It's so interesting that people say that you can't dream during general anesthesia, but I did.
It was surgical room. They did my IV before that, and they even let a liter of water into my bloodstream to keep me hydrated. They wrapped oxygen cannula around my head, attached EKG electrodes. The nurse made me lay on the left side - my left leg straight and right bended at around ninety degrees. The left arm I was laying on had blood pressure band wrapped around me.
Anesthesiologist first put lidocaine because, as it turns out, propofol stings! I still had some mild discomfort, and seconds later... It was as if you were falling asleep but very sped up. Like very quick fall I wasn't expecting. It wasn't as gradual as you would want it to be. Before you know it, you are out.
It is interesting that besides body and mind, you have a soul. And soul... It is same regardless of weather you are asleep, sedated, knocked out, having a near death experience or even dead. It is something separate. Experiencing anesthesia just got me thinking about it more.
And then it was like a quick takeoff. I started breathing hard - or at least to me it seemed that way. I was not in deep sleep anymore, and it felt like I was more aware right when they woke me up, because I didn't even realize how I was out of the surgery room. I remember feeling like someone pushed the bed but I didn't feel the motion. I could hear what I think was the voice of the doctor but I could make out almost nothing. Then I realized that I was in a different room and I heard and could understand the voice of the anesthesiologist, although now I don't remember what she said. Something about me waking up and it taking an hour or so. I was very sleepy.
I was stumbling upon the objects for the remainder of the day: no wonder you are not allowed to do any coordination-related activities afterwards. My head ached for the remainder of the day and, moreover, ached more than 24 hours later. It ached the whole following day, although not that much.