The next phase is called the excitement phase. However, it’s not as fun as it sounds. It takes place after the anesthesia has kicked in a bit so you won’t actually remember any part of this phase.

Your breathing and heart rate will change rapidly, your body will begin twitching, and you may become nauseous or even vomit.

For the third phase, your body enters what is known as surgical anesthesia. Some 60,000 people are put under surgical anesthesia every single day.

In this phase, you become completely unconscious and your body is essentially sent into a coma for a short period of time.

At this point, the anesthesia has completely taken over and shut down your nervous system.

By doing this, it slows down your responses to stimuli and shuts off the part of your brain that responds to pain. Your heart rate stays steady and you won’t have any memory of the experience.

Your brain will quiet down to the point that it won’t be able to send signals to all of the other organs in your body.

Normally, these connections and signals are being sent back and forth constantly. However, it’s this quieting of brain functions and loss of connection that allows you to lay there unaware of what the doctors are doing to your body.

Your brain isn’t the only vital part of the body that is affected by anesthesia. As the anesthesia finds its way into your bloodstream it eventually reaches the spinal cord, and when it does, you become completely paralyzed.

This sounds a little terrifying, but remember, you won’t remember any of it.

One of the craziest things about anesthesia is that doctors still aren’t entirely sure how it works. It can keep us unconscious, calm, and unable to remember any of the pain that our body should be registering.

Medical professionals do know what parts of the body are affected, but not why they are.

However, there are a couple of theories out there…

The first theory has to do with the fat in the brain. It is theorized that anesthesia dissolves the fat in the brain cells which ultimately changes the type of brain activity that we see in patients under the influence of general anesthesia.

The second theory follows a similar line of thinking to the first. It states that the anesthesia actually binds to and incapacitates the proteins on the neurons in our brains.

These proteins are associated with sleep, memory, and attention so it’s no wonder that we get knocked out when these proteins are affected.

Even though your brain function is slowed, it is working enough to keep your lungs going. However, you are often set up with an oxygen mask that aids your lungs in receiving oxygen, and sometimes you’ll get a tube down your throat that feeds you oxygen as well.

During your entire operation, you will be closely monitored by a nurse or doctor. Because your body is so altered, many things can happen to you while you are under. It’s possible to vomit and choke, get fluid in your lungs, or even have a stroke.

Luckily, these things are rare and even if they do happen, someone is constantly monitoring your state and keeping you safe.

Once the anesthesia starts to wear off, your brain will slowly wake up. However, it doesn’t all happen at once.

Your brain actually reboots itself in a sense, trying to figure out how it all works again.

Upon waking up, you may experience some confusion and even some temporary memory loss. In fact, you may not have much control over some of your motor functions. This put some people in an understandable state of agitation or distress.

All of this should wear off as the hours go by, however.

Anesthesia often leads to a drop in blood pressure, which is carefully monitored by the anesthesiologist to maintain it within safe limits.

Anesthetics can depress the respiratory system, leading to a slower breathing rate. This is why mechanical ventilation is sometimes necessary during surgery.

Under anesthesia, the body’s temperature regulation can be impaired, often resulting in a slight decrease in body temperature.

Patients frequently experience dryness in the mouth or throat after surgery due to the effects of anesthesia and breathing through tubes.

Some patients may experience itching or skin rashes as a reaction to certain anesthetic drugs.

Muscle aches, particularly in the back or neck, can occur after surgery, possibly due to lying in one position for an extended period or as a side effect of muscle relaxants.

Anesthesia can cause temporary changes in vision or eye irritation, often due to reduced tear production while unconscious.

Upon waking from anesthesia, patients may feel dizzy or faint, a common side effect as the body readjusts to normal consciousness.

Anesthesia can cause fluctuations in heart rhythm, which are closely monitored during surgery to ensure they remain within safe parameters.

Postoperative nausea and vomiting are common side effects, particularly with certain types of anesthesia or surgeries.

After certain types of anesthesia or surgeries, patients may have difficulty urinating or experience urinary retention, often requiring temporary catheterization.

Intubation for general anesthesia can lead to a sore throat after surgery, as the tube can irritate the throat lining.

Patients may experience confusion or disorientation immediately after waking from anesthesia, which usually resolves quickly.

Some patients report experiencing hallucinations or vivid dreams during the process of waking up from anesthesia.

Anesthesia can affect the central nervous system, leading to temporary mood swings or emotional volatility post-surgery.

It’s common for patients to feel excessively sleepy or drowsy for several hours after anesthesia, as the body recovers from its effects.

The site where the anesthetic was injected may become swollen or inflamed, though this is usually temporary.

Although rare, some patients may have allergic reactions to certain anesthetic agents, ranging from mild to severe.

During surgery, there’s a risk of stomach contents entering the lungs, known as aspiration, which is why fasting before surgery is important.

Especially in older adults, anesthesia can lead to postoperative delirium, characterized by confusion and disorientation that may last for days.

Some patients may experience short-term issues with concentration or memory following anesthesia.

Anesthesia can disrupt normal saliva production, leading to increased drooling or saliva accumulation.

In extremely rare cases, patients may experience anesthesia awareness, where they become conscious during surgery but are unable to move or communicate.

Improper positioning during surgery can lead to temporary or permanent nerve damage, although this is rare.

Prolonged immobility during and after surgery can increase the risk of blood clots forming in the legs, known as deep vein thrombosis.