood pressure, oxygen and depth of anaesthesia, and adjusting the medicines moment to moment. Your airway is supported, and your comfort and safety are the only thing I am doing.
Waking up
As surgery finishes the medicines are stopped and you drift back, waking in theatre or recovery — often feeling as though no time has passed. Grogginess, a dry mouth or mild nausea can happen and usually settle quickly; we treat them as they arise.