Ask Anesthesia

Quick Answer:

Going under anesthesia usually feels quick, calm, and surprisingly uneventful. Most patients remember feeling relaxed for a few seconds—and then waking up later with no memory of the surgery.

Step-by-Step: What You Actually Feel

1. Right Before Anesthesia

You’ll be in the operating room:

• Monitors are placed (blood pressure cuff, oxygen monitor, EKG stickers)
• You may feel a little nervous (completely normal)
• Oxygen will be given through a mask

Nothing painful here—just getting ready.

2. The IV Medications Start

This is where things begin.

• You may feel coolness or slight pressure in your arm
• Sometimes a brief warm or burning sensation (especially with certain meds, like propofol)
• You may hear ringing in your ears, feel numbness in your face, or taste something metallic
  • This happen when lidocaine (numbing medicine) is given and is completely normal

Then very quickly:

• You feel heavy
• Your body relaxes
• Thoughts slow down

Many patients describe it as:

“I was talking one second, then I was gone.”

3. Falling Asleep (Induction)

This part happens fast—usually 5–10 seconds.

Common sensations:

• Lightheaded or “floaty”
• Slight ringing or fading sounds
• Blurry or dimming vision

Some people try to “fight it” or stay awake—but you can’t.
It’s more like drifting off than being knocked out.

4. During Surgery (You Feel Nothing)

You are:

• Completely unconscious
• Not aware
• Not dreaming (most of the time)
• Not in pain

From your perspective, time skips forward instantly.

5. Waking Up (Recovery Room)

You may feel:

• Groggy or confused
• Like you took a very deep nap
• Slow to think or speak

Common experiences:

• Asking the same question multiple times
• Not remembering anything after going to sleep
• Feeling emotional (some people cry or laugh)

This wears off over minutes to hours.

You may not remember much of the recovery room after you are home.

IV vs Mask: Does It Feel Different?

IV (Most Common for Adults)

• Quick onset (seconds)
• Possible mild burning sensation
• Smooth, fast transition to sleep

Mask (More common in kids)

• Kids often will not tolerate IV placement before anesthesia, so instead they are often put to sleep with anesthesia gas
• You breathe anesthetic gas, which typically has a sweet smell depending on which gas is used
• The going to sleep process takes longer, sometimes up to a minute
• May feel:
  • Dizzy
  • Tingly
  • Slightly disoriented before sleep

Why will I not be put to sleep with a mask?

Going to sleep with anesthesia gas from a mask is riskier than from IV medications.

Going to sleep with an IV allows your anesthesia provider the most amount of time to make sure you are breathing under anesthesia and reduces the chances of complications.

We promise, it’s just oxygen in the mask when it is first placed on you. After you are asleep, we will use anesthesia gas to keep you asleep until the end of the procedure.

The extra oxygen before being put to sleep ensures that your anesthesia provider has adequate time to breathe for you in case of rare complications.

Do You Dream Under Anesthesia?

Usually, no.

• Most patients experience nothing at all
• Some report brief, vague dreams—but not like normal sleep

Will I Know When I Fall Asleep?

Not really.

Most people don’t remember the exact moment they go out.

It feels like:
One second you’re awake… next thing you’re waking up.

Is It Scary?

For most people: The anticipation is worse than the experience.

The actual process is:

• Fast
• Controlled
• Painless

Most patients wake up and wonder why they were ever scared to start with.

Bottom Line

• The “burning” in the IV can happen—but it’s brief
• You won’t feel yourself being intubated
• You won’t “experience” surgery
• Waking up confused is normal and temporary