Anesthesia, Resuscitation, and ICU: Q&A

Most of the time, we’re looking at an anesthesiologist miscalculating the dosage of the sedative needed to keep someone at the right level of unconsciousness. If they use a muscle relaxant—you know, those drugs that paralyze everything except your heart and the smooth muscles in your gut and veins—you end up in this nightmare scenario where the patient is totally paralyzed and can't move a single muscle, but they’re wide awake and hearing everything. It is incredibly stressful. Now, if the patient got enough analgesics (strong opioids), they won't feel pain, but if that dose falls short, they’ll actually feel the procedure happening. That is just a horrific situation for the patient, and honestly, pretty traumatic for the anesthesiologist afterward, too. A few reasons why this happens: 1) You might have a "stingy" anesthesiologist who tries to skimp on the meds and fails to monitor the progress of the surgery closely enough, or they just forget to top off the dose. Seriously, stay far away from those types. 2) Some people just metabolize drugs super fast, making it nearly impossible to keep them under with standard doses—especially folks with chronic alcohol issues or those on long-term medications where their liver processes stuff way faster than the average person. 3) The patient’s general health before going under matters a lot. For instance, someone dealing with heavy blood loss, major trauma, or elderly patients who are physically exhausted will need much lower doses just to stay safe while keeping their vital signs stable. Also, sudden changes during surgery, like massive blood loss that requires heavy fluid replacement, can basically "wash" the anesthetic out of the system, requiring a quick adjustment. Every body responds differently, so there's always some guesswork involved. 4) Or, it could just be a technical glitch with the equipment.
As you can see, being an anesthesiologist is a high-stakes, constantly shifting job that requires intense monitoring and split-second reactions. Most people think it doesn't matter who handles the anesthesia as long as the surgeon is good, but they don't realize they are literally handing their life over to a stranger. They are trusting this person with their consciousness and, more importantly, their ability to breathe.
To give you the bottom line: 1) With general anesthesia: usually, a woman gets an initial dose of the sedative and the relaxant, and then the anesthesia is deepened with more painkillers only after the baby is delivered. If the OBGYNs can't get the baby out quickly enough, things can go sideways, often resulting in the mom waking up too early and feeling pain.
2) With regional anesthesia (like a spinal or epidural): the patient stays awake, but her lower abdomen and legs are numb, so she can't move them and feels no pain. This allows the surgery to happen while letting Mom see the baby and start skin-to-skin contact immediately. When the local anesthetic is administered and starts to "kick in," people often feel warmth, tingling, or "pins and needles" in their legs and lower body. That isn't a bad dose; it's just a normal reaction as the medicine spreads. Of course, sometimes the block doesn't take properly, or maybe regional anesthesia just isn't an option for some reason, in which case they switch to general anesthesia.
The choice between general or regional comes down to how urgent the situation is, the health of both the mom and the baby, the anesthesiologist's experience, and what the mother, the anesthesiologist, and the OBGYN all agree on.
So yeah, that's the gist of it.🙂

If you're ever looking to pick someone's brain about anesthesia, urbanscout50 is hands down the guy to ask. It’s honestly wild how many doctors out there—even the ones working in massive hospital systems—barely know the first thing about what goes on with anesthesia... it's pretty obvious that a post like the one above could only have been written by a real specialist.

I really hope he keeps hanging out and chiming in on our discussions here.

edit: I’ve just realized this isn't strictly on-topic. Since this is a new thread, should I move my thoughts over there or just stay put here?

I find myself grappling with a particular question regarding when we actually encounter an anesthesia specialist in this field.😁

How does one truly discern whether an anesthesiologist is competent and will actually prioritize my safety? For instance, I ended up under the care of one quite by chance, despite originally being scheduled with a different doctor. Much like I did with my surgeon, I assumed I could simply perform a thorough Google search on the anesthesiologist to see if any former patients had left reviews or impressions. While you can find endless discussions about surgeons on various forums, searching for an anesthesiologist is like looking for a ghost—I barely managed to find two or three academic papers associated with him.🤷 It is painfully obvious that anesthesiologists are never afforded the same level of scrutiny or importance.
At first glance, the man seemed perfectly pleasant and professional enough, but I soon realized he wasn't listening to me at all. He appeared to have absolutely no grasp of the specific condition necessitating my surgery, and I highly doubt I am his first patient to present such issues. Whenever I attempted to explain certain details, he would simply brush them off, essentially telling me that my input was irrelevant because things would be done strictly according to his own dictates.😕
So, what am I to make of this?
I am inclined to believe the man possesses technical expertise, but since I have never undergone general anesthesia before—aside from what one might call dental sedation—I have no baseline to determine if his bedside manner is acceptable. I have no way of knowing how the process will unfold, whether he is anticipating potential complications, how much risk I represent, or why he refuses to clear certain aspects of my case when the first anesthesiologist I spoke with insisted they were no issue at all (which seems to be the consensus among others I've observed).

