Dreaming under anesthesia?

What is known about dreaming under anesthesia? As it turns out, quite a bit. In this video, I explain what we know about the frequency and nature of dreaming under anesthesia. Thanks to Dr. Damien Archbold for introducing this research to me and inspiring this video.
Cited research:
- Gyulaházi et. al., BMC Anesthesiology, 2015
- Leslie et. al., Anesthesiology, 2007
- Leslie et. al., Anesthesiology, 2009
- Brice et. al., British Journal of Anaesthesia, 1970
Music:
Subtle Swagger by Ron Gelinas: / atmospheric-music-portal
The information in this video is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. All content, including text, graphics, images, and information, contained in this video is for general information purposes only and does not replace a consultation with your own doctor/health professional.
#Anesthesiology #Residency #MedicalSchool

[@mmadman]

I recently had surgery (parathyroid removal) with anesthesia. Immediately upon waking, I loudly asked “what cruise ship am I on?” It brought a big round of laughter from the post op crew. I have never been on a cruise ship, although I have considered it. I was sure that I was on a ship and could remember details of my cruise. I was fairly certain I was dreaming, but was told it was unlikely. I think this needs more studies. It was a pleasant experience for me!

[@Boodieman72]

Ship of fools? :)

[@festerofest4374]

I've had anesthesia perhaps 4 times in my life and I love the experience of the pre-op calming stuff... and then going under. It's the wake-up and recovery that sometimes isn't so pleasant. For colonoscopy it's been pretty enjoyable on both ends.

[@mattbrauner8529]

I didn’t dream during my surgery but as I was waking up I had a warm, pleasant, and reassuring dream right before I came to in the pacu. I also was vaguely aware of being moved from the operating room to the pacu but don’t remember waking up on the table. The anesthesia was the best part of my hospital visit and I’m grateful to my anesthesia and surgical team for taking such good care of me

[@shelleyclow]

I’m in hospital now waiting for surgery to have my gallbladder removed. Very timely video.

[@soapyslice]

How did it go if you don't mind me asking?

[@jasonryan378]

I just had that done. Having my gallbladder removed was surgery number 12 for me. Any surgery is painful but for me personally was the least painful surgery I’ve ever had. It was routine for me and now I’m at home recovering.

[@VU3ZNL]

How it went ? Hopefully you do a speedy recovery.

[@shelleyclow]

Thanks guys. It went well. The most painful thing is the gas because it was keyhole surgery.

[@danielledinenno8714]

I get my gallbladder out the week after

[@bythewaterwithlove]

You never fail to educate me while making me chuckle at the same time.

[@maddiepilz5711]

The way you narrated those dreams cracked me up 😂

[@marktaylor8659]

Last year I went under anesthesia for a colonoscopy. The anesthesiologist said, "count backwards from 100 and before you get to 90, you'll be waking up in recovery." I remember starting to count and then I was waking up in recovery. It seemed instantaneous.

[@GeoffreyFeldmanMA]

After my first Hip Replacement, my first time anesthesia (other than colonoscopy), as I was waking up, I dreamed that there were painters arriving at my home and I hadn't yet chosen a color. My sense of identity was that I was Martha Stewart which is quite far from who I really am. By the time I was aware of the attending nurse and what had just happened, that brief dream had passed but I do remember it. A side note, for that same procedure, I decided that I wanted to listen to the Rolling Stones "Sister Morphine" and "Brown Sugar" while under the influence in a hospital. I saw this as my one and only opportunity to safely and legally experience that music as it was intended. I set up the MP3 player before I went in. When the nurse came into my room the morning after the surgery, I was deliriously singing Sister Morphine while listening to my MP3. She wisely informed me that I had enough and disconnected the Morphine pump. Experiment completed. FYI - my philosophy as a patient is "Enjoy the ride". When I had cataract surgery, I prepared by watching every youtube I could find on the procedure. When I went in, I think they may have under dosed me. I was fully aware of what was happening and what phase of the procedure I was in Then when I saw the ophthalmologist a week later, he asked me how it went. I told him, step by step how it was and that I enjoyed it. He went white. When I had the other eye done, I don't remember a thing. Shucks. Later, I met a colleague of his at a party and told her the story. She told me of times when someone was not sedating properly and they couldn't commence the surgery. One guy was singing bad opera and jumping around - so I get the bad reaction from the surgeon :-) My eyes are just fine.

[@darriontunstall3708]

I have dreamed one time under anesthesia, it was a awesome dream, I really enjoy donating to the anesthesiologist Foundation, since it was hard for me to go to college because of my cerebral palsy, I really wanted to be a anesthesiologist!

[@lillywho]

I'm having 4 hours of anesthesia on Monday, which is the longest I've ever been under. Wish me luck :'D

[@Spikey69-]

How have you been after your surgery and what surgery and for what reason if you can say.

[@MovieStudioZen]

I have had numerous brain surgeries since 1988 from the insertion of VP shunts to treat hydrocephalus. Only once (12 years) ago, did I experience dreaming. However it was a nightmare that I will never forget. I was trapped in a never ending KZbin playlist of horror films. The computer mouse I was trying to use in the nightmare refused to stop playing the videos. At the exact moment I finally escaped the nightmare, I was waking up from surgery. It was the most pain I ever experienced after waking up from brain surgery, because they had to dig out the old shunt tube that was fused to my skull. I suspect the horrible pain I was experiencing was influencing the dream/nightmare. When I had my last surgery 1 year ago, I don't remember a single thing.

[@QuantumParadox]

I've been under so many times since 2021. Not once did I dream. What I can tell you for me is, I was suspended in thought. I had no perception of time. It's like when I was at dialysis having a blood pressure drop and passing out everything goes black and I can't think.

[@413smr]

You're not likely to remember it now.

[@thebuccaneersden]

Yeh, same. Just no recollection of anything. Just blank. Except for the waking up part. It's like waking up normally although slowly and without all the anxieties of life that you get normally waking up. You are slowly but suddeny jerked into presence. I know that sounds like a contradiction, but that's how it feels. Your brain blue screens for what feels like a second and then it reboots.

[@RobinHood70]

This describes my experiences as well.

[@thebuccaneersden]

Heh. The one thing I do remember was once waking up post surgery in recovery/observation and in heaving tears about something I couldn’t remember being upset about. That was weird. But I dont think that was due to a dream. I’m just not sure what that was about. Maybe the dreaded semi-awake thing that happens to some patients? Who knows… just felt like being jerked back into existence.

[@TheFJ61]

Great video Max....I've always been fascinated by anesthesia. You present so well! 👍 💯 Love your content!

[@MizLaur]

I’ve been under general anesthetic three times - tonsils, gall bladder, and wisdom teeth removals. The first two I went under and immediately woke up after. The wisdom teeth, however, I was in a white, warm, peaceful place. I was given a choice if I wanted to “go back”. Then I was floating over myself as I was being taken to recovery.

[@kevindavis8175]

I saw one of those plastic surgery tv shows years ago and before the anesthesiologist put the patient under, he asked her to think of her favorite activity, which she said was surfing. When she woke up, the anesthesiologist asked the patient how surfing was, and she said it was good.

[@menomeno6924]

Thank! Very interesting opinion

[@chris2274]

I've been having general anesthesia for electroconvulsive therapy for about 30 times-ish and the only dream I remember having was a psychadelic one

[@coweatsman]

2 years ago under anaesthesia.I had dreams. First that Jordan Peterson in collaboration with a cancer researcher and Murphy of Murphy's Law fame had all come with the theory of everything in life. Then that the room was a centrifuge spinning around and doctors and nurses would find safe places to brace themselves when advised that the spinning would start again. Finally that Cuba had invented a reliable IV monitor which would last 32,000 years to gift to the world.

[@jaysonmilliken1405]

During one of my surgeries I had a short dream maybe lasted less than 15 seconds. It happened right at the beginning during induction. In the dream I had I was running across a field to some people on the other side sitting under a tree. One of my surgeons said it was probably from the ketamine I was given. It didn't happen when I was given ketamine in other surgeries, though.

[@princesswalt4010]

Recently had spine surgery, when I woke up I proclaimed “weird, I was totally having a dream.” It felt like a really short dream, and I didn’t remember it at all and hour later. The recovery nurse said “it was probably the ketamine.”

[@218923241]

I can confirm that I dreamed during my triple by-pass surgery.

[@kevinp3550]

I had an interesting experience while undergoing a gastroscopy. I maintained a stream of consciousness throughout the procedure. The words in my internal dialogue were formed extremely slowly. If you have ever seen "2001: A Space Odyssey" and recall the computer "HAL" having its' memory blocks being pulled out, with a slowing of speech and intellect then you get the idea. A very strange experience which has perhaps given me some insight into intelligence and consciousness. Btw, the dialogue lasted from start to finish.

[@trishaferreira2309]

I had gallbladder removal in 1982. I didn’t dream during anesthesia…I woke up due to the anesthesia not being either given correctly or not strong enough. Thank goodness I didn’t feel any pain. I couldn’t move, but I was able to open my eyes. I could see and hear the doctors talking to the nurses. No one was looking at me. I glanced down to see my torso opened up. Just at that moment, I heard someone behind me say, “She's coming out of it!” and felt something over my face ramped up. Then I was out like a light. I wasn’t scared, but rather fascinated by what I had seen. I have had many various surgeries and always remind the doctor, anesthesiologists and even dentists about what happened to me.

[@lucrisiageorge295]

I had a ruptured gallbladder with big stones and had the open surgery. I had the most beautiful dream while under anesthesia 😊

[@fbarousse]

I had laparoscopic hernia repair surgery, 10 days ago. Once at the OR, my anesthesiologist told me something along "think of something nice, maybe some place you'd like to be at, like a beach...". Exactly as you mention at the start of this video. Unfortunately, I don't recall having any dreams during my surgery. What I know, and was told by my anesthesiologist is that I woke up a little bit "violent" or "agressive". I remember that just before induction, they tucked both of my arms parallel to my body, with the IV cathether already in my left arm's vein, of course. If that stayed the same during the full surgery time and then I woke up kind of feeling tied-up, maybe that made me become "agressive" (whatever that means). Anyway, all went fine with my surgery, no dreams at all (as far as I can tell), but the general anesthesia experience was indeed like magic, at one moment you are "ON", then you are kind of turned "OFF" and when everything comes back "ON", you are fixed.... magic indeed. The wonders of modern medical science ! Kudos on your videos, I've been watching them for several months now, since I learned I will be having this surgery, several months ago and, all your videos have been VERY enlightening to me. They all made me learn what to expect at every single step of my pre-surgical, during and post-op process. Thanks a lot. KInd regards from Mexico City.

[@elisabetk2595]

I had the most wonderful dream when I was under anesthesia to have my tonsils out when I was five or six. I tried to tell everyone about it as soon as I woke up, but they wouldn't let me talk, and it just sort of slipped away. For years and years, every night I would try to remember it as I went to sleep.

[@zinzinnatiohio]

As someone who vividly dreams and remembers dreaming frequently (I have narcolepsy among other sleep issues) and I can’t safely say I’ve never dreamed under anesthesia. I don’t think people are dreaming under anesthesia, I think they are dreaming while coming out and may have gone into a more natural sleep state after anesthesia has ceased.

[@wxkat]

I recently had surgery under general anesthesia and the closest I remember to dreaming anything was vaguely talking to a couple of people about the surgery before waking up in recovery. I use the term “waking up” loosely because to me it only felt like a couple of minutes between the time the anesthesiologist gave me a relaxant (midazolam) and when I found myself in recovery. I wouldn’t find out until later that the procedure itself had taken nearly five hours. All other times I’ve been under sedation I’ve never dreamt anything, just felt like I jumped forward in time to the end (or nearly the end) of the procedure.

[@joefranks4235]

I remember having a colonoscopy and watching the doctor doing the scoping. I was watching it on the screen, and even taking a biopsy of a polyp. I was not fully under anesthesia. I was not afraid and found it totally interesting as I watched him going into my colon. Colonoscopy screenings after that, I was fully under.

[@reddbendd]

As a future pediatric trauma nurse anesthetist, I hope they have good dreams

[@fishingfan1500]

I have been under general anaesthesia three times in my life, all as a teenager. I cant ever recall dreaming, however I'm not sure if that was because the operations were on my brain, due to a cancer-like tumour I had. Also, after all that I'd been through i rarely seem to remember any dreams i have these days.

[@MyTeslaTrek]

I went under general anesthesia for Carpal Tunnel surgery. They asked me to count to 0 from 10. After starting at 10, I got to 4. Then, I was instantly transported through a wormhole into the recovery room.

[@David-jl1pk]

If I’ve dreamed under anesthesia I didn’t remember it. When I one out of anesthesia in the recovery room I usually wake up fairly quickly. The nurses are always surprised but that’s always been my experience.

[@TomBreazeal]

Since you mentioned Mike's Dr.....can you do a video on it? Who was this cardiologist? Did he have anesthesia friends he consulted or was he doing this solo? Seems super interesting.

[@JimAllen-Persona]

Hold on a minute... the anesthesia is "supposed" to induce amnesia. If it truly does then how can people remember their dreams?

[@toni6194]

When it wears off.

[@sorphin]

The several times I've been under anesthesia, I don't recall dreaming at all, granted, even the times when it wasn't general (sedation), I had no recollection of anything between being 'knocked out' and when I was 'revived'.

[@starfishgurl1984]

I know I’ll have surgery eventually at some point in the future and I always wondered about that because I’m a heavy dreamer as a result of my sensory processing disorder but I also either over or under respond to medications so it will be interesting to see what happens for me.

[@trumpetmom8924]

In Sept. 2023, I had general anesthesia for an upper endoscopy to remove an accidentally swallowed foreign object. I don’t remember being coached at all to think about anything or count backwards or anything like that. But I do have a vague recollection of dreaming, though I don’t temember what it was about. I remember thinking, “Wow, you can dream when under general anesthesia!” That would be an oddly lucid dream though, so I have to wonder if it’s more accurate to say that I fell asleep for a short while after being brought out from anesthesia, and was only just starting to form memories again. I have another question: the nurse that did my IV the day of my above accident, said that I might taste the saline as she started it, but I didn’t. However, just before the anesthesia kicked in, I remember tasting something absolutely nasty and bitter. After looking at my records later, I seem to recall seeing that propofol, so I don’t think they used gaseous drugs to induce. Could you do a video that addresses this phenomenon- that of tasting what’s in your IV? I have had IVs before, but I don’t remember being warned about that previously and don’ remember tasting anything with them either. Seems kind of weird to me, but then, the body does strange things sometimes.

[@user-xi9rc3il2y]

I had minor foot surgery and when I started to wake up I had terrible chasing dreams

[@AshworthMild]

I usually remember my dreams for at least 24 hours after, sometimes more. I almost always dream and they're typically vivid -for good and for bad. I definitely did not dream under anesthesia rofl. They told me to take a few deep breaths and taking the third deep breath was my most recent memory when I woke up.

[@andreskanes1348]

Something you said in this video brought a question to my mind (not to do with dreaming under anesthesia): in your training to become an anesthesiologist, do you have to experience being anesthetized (especially if you haven't been under anesthesia as a patient before)?

[@susaneadie5392]

My experience..... 1 second im wheeled into theatre, next second I'm cranky because they are waking me up from the best sleep I've had since menopause hit 😅

[@Jayveion04]

i have a liver transplant next week. have you ever been in one if so how long did it take ?

[@arnavjoshi8131]

Not a single time out of the 4 times I went under and that scares me because I dream vividly all the time when asleep

[@Nunofurdambiznez]

So doctor... was that really your boat?? if so, NICE!!

[@claymango576]

I hope this isn’t a silly question but is it possible to work as an anesthesiologist assistant WHILE working towards becoming an anesