# I've suddenly become mortally petrified of undergoing general anaesthetic (personal identity Q) **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 6, 2014, 10:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-suddenly-become-mortally-petrified-of-undergoing-general-anaesthetic-personal-identity-q/680650 "2014-02-06T10:43:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 20
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2014, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-suddenly-become-mortally-petrified-of-undergoing-general-anaesthetic-personal-identity-q/680650/381 "2014-04-29T16:05:25Z")
Soooo … Anyone looking forward to meeting the doppelgänger in this thread? ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2014, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-suddenly-become-mortally-petrified-of-undergoing-general-anaesthetic-personal-identity-q/680650/382 "2014-04-29T16:57:39Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > Soooo … Anyone looking forward to meeting the doppelgänger in this thread? Check the post count - it’s the only way to know for sure. ---
**Author:** ![TheLoadedDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@TheLoadedDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheLoadedDog)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2014, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-suddenly-become-mortally-petrified-of-undergoing-general-anaesthetic-personal-identity-q/680650/383 "2014-04-29T17:00:25Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > Check the post count - it’s the only way to know for sure. Hehe. Admins, you know you want to… 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2014, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-suddenly-become-mortally-petrified-of-undergoing-general-anaesthetic-personal-identity-q/680650/384 "2014-04-29T19:08:08Z")
I’m guessing a new user registering as **Life5ucks** should be posting sometime in the next few days. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2014, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-suddenly-become-mortally-petrified-of-undergoing-general-anaesthetic-personal-identity-q/680650/385 "2014-04-30T04:39:48Z")
> [@LifeSucks](#): > > Do you think that were it not for the amnesia-inducing drugs, that one would have the feeling of time passing after waking up from GA? I know there’s no perception of time passing after waking up from GA without the sedatives. My first knee surgery (1988) was done without the amnesia-inducing sedatives- I remember gradually going under, and then boom- I was awake and groggy/disoriented as hell. No dreaming or anything like that- just out as far as I can tell. The next year, I had the first surgery with the sedatives. The second (other knee) was this past January (2014), so I’m pretty fresh on the recall. (\FWIW, the drugs and/or administration have gotten a LOT better in the last 25 years- I didn’t feel nearly so god-awful groggy and nauseated after the surgery in January as I did after the first couple surgeries back when I was 16-17. All things being equal, the amnesia-inducing sedative route is much more pleasant- you just don’t remember the early really groggy and disoriented parts of coming out of GA. ---
**Author:** ![TheLoadedDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@TheLoadedDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheLoadedDog)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2014, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-suddenly-become-mortally-petrified-of-undergoing-general-anaesthetic-personal-identity-q/680650/386 "2014-04-30T15:57:23Z")
Well, **LifeSucks** , by now you would have had your surgery. A few of us got a little bit annoyed with you. This doesn’t mean we don’t have any sympathy. We do. Please let us know how you’re feeling when you get the opportunity. I trust it went well. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2014, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-suddenly-become-mortally-petrified-of-undergoing-general-anaesthetic-personal-identity-q/680650/387 "2014-04-30T17:36:03Z")
So far as I can tell he only ever posted in this thread. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2014, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-suddenly-become-mortally-petrified-of-undergoing-general-anaesthetic-personal-identity-q/680650/388 "2014-04-30T17:43:17Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > So far as I can tell he only ever posted in this thread. Well, the \*old \ ***LifeSucks**. ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2014, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-suddenly-become-mortally-petrified-of-undergoing-general-anaesthetic-personal-identity-q/680650/389 "2014-04-30T18:19:50Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > Memory _is_ continuity. It’s the only continuity. I’d say that existence is also continuity. Folks who have lost the ability to form long term memories are still themselves and still alive. * * * Joining the hopes that LS is OK. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2014, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-suddenly-become-mortally-petrified-of-undergoing-general-anaesthetic-personal-identity-q/680650/390 "2014-04-30T20:13:59Z")
