Worried - effects of anaesthesia

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As some of you might know, about two months (or more?) ago I underwent general anaesthetic to have an operation. Now I know the anaesthetics are supposed to be safe and have no effects, but I'm worried because I've experienced more rage-like feelings and behaviour in the last couple of months that I had for several years before.

I finally thought I was pretty much rage-free and now I'm worried and really upset because it's come back.

For several days a couple of weeks ago I would get SO angry at myself and other things just because, say, I dropped something (which is another thing that seems to have worsened since the operation - I keep dropping things. It's so frustrating).

I'll kick or punch an object or pull in about or whatever (NEVER a person though - I have enough control). I have enough control to never damage anything badly, but I've made a few minor damages.

I thought I was rid of it but now it's come back again today. I'm so worried and upset. I HATE this feeling. I even get angry because I'm angry and it just gets worse. I also hate the fact that it annoys my family. It's embarassing.

The only thing I suppose is good is that I haven't returned to my full blown attacks like when I was little.

It's so upsetting

Due to my crippling fear of needles, I always had to be anesthetized when work was done on my ingrown toenails.
It never had any real negative effects on me.

It might be anger directed towards the feeling of helplessness that an operation gives you.

You're out cold on a slab, unable to defend yourself while someone you barely know is digging around inside you.

It leaves some people feeling violated.

The good thing is that if you realize that's the cause (IF that actually is the cause) you'll be able to come to terms with it that much easier.

Actually, that may be very true; quite often the patient has mixed feelings towards the surgeons at the end of an operation. On the one hand, they feel they should be grateful and shake their hand, but on the other, they subconsciously want revenge against the people who were hurting them!

Did the operation go smoothly or did you feel something wasn't correct in the way it was handled? (before- and aftercare as well). I'm not suggesting you start looking around for things to sue, but as Psychic_Defective said, if you find the reason why you're angry, it will make it easier to cope. It's probably not a direct effect of the anaesthetic, although it's common to feel fatigued for a long time afterwards.

You may also be able to get post-operative counselling somewhere; I'm sure it's not unheard of.

I'm not angry at the doctors. I'm experiencing a milder (but still strong) version of the rage I used to have as a child when I haven't experienced it for years.

Well, Kids with rage are usually the ones perceptive enough to realize they're being treated as something "less" by society.
A feeling that they're getting the short end of the stick despite having done nothing to deserve it.

So if you feel like you've been violated by people that were supposed to help you, even subconsciously, ((Doctors in this case, parents and authority figures as a child)) it may lead to rage. You wouldn't necessarily feel angry AT the doctors. However, an operation is an unsettling ordeal, it's Possible it's the cause of the rage.

I've been out cold a coupla times, I didn't notice any real difference afterward, 'ceptin' I was feeling no pain... Didn't see any long-term effects,but it was a biopsy followed by chemo, so I was more concerned with that...

I have been knocked out twice, once so they could get a bone marrow sample from me, the second, to do an mri... The noise those machines make is sickening, so I couldn't bare to be awake for it. If I ever have to have any operation done, knock me out, as I can't bare to be awake through something like that, I would just be too afraid to be awake.

I had general anesthesia 4 months ago and the rage lasted till about a month ago. I was on IV steroids for 5 days before the operation, so I always attributed the rage attacks to the steroids, and the doctors agreed completely. However, lately I've been wondering if it might be the anesthesia. I hadn't had rage attacks in many years, and never as bad. I got in embarrassing situations at the hospital, and later when I was released, at the supermarket.

I had general anesthesia when I was 12 for surgery for a ruptured appendix, but I didn't notice any emotional aftereffects. Then when I was 18 I had my wisdom teeth out, but they gave me meds to make me loopy rather than knock me out.

Yes, and that's why I am glad I never developed wisdom teeth.

I had my appendix out at about age nine or ten and that's what finally seemed to *stop* the rage! My parents commented on it and I was always so glad for it going away. Now I have another operation and it comes back. I'm so disappointed.

Greentea, I'd love to know if they gave us both the same type(s) of anaesthetic.

LostInSpace and Padium: Argh! I'm scared about my wisdom teeth

Oh, and also, Greentea, do you also have a greater than usual tendency to not be able to think of words when talking or writing (or even thinking)? Do you have a slightly increased tendency to drop things?

Just wondering.

My wisdom teeth developed, but never burst through my gums (they were impacted). So when I had them out (there's a risk of infection with impacted teeth), they actually had to cut them out of my gums. One they even had to split in two because it was wedged up against a bone. Luckily I was so hopped up on whatever they gave me that I couldn't feel a thing.

I actually didn't think it was so bad. If it's necessary to have them out, then it's best to do it as soon as possible because you heal faster when you are young. I didn't even need to take the prescribed painkiller after I went home- I just took Advil.

Now that you mention it, after the operation I did have this lack of memory for certain people's names I used to know very well. But it's all back to normal now. I don't think I dropped things more, though. Funny thing is (not relevant to you, of course) when I get my period I feel like I felt right after the operation.

I'm glad it's back to normal for you now. Me, I'm wondering if the morphine might have affected me too. I got a really, really itchy back in hospital and apparently it was the morphine and they took me off it. Maybe I had a bit too much.

I too am less coordinated before and during my period. It's so annoying It's always been like that though.