Going to Theatre - on your way to theatre, you might have the chance to drive one of our electric cars, or you can walk through with your grown up. The play specialist will be with you and the anaesthetic nurse.
Sometimes if you are a bit worried we can give you medicine which can help you relax. If we do this it can make you feel a bit sleepy so we would then push you on one of our trolley beds.
The Anaesthetic Room - here you will meet the anaesthetist again in either our space room or sea themed room. Your grown up is with you as well as the anaesthetist nurse and play specialist. You have the choice to play a game on an ipad as you are going off to sleep. During the operation, the anaesthetists and the nurse will be looking after you and making sure that you are safe and comfortable.
IV Anaesthetic - this is one of 2 ways to fall asleep for an operation. Some 'white sleepy medicine' is given into a tiny plastic tube like a straw into the back of your hand where the numbing cream has been. This medicine will make you fall asleep very quickly.
Mask Anaesthetic - the other way to go to sleep is breathing the anaesthetic medicine from a mask around your mouth and nose (like an astronaut). This smells a bit like felt tip pens. You can also choose a nice smell to add to the mask, like mango or raspberry.
The Anaesthetic - this works very quickly. It usually takes just a few seconds to fall asleep, especially with IV anaesthetic. It can be a little slower with a mask anaesthetic, perhaps up to a minute.
When falling asleep it is common to:-
- wriggle
- move your arms or legs
- give a little cough
- close or roll your eyes
- breathe a little fast or noisily
- become quite floppy
