Do anesthetized people feel anything, in terms of dreaming, of knowing they're alive, etc.?

Question

Do anesthetized people feel anything, in terms of dreaming, of knowing they're alive, etc. like we do when we are sleeping. Hence, when we dream and are attacked (in our dream), we tend to wake up out of fear or leap and spring suddenly in sleep - do people who are anesthetized feel like they're in a sleep, and hence is there a chance they might "thus" wake up or if not wake up - move their body involuntarily? Also, what about the one in a COMA?

Answer 1

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Anesthesia "sleep" is a drug-induced state of unconsciousness. It is not like normal sleep. Under full general anesthesia there is no dreaming. However, some people do dream while under anesthesia; this is because most surgeries are not under "full general", but rather a nerve block, a spinal, an epidural or local anesthetic, along with intra-venous sedatives. Some patients will report having pleasant dream-like experiences with these medications. In a UK study, 2.7% of patients rememberd dreaming while "under". They will not wake up, nor will they move any part of their body, as the anesthesia has stopped the ability for any physical reflex that is not autonomic (body functions such as heart rate or bloo pressure).

Source(s): http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=... http://www.anesthesianow.com/news/2005/week_16/day... http://www.oagpc.com/faq/3.html

Answer 2

I have been anesthesized quite a few times in my life and you go under and seem to wake up the same time with no recollection of anything ,and always suprised that a 3 hour operation or what ever has already happened.

Answer 3

I think anasthesia affects the sodium influx of some of your neouron inhibiting it from transmitting signals to other neurons and somehow that affects our ability to store memory. I guess you probably do dream but cant remember anything once it wears off.

Source(s): http://www.healthatoz.com/healthatoz/Atoz/ency/ane...

Answer 4

when i was anesthetized for surgery i didnt dream at all. when you are under they give you enough to make sure you stay asleep

Answer 5

They put me under i lost a week.

Answer 6

no normal sense they may only dream

Answer 7

I HAVE BEEN A COUPLE OF TIMES AND I FELT NOTHING AND NO DREAMS OR ANYTHING