Then again, he arguably seems more attentive than the physician my mother dealt with, who practically sprinted out of the office thirty seconds after walking through the door.

Broadly speaking, anesthesiology remains a profoundly "mystical" branch of medicine to me, shrouded in an unnecessary veil of secrecy.😁

urbanscout50 said:...1)"So, I was thinking about this "frugal" anesthesiologist I know... honestly, it’s kind of wild how some people operate. You'd think someone in that profession—dealing with all those high-end meds and fancy equipment—would be a bit more willing to splurge here and there, right? But not this guy. He’s got this mindset where he’s constantly looking for ways to cut corners or find the absolute cheapest option for everything, even stuff that really shouldn't be cheapened. It reminds me of this one time I was at a local diner in Chicago, just trying to grab a quick breakfast before heading out, and the guy at the next table started lecturing the server about the price of extra bacon. Like, relax, man! We're all just trying to eat. Anyway, yeah, this doctor is exactly like that. Just always pinching pennies when it matters most. So, I was thinking about this the other day while I was grabbing coffee... you know how some people just try to cut corners everywhere? Like, they think they're being smart by being cheap, but they end up making things way worse. It makes me wonder about those doctors—specifically the anesthesiologists—who try to save a few bucks on the "meds." It’s wild to think about. You’ve got someone who isn't even watching the monitor closely enough during surgery, or they just totally miss the moment when a patient's vitals shift. Or even worse, they just straight-up forget to give the next dose because they weren't paying attention. It’s one of those massive mistakes that just shouldn't happen in a modern hospital, right? Just cutting corners on anesthesia like that... man, that's scary stuff. You know, I was thinking about this earlier while grabbing my coffee, and honestly? It’s probably best to just avoid things on a broad scale. Like, don't go looking for trouble in every direction. Just... steer clear of the big stuff entirely. It keeps life simple, you know? Better for the soul.);

Where can I actually find a list of those stingy anesthesiologists? Or maybe even a heads-up on the ones I should steer clear of entirely? Sorry if that sounds like I'm just messing around, but I’m being dead serious here. These are your internal insights, you know? There’s no way I could ever prove any of this stuff, even if I hired the best lawyer in the country.

So, my mom had this whole thing lined up where a specific doctor was supposed to handle her cataract surgery, right? But then, out of nowhere, a completely different surgeon steps in to do the actual procedure. It’s just... a lot. Now we're sitting here wondering if we're going to run into the same kind of musical chairs with the anesthesiologist. Like, how can we actually be sure the person we expected is the one actually doing the work? Just feels a bit unsettling, you know?

To make matters even worse, my mom was in actual agony during the surgery itself. All those fancy sales pitches about how "painless" the laser procedure is supposed to be? Total garbage. Honestly, who knows—maybe the anesthesiologist just completely botched the dosage or something. It’s such a mess. 🤷

Sorry if I sound a bit intense, but this whole thing with the anesthesia and my mom’s eye is still so fresh in my mind. She’s actually scheduled for surgery on her other eye soon, and honestly, I’m spiraling a little bit thinking about how she’s going to handle it. After dealing with all that pain, she spent the entire day running a fever and could barely even come around. Her doctor actually had the nerve to say, "Well, she just has a lower pain tolerance" (yeah, right!). I mean, isn't the whole point of anesthesia to make sure you don't feel anything at all, regardless of what your personal pain threshold is? I was genuinely terrified that she might go into shock or something. It brings me back, too—I had surgery on my shin years ago, but local anesthesia just wasn't... caught her Trust me on this one—experiencing a scalpel firsthand is something I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy. Seriously, just... no. Not worth it.

I'm tweaking the title because I want this thread to turn into a go-to spot where we can dive into all those random questions about anesthesia. urbanscout50 is going to be our resident expert, trying to carve out some downtime whenever he can to help us out.

Think of it like Dr. Phil on The Tonight Show...🧐...while I play the part of Oprah...🙂...😍

stormymaker24 said:So I’ve been wondering lately, when we actually have an anesthesia specialist on hand here 😁

how can you even tell if an anesthesiologist is actually any good and going to look out for you?

Lisa Young83 said:Where can I find a list of the budget-friendly anesthesiologists? Or maybe a blacklist of the ones I should definitely steer clear of?

I feel like I could jump in and answer this like Oprah before Dr. Phil even shows up...

Honestly, trying to figure out who’s a pro and who’s just coasting is tough because there isn't some public rating system; your best bet is really just finding an "insider" within the hospital scene—someone who actually works in the OR or even the surgical floor.
Anesthesiologists are basically the unsung heroes working in the shadows, and like urbanscout50 always says, most people have zero clue who was actually monitoring their vitals, keeping their blood pressure steady, and managing their breathing while the surgeon (who you probably already did your homework on) was busy cutting and stitching...
Since they work behind the scenes, you really have to lean on those insiders to get the real scoop on who’s reliable.

If you happen to have your heart set on a specific anesthesiologist that everyone raves about, your only real move is to talk to them directly beforehand, explain what you need, and see if they can coordinate their schedule to be in the same operating room as you that day.

Look, there’s really no such thing as a "stingy" anesthesiologist. When people talk about being cheap, they aren't usually talking about the stuff used to keep you under—because honestly, no anesthesiologist wants a patient waking up mid-surgery; that’s a nightmare scenario for everyone involved. Those cases are super rare, but man, they are incredibly awkward when they happen. What I actually mean is that "stingy" usually refers to how much pain medication is administered during the procedure, which can leave patients hurting once they finally come around.
It doesn't help that once you leave the recovery room (where the anesthesiologist is watching over you), you're typically sent straight to a hospital ward where the surgeon takes the reins, including managing your pain relief. How they handle that part is a whole other conversation I don't want to get into right now.
Unfortunately, Scott Allen10 is spot on here—if you want to know the reputation or "style" of a specific anesthesiologist, your best bet is to ask around at the hospital itself, specifically within the anesthesia department. You might also have some luck chatting with a surgeon; they often have a preferred person they work with and can give you tips on how to request that specific specialist.
The tricky part is that in most of our American hospitals, anesthesiologists don't even find out which OR they're in or who their patient is until the morning briefing, or sometimes not until they meet the patient in the pre-op area. Surgeons often operate under similar chaotic schedules, which is kind of why you see one doctor admitting you, another performing the surgery, and a third one just staring at you.
Things are a little smoother at those massive medical centers or highly specialized facilities—think places doing heart surgery or transplants. In those spots, there’s usually a small, tight-knit team of maybe four or five anesthesiologists who all follow the same protocols, so there isn't really a reason to try and pick a favorite.

urbanscout50 said:There is simply no such thing as a list of "frugal" anesthesiologists. This concept of being "stingy" doesn't really pertain to the administration of anesthetic agents required to maintain depth—because frankly, no anesthesiologist finds any comfort in a patient waking up mid-procedure. Such instances are exceedingly rare, yet when they do occur, they are profoundly unsettling. As previously stated, this perceived "frugality" more often refers to the dosage of analgesics provided during surgery, resulting in patients enduring significant pain upon waking.
This issue is further compounded by the fact that once a patient leaves the recovery room—where they remain under the watchful eye of the anesthesiologist—they are typically transferred to a ward where they fall under the supervision of their surgeon, who is primarily responsible for managing analgesia. How those specific protocols are handled is beyond my purview.
Regrettably, Trevor is correct; if you wish to discern the reputation or methodology of a particular anesthesiologist, you must inquire within the hospital itself, ideally by speaking directly with the anesthesia department. Alternatively, one might find success by consulting with a surgeon, who may offer a recommendation and advise you on how to request a specific specialist.
Unfortunately, in most of our American hospitals, anesthesiologists aren't even informed which operating rooms they will be assigned to, or which patients they will be treating, until they meet the surgical team in the premedication room during the morning briefing. Surgeons frequently operate under similar chaotic circumstances, which explains why one might see a certain doctor, while another handles the admission, and a third performs the actual surgery.
The situation is somewhat improved in larger medical centers or highly specialized facilities—such as cardiac surgery or transplant units—where a small, dedicated group of perhaps four or five anesthesiologists works collectively, rendering the choice of a specific individual unnecessary.