> [@Yllaria](#): > > I’d say that existence is also continuity. Folks who have lost the ability to form long term memories are still themselves and still alive. . . . Interesting point; it suggests that “selfness” is, in some way, structural in the brain in some ways other than strictly per memories. Say the patient is a “nice guy.” Smiles a lot, friendly, rarely gets fussy, never gets angry. If these aspects of character aren’t stored in the memories, doesn’t that suggest they’re stored somewhere else? (How much of “character” is simply the level of hormones floating around in the brain? Increase dopamine, reduce seratonin, whatever: basic “character” can appear to change. Or…no?) ---
**Author:** ![LifeSucks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8c91f0/32.png) [@LifeSucks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LifeSucks)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2014, 10:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-suddenly-become-mortally-petrified-of-undergoing-general-anaesthetic-personal-identity-q/680650/391 "2014-05-01T10:46:32Z")
Went under. First thing I did when beginning to regain consciousness was ask “is it complete?” and then started performing mathematical equations out loud to make sure I wasn’t brain dead. It actually DID feel like time passed when I asked myself the question immediately after surgery, but if I were to answer that question now, I’d say no. I am me. Of course, I’d say that in any case, but yeah. If there’s a lesson to be learned from this, it’s to never philosophize. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2014, 10:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-suddenly-become-mortally-petrified-of-undergoing-general-anaesthetic-personal-identity-q/680650/392 "2014-05-01T10:54:25Z")
> [@LifeSucks](#): > > If there’s a lesson to be learned from this, it’s to never philosophize. 😃 Who’re you? ---
**Author:** ![LifeSucks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8c91f0/32.png) [@LifeSucks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LifeSucks)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2014, 10:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-suddenly-become-mortally-petrified-of-undergoing-general-anaesthetic-personal-identity-q/680650/393 "2014-05-01T10:59:38Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > 😃 > Who’re you? I’m a changed man. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2014, 11:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-suddenly-become-mortally-petrified-of-undergoing-general-anaesthetic-personal-identity-q/680650/394 "2014-05-01T11:27:40Z")
> [@LifeSucks](#): > > I’m a changed man. My hospital tip: pain meds are your friend. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2014, 11:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-suddenly-become-mortally-petrified-of-undergoing-general-anaesthetic-personal-identity-q/680650/395 "2014-05-01T11:51:41Z")
What he said. Don’t be stingy with that stuff right now. And, good to hear you’re hopefully on the mend in more ways than one. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2014, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-suddenly-become-mortally-petrified-of-undergoing-general-anaesthetic-personal-identity-q/680650/396 "2014-05-01T12:15:04Z")
> [@LifeSucks](#): > > I am me. Of course, I’d say that in any case, but yeah. If there’s a lesson to be learned from this, it’s to never philosophize. Welcome back. I’m glad it went OK (and that you came back). I don’t think philosophy was the problem - the problem was obsession. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2014, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-suddenly-become-mortally-petrified-of-undergoing-general-anaesthetic-personal-identity-q/680650/397 "2014-05-01T12:31:26Z")
> [@LifeSucks](#): > > I am me. Of course, I’d say that in any case, but yeah. If there’s a lesson to be learned from this, it’s to never philosophize. Welcome back, I’m glad to see you posting again. I was a little worried there. How do you think the experience differed from what you were expecting? ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2014, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-suddenly-become-mortally-petrified-of-undergoing-general-anaesthetic-personal-identity-q/680650/398 "2014-05-01T13:06:41Z")
I can’t quite place it, but there’s something a bit off about the OP now. Something different. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2014, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-suddenly-become-mortally-petrified-of-undergoing-general-anaesthetic-personal-identity-q/680650/399 "2014-05-01T20:31:55Z")
> [@LifeSucks](#): > > . . . then started performing mathematical equations out loud to make sure I wasn’t brain dead. . . . I admire that! (When I came out of my concussion, my sister asked, “What’s five times seven?” I said, “Thirty-five.” She, being largely innumerate, asked, “Is that correct?”) ---
**Author:** ![Sterling\_Archer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Sterling\_Archer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sterling_Archer)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2014, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-suddenly-become-mortally-petrified-of-undergoing-general-anaesthetic-personal-identity-q/680650/400 "2014-05-02T15:36:42Z")
So how do you know you’re you and not a doppelganger? Very interesting situation … the original LifeSucks could indeed be gone. None of us has proof that isn’t what happened, including LifeSucks himself. In fact that’s true for all of us, every morning we wake up. And yet we go on. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-suddenly-become-mortally-petrified-of-undergoing-general-anaesthetic-personal-identity-q/680650.md?page=19) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-suddenly-become-mortally-petrified-of-undergoing-general-anaesthetic-personal-identity-q/680650.md?page=21)