Expert: Dr Ian Jackson - please note UK based - 11/5/2009

Question
QUESTION: I was wondering would you please tell me:  if a person get anesthetic to put them asleep for the doctors to perform a operation, then in recovery that person wakes up after the anesthetic wears off and then down the track that same person has to have anesthetic for another operation, does your body get use to the anesthetic the first time you had it?

P.S   I asking you this question because I had an operation while I was young so they put me to sleep with anesthetic, but now I'm worried that if they give me anesthetic again I wont wake up from it.

Thanks

ANSWER: Hi Cameron
There is no limit to the number of anaesthetics you can have. Some people have to have them every week for months at a time for various porcedures and we often anaesthetise patients several times in one week for complex surgery. Your body does not get used to the anaesthetic and the drugs used don't build up in your body - so you will wake up when it is time.
So don't worry it is not an issue.
Kind regards
Dr Ian Jackson

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I was wondering would you please tell me:  how does the person that is giving you anesthetic know how much to give you?

Thanks

Answer
Cameron
You can ask the same question in different ways but the answer will be the same. We can give you an anaesthetic and then wake you up. If in the immediate post operative phase you ahve to be taken back to theatre we can do it all over again without any problems. You will wake up fine.
Many people have repeat anaesthetics on a weekly or even daily basis because they have to - the anaesthetic is not an issue. We are very good at it.
Please try and relax about this and believe the experts.
Kind regards
Dr Ian Jackson