So, just because one anesthesiologist performed my initial assessment, does it follow that he will be the one guiding me through the actual operation?
Ah, the American healthcare system... 😢

Thank you for the insights.

Generally speaking, any anesthesia should kick off with a pre-op consultation. If you’re looking at a scheduled, elective procedure—something you’ve already got on the books—you really want that check-up done at least a week beforehand. That way, if they need extra lab results, a second opinion, or if you need to tweak your medication, there’s actually time to make it happen without the stress. Most major hospitals, like the Mayo Clinic or big city medical centers, have dedicated outpatient clinics just for these consultations. In some places, the anesthesiologists working the clinic stay strictly in the office and rarely head into the OR, so the odds of seeing the same face on surgery day are pretty slim. But in other hospitals, the doctors rotate between the clinic and the operating room, so you might actually end up with the same person. Honestly, if you vibe with them and feel comfortable, you can always ask if they'll be the one handling your case.
Just a heads-up though: what the doctor says during that initial clinic visit isn't set in stone. Things change—health status fluctuates, meds get adjusted—so the final call always rests with the anesthesiologist who actually administers the anesthesia right before you go under.
Now, obviously, if we're talking about emergency surgeries, all that scheduling goes out the window and the assessment happens fast, right before the procedure starts.

This can be done under general anesthesia. That means you'll have an anesthesiologist on hand, and you won't feel a single thing during the procedure.

Alternatively, it can be done using local anesthesia—what some call topical—where the ophthalmologist just drops some numbing agent into the eye before getting to work. In those cases, there isn't an anesthesiologist present, so if the numbing doesn't take properly and the patient ends up feeling pain or discomfort, that falls squarely on the surgeon's shoulders. Honestly, it breaks my heart when certain doctors (surgeons or anesthesiologists alike) deal with inadequate local or regional numbing by trying to convince the patient they aren't actually in pain or that they just have a "low pain tolerance." In my book, that’s just plain inhumane.

There's also the option of regional anesthesia, where they use a needle to inject the local anesthetic near the nerves behind the eye. It’s not super common, though, and you won't find it at every medical center.

Ms. fermina-daza, I’m guessing your mom had her last surgery done under local anesthesia. If her overall health allows for it—she’ll need to pass a pre-op screening at a specialized anesthesia clinic first—she can totally insist on going under general anesthesia. That way, she won't feel anything during the actual surgery, and once it's over, the hospital staff will handle her pain management with prescribed meds.
Good luck.

@Dr_pelo, thanks so much for all the info 🙏 I feel way more prepared to talk to my mom's surgeon now. I’m really hoping we can spare her from yet another one of those "painless" surgery horror stories.

It honestly would be great if people realized just how much we value anesthesiologists here in the States—and they definitely get paid the big bucks for it, too! A few years back, I remember reading about this one doctor who basically became a total superstar in the American medical world. People would actually wait months—as long as their condition allowed them to, of course—just to make sure *he* was the one handling their anesthesia. Or is that the right way to put it? I can't quite remember his name, which is a bummer. It's funny, though; back home, I have absolutely no clue who the top names in anesthesiology are, even though I feel like I could name almost every plastic surgeon in town! Not that I’m interested in that kind of surgery or anything, obviously. Just goes to show how much the media shapes what we think is important!

Anyway, thanks again for being so patient with all my questions. And give my best to Oprah 🙂... 🤣

Just wanted to jump in here...
Most eye surgeries are performed under local anesthesia, just as Dr. Miller mentioned, which means the anesthesiologist doesn't carry much direct responsibility in those cases. As for the pre-op assessments in outpatient clinics, it isn't a strict rule, but it’s quite common for these to be handled by anesthesiologists who don't actually work in the operating rooms for various reasons; consequently, you won't have that same doctor guiding you through the actual procedure.
Regarding the risk of "waking up" during surgery, most American operating rooms don't use continuous neurological monitoring to track anesthetic depth at every second. Instead, anesthesiologists monitor the patient manually, and seasoned doctors are often more intuitive than machines when it comes to tracking these levels. However, if an unexpected complication arises during surgery, there might be a slight delay in administering analgesics or anesthetics for a few minutes, which can lead to what's known as "light anesthesia." Lately, certain drugs like Propofol have become very popular, which can sometimes result in lighter anesthesia because patients are frequently under-dosed. There are many variables to consider during administration, and occasionally, physicians—particularly younger ones—might under-dose a patient out of caution regarding drug risks, leading to these unfortunate incidents.

