Expert: Ronald Levy, M.D. - 7/20/2008

Question
Yes, I was told that the effects of Anesthesia can stay in your body for weeks. But good grief!

I'm 56, an avid aerobic walker, and very healty. I had out-patient surgery on my salivary gland. My drain was removed 4 days later. My incision is healing well. But it's now 10 days post-surgery, and I'm doing NOTHING and still crash twice a day with sleepiness and a little achiness, and need to lay down for a couple of hours each time. I don't DARE do anything, since I did try that twice, and both times, it made the next day MISERABLE with extrem sleepiness and achiness. Is there not ANY way to get past this sooner?

And why do some get past this MUCH sooner...and here I am dragging like an old worn out wash rag???  

Answer
My feeling is that this is not anesthesia. Sure you can have some anesthetic effects for 34 (maybe 48 hours) but not much more than that. While the surgery seems minor, it can still cause you to feel tired and perhaps this is the reason you feel this way. I'm sure it will pass over the next few days.

Ronald Levy, MD
Associate Professor of Anesthesiology
UTMB-Galveston