what happens

I recently had two surgeries, one to remove a lump, cancer, stage 2 the second to check lymph nodes.  The first was under twilight anesthesia and the second under general anesthesia, the first surgery lasted about 35 minutes the second was about 55 minutes.  I was given gas both times.  Under these types of anesthesia do they usually put a tube down your throat?  Also do they keep everything covered except what they are working on?  Also do you mess yourself under anesthesia because of it relaxing your muscles if not then why do they make you remove your undies when the surgery is on top?  Any other information on what they did while I was unconscious would be helpful.

thank you Jenn

[kelly49]

After what you have been through who cares about modesty. The surgeons have dealt with naked bodies all through their training and could care less. I had foley put in so that I wouldn't pee which was what my doctor wanted and I had nio idea. General anesthesia usually does require incubation with a tube. No big deal. You might have a little sore throat for a day or two. Have you gotten your reselts on your lymph node status? Good luck. kelly49

[japdip]

First of all an endotracheal tube is usually used during general anesthesia to insure that an airway is maintained during surgery .. a good deal of general anesthesia today is via drugs and not necessarily gasses .. of course you are given oxygen during the procedure. As far as your underwear is concerned: people RARELY go into an operating room wearing their clothing; other than a hospital gown and some form of head covering. The operating room is a sterile area for your own protection. If the surgery is at all lengthy a catheter is inserted into your bladder but after you are asleep. I'm sure you were instructed to have nothing by mouth several hours prior to your procedure.

[jennbear]

I'm sorry, but during this entire ordeal modesty has been of major concern to me, I hate what this has done to me, I am doing radiation treatments right now.  My lymph nodes were clear.  I just think the medical community should do more to help those of us with modesty issues, if the underwear thing is just for being sterile then why not give me sterile pants to wear?  For the radiation they took pictures of me naked face and all, I was humiliated and they really didn't seem to care, to me this is a big deal.  I will never go through it again.

Jenn

[jennbear]

By the way, thank you for the honest answers, the more I know, strange as it sounds, the better I feel about the entire thing.  I do not appreciate at this point being basically called stupid for worrying about such things.  If this thing takes away who and what I am and my basic beliefs, then why continue with any of it?

Thank you for the sincere help those of you who work in OR's and can enlighten me.

Jenn.