Quick question for Dr. Pelé, do they actually give you a full muscle relaxant for every single surgery done under general anesthesia? I was falling down some internet rabbit holes earlier and saw this story about a woman undergoing eye surgery who could actually feel what was happening, even though she couldn't move a muscle. Then there are all these other cases—hip replacements, sinus stuff, you name it—not just heart surgery. It’s all a bit fuzzy to me... why on earth would they bother paralyzing every muscle in your entire body for something like a throat procedure 🤷???

I am not Dr. Miller, but I will certainly try to help you out.
Paralytics aren't used for every single procedure; it really depends on a few variables. If the surgery is quick and the surgeon doesn't need the patient fully relaxed, they might just use total intravenous anesthesia—usually a short burst of Propofol lasting only a few minutes. However, if the procedure involves opening body cavities or an ENT surgery where consciousness isn't an option, they’ll opt for general anesthesia. Pain management is standard with any type of anesthesia, but muscle relaxants aren't always necessary. I haven't covered every single possibility here, just providing some basic insight... if there is a specific question, we are happy to try and assist...

So, do you always need to use a muscle relaxant during general anesthesia? Like urbanscout50 mentioned earlier, the answer isn't a simple yes. It really all boils down to what kind of surgery we're talking about, how long it takes, the patient's overall health, and honestly, just the anesthesiologist's call on the matter.
For those quick little procedures—we're talking maybe thirty minutes or less where nothing major is being opened up inside the body—we usually don't bother with relaxants. We typically stick to IV sedatives or those volatile gases the patient breathes in. Ventilation (basically some form of assisted breathing) is handled with a good old-fashioned mask or a laryngeal mask. Of course, if things change mid-surgery—like if the procedure runs longer than expected or if the surgeon realizes they can't get the job done without it—then we'll bring in the relaxants.
Now, for the heavy lifting—surgeries lasting over an hour where cavities are being opened, or when the surgeon needs the patient to be absolutely still (think ear surgeries or neurosurgery)—that’s when relaxation comes into play. In those cases, we usually go with general endotracheal anesthesia. This involves placing a tube down the trachea (windpipe) to manage ventilation, through which we deliver oxygen and usually anesthetic gases to keep the patient at the right depth of sleep. The actual act of intubating requires a relaxant, and whether we keep adding more during the operation depends on everything I just mentioned. There's also the option of total IV anesthesia, where we maintain the sleep using IV meds (usually propofol) and just use the tube to provide a steady mix of oxygen and air. Again, relaxants follow the same rules.
When we're doing general endotracheal anesthesia, the patient is hooked up to the anesthesia machine, which handles the artificial ventilation and lets us keep a close eye on all their vital signs.

Regarding throat surgery (not entirely sure what specific case we're looking at here), it's performed under general endotracheal anesthesia, and a relaxant is used to help with the intubation. Whether more is needed later on just depends on those same factors I talked about before.

I should probably say a few words about propofol: it’s a beautiful IV anesthetic. It gets people to sleep fast and wakes them up just as quickly, often leaving them totally lucid (sometimes people even pick up right where they left off in a conversation before drifting off!). Plus, it doesn't cause that post-op nausea, making it the go-to choice for anyone prone to getting sick after anesthesia. And hey, if you're lucky, you might even have some pretty great dreams.
It wasn't that Michael Jackson was crazy for choosing propofol; he just made a bad call on who to trust. If he’d picked an anesthesiologist instead of a cardiologist, he’d probably still be with us today.

😁 I agree regarding the choice of physician for Jackson. Americans can be quite reckless sometimes, handing out prescriptions to just about anyone—not to mention those mid-level anesthesia providers, though even they would be a better pick than a cardiologist... I'm just not a fan of using propofol as an induction agent, but it works wonders for maintenance and TIVA.

urbanscout50 said:It wasn’t that Michael Jackson was crazy for picking propofol; he just totally botched the choice of doctor. If he’d gone with a proper anesthesiologist instead of some cardiologist, he'd still be with us today.

😂😂😂

I think we can all pretty much agree there's this whole messy pattern where people end up in a bad way because they make the exact same kind of call that M.J. did...

I bet even doc_1 would back me up on that one...

urbanscout50 said:...
It’s also possible to go with regional anesthesia, where they inject the local anesthetic right near the nerves behind the eye. It isn't super common though, and you won't find it at just every hospital center out there.

So, Ms. Matthew Fox4, I’m guessing your mom had her last surgery under local anesthesia. If her general health allows for it—she’ll definitely need to clear it through a pre-anesthesia exam at the local clinic—she can totally insist on general anesthesia. That way, she won't feel a thing during the procedure, and once it's over, the doctors on the floor will handle prescribing the pain meds.
Good luck!

Yeah, my mom did have the surgery under local anesthesia. But since she's 82 and dealing with angina, her cardiologist actually recommended sticking to local anesthesia, though they wanted an anesthesiologist present the whole time. That's really why I'm so worried about the pain; she went through it during the last one and it was just so hard on her.

Is it actually possible to push for that regional anesthesia so we don't have a repeat of that painful situation? The procedure is going to be at Holy Spirit (her last one was at Mayo Clinic, but she was on a 15-month waiting list there, so we decided to switch hospitals).

If you’re looking into that regional block for cataract surgery, you really need to talk to the ophthalmologist over at St. Jude's. If they don't offer it or if they don't have someone on staff who actually knows how to pull it off, then you're kind of out of luck there.
Honestly, I’d strongly suggest scheduling a consultation with an anesthesiologist first. Just bring along all her most recent test results, take your mom in, walk them through how she handled things last time, and then hash out the details. If she’s still holding up reasonably well—meaning she can handle some moderate physical activity—and her angina is stable enough that it doesn't flare up constantly or require frequent Nitroglycerin, then a mix of general and local anesthesia might actually work. Basically, the anesthesiologist can sedate her using a cocktail that won't mess too much with her vitals (like her heart rate or blood pressure), while a local anesthetic injected right into the eye handles the actual pain. It’s a pretty solid combo because it gets the job done without needing massive doses of heavy drugs.
So yeah, first check in with the eye specialist, then get that meeting with the anesthesiologist on the books.

urbanscout50 said:Ideally, any anesthesia should "start" with a pre-anesthesia consultation. If we’re talking about a scheduled, elective surgery, that checkup should happen at least a week beforehand—just enough time to grab extra test results, get a second opinion, or tweak your medication if needed. Most hospitals have a dedicated outpatient clinic for these consultations. In some places, the doctors there strictly handle the paperwork and rarely step foot in the OR, so there's almost zero chance they'll be the ones actually putting you under. But in other facilities, the anesthesiologist assigned to the clinic also rotates into the OR on other days. In those cases, there's a much higher shot that it'll be the same person. If you feel comfortable with them, you can even ask if they'll be handling your case during the procedure.
The word from the clinic doctor isn't set in stone either—things can change between the consult and the actual surgery—since the final call belongs to the anesthesiologist who manages you right before the operation begins.
For emergency surgeries, obviously, the assessment happens in a rush immediately before the procedure.

In the real world, it works like this: you see one person at the outpatient clinic (in my case, a doctor who stays strictly in the clinic and never shows up for surgery), then you meet a second person at the hospital for the formal checkup (for me, a junior doctor who just does the prep talks and doesn't go into surgery), and then, when you finally lie down on the table while the pre-op meds are already kicking in, you meet a third person—someone you're seeing for the very first and last time. I swear, it felt like a giant panda popped up over my head with a sign saying, "Good morning. I'm your anesthesiologist." My only response was: "Okay."😁

And honestly? It feels impossible to actually track one down! They're either constantly on call, or you show up the day after they've pulled a brutal double shift and you just can't catch them. They're scattered everywhere.

The biggest joke is that at the hospital (my experience was with OBGYN at Mount Sinai), when you schedule a surgery, they hand you this official packet detailing patient rights, responsibilities, and the whole process—only for you to realize that the anesthesiologist is essentially the brain of the entire operation. The paperwork makes it sound lovely, like they should visit the patient the day before surgery, but that almost never happens in practice. I actually ended up taking that paper to the head nurse to ask why on earth they even bother handing it out if the system doesn't work like that and you still end up not knowing who's going to put you to sleep. There are all these supposed steps laid out in writing, but reality tells a different story.👎

Don't get me wrong—my experience was actually great. I didn't have any issues, and everything went perfectly smoothly. It's just that I felt uneasy because I had no idea who would be in charge of my breathing until I hit the OR (and by then, I was too far gone to care). I just wanted to chat for a second with the person who would be keeping me alive for several hours, but that opportunity never came.