Clicky Wow, that has got to be hell. I'd think that they would have been able to figure that out in the 80's. Jesus freakin' Christ.

Sounds like a nightmare....

Reminds me of stories i've read about people who havn't been given the correct proportions of the components of anesthetic and have gone through surger unable to tell anyone that they can feel everything that is being done to them.

That's insane. It sent a shiver up my spine when I thought of what it would be like. I wonder how they figured it out.. (and why it took 23 years)

Reminded me of an old movie I watched, can't remember the name (was it Hellraiser??), where some guy made a pact with the devil or something to help them out, in exchange for immortality. Once his end of the deal was done, the devil granted the wish, but then enclosed the newly immortal guy in a hole behind an impenetrable brick wall, to spend all eternity.

That's gotta mess with your head.

Quote: Original post by Dave
Reminds me of stories i've read about people who havn't been given the correct proportions of the components of anesthetic and have gone through surger unable to tell anyone that they can feel everything that is being done to them.

I've always wondered if that really happens, or if it's just an urban legend used to needlessly scare people that needs surgery.

Quote: Original post by Promethium

Quote: Original post by Dave
Reminds me of stories i've read about people who havn't been given the correct proportions of the components of anesthetic and have gone through surger unable to tell anyone that they can feel everything that is being done to them.

I've always wondered if that really happens, or if it's just an urban legend used to needlessly scare people that needs surgery.

I, unfortunately, don't have a link or the woman's name, but I saw an interview with a woman who it happened to just in the past 3-4 years. She described things that she should have had no knowledge of. Like exact phrases used by the doctor or nurse. And was able to recount personal (non-medical, just general "what's going on in my life") stories that were talked about while they were performing her surgery.

I definitely don't think it's an urban legend. Just a horrendous experience that is luckily "rare."

Quote: Original post by Promethium

Quote: Original post by Dave
Reminds me of stories i've read about people who havn't been given the correct proportions of the components of anesthetic and have gone through surger unable to tell anyone that they can feel everything that is being done to them.

I've always wondered if that really happens, or if it's just an urban legend used to needlessly scare people that needs surgery.

Scary enough, it is true. I don't think it is usually because of wrong proportions. I just think that some people have different borders of consciousness, and what has one person under only has another paralyzed. I believe it is called something like anesthetic awareness, and it is quite scary sounding.

It is pretty rare though, with only a few cases ever reported.

Quote: Original post by jackolantern1

Quote: Original post by Promethium

Quote: Original post by Dave
Reminds me of stories i've read about people who havn't been given the correct proportions of the components of anesthetic and have gone through surger unable to tell anyone that they can feel everything that is being done to them.

I've always wondered if that really happens, or if it's just an urban legend used to needlessly scare people that needs surgery.

Scary enough, it is true. I don't think it is usually because of wrong proportions. I just think that some people have different borders of consciousness, and what has one person under only has another paralyzed. I believe it is called something like anesthetic awareness, and it is quite scary sounding.

It is pretty rare though, with only a few cases ever reported.

Indeed, the problem is that during surgery there are usually three different kinds of anaesthesia used: induction anaethesia, used to put the patient to sleep, general anaesthesia used to keep the patient unaware, and a paralytic used to induce muscular paralysis and relaxation. The indiction anaesthesia is usually quick acting but only lasts a few minutes, enough for the anaesthesiologist to intubate the patient and begin the general. The general anaesthetic is also short-lasting and must be continuously administered in the correct proportions. If the anaesthesiologist is not paying attention (in one famous case he was doing a crossword) the patient can come to an aware waking state but remains paralysed due to the paralytic component and unable to communicate.

Grim, but documented.

Just... wow. That had to be some of the worst torture ever.



If he could close his eyes, it seems like he would have tried to communicate like that.

See what science does to people? Now that guy won't take a nap ever again.