7.02.2009
anesthesia amnesia
I had my wisdom teeth pulled eleven years ago. When the anesthesia began to kick in the nurse asked me to count backwards from one hundred and I distinctly remember making it to ninety-seven before I passed out.
When the procedure was over I woke up silly from the anesthesia and started crying. But it wasn't out of pain or sadness, it was just my reaction to the medicine. The nurse tried to calm me by making conversation.
"Where do you go to school?" she asked.
"Illinois State University," I sobbed. I was in great spirits despite my hysterics.
So yesterday I had another procedure which required anesthesia. It was the first time I've needed it since my wisdom teeth operation and I was worried about another crybaby fit, as it would probably be less attractive on a 29 year old man than an 18 year old boy.
Fortunately when I awoke I wasn't crying, but that's not to say I didn't have a new set of weirdness. The first thing I remember is popping my head up and asking where the anesthesiologist went.
"He's good lookin," I told the nurse. Which is embarrassing for so many reasons, one of them being that the last thing I saw before I passed out was his wedding ring. One nurse looked at me like "did he just say that?" while the other let out a laugh. The funny part is that I could see him at the nurses' station. I wonder if he heard me. Regardless, I'm sure someone mentioned it to him.
Then the nurse showed me a picture of what they took out.
"Can I keep that picture?" I asked. She said they needed it for my file, but she could make me a copy. That's when I realized what a dumb request I'd just made. So I told her nevermind and agreed that it was a dumb request.
Finally she asked "has the doctor followed up with you yet?" "No," I responded. Because I had not seen the doctor yet. But another nurse insisted that he'd spoken to me about my followup appointment and that we went over the results of the procedure.
I have no recollection of speaking with the doctor. None whatsoever. So now the question becomes: What other zingers did I toss out before the point where my memory begins?
