[rhombocombus]

Anecdotally I had general anesthesia a couple times in my 30s and both times I felt like I came out of it permanently stupider. No complications or other observable side effects either. I’ve done fine in spite of it but this makes me interested again!!

[gumby]

Anecdotally: I had surgery under general a couple of years ago no side effects. I’m 60.

Anesthesia is poorly understood. How can a noble gas be anesthetic? We understand it so poorly that both your experience and mine could be common

[wrs]

The few studies seem to show it’s not correlated with anesthesia. There was a supposed “pumphead syndrome” that blamed cardiopulmonary bypass machines for it, but one of the few studies done didn’t find that correlation either. The most plausible thing I’ve seen is that it’s somehow an effect of inflammation, as more and more things seem to be. Surgery is a major trauma, and although you aren’t awake for it, your body is just as traumatized.

[wumeow]

I feel like if this was just caused by anesthesia, it would be a lot more common. Think of how many people go in for a colonoscopy each year.

[gumby]

In Europe, anesthesia is uncommon for colonoscopies. Probably a good idea.

https://www.sandiegocan.org/2019/02/07/you-arent-crazy-to-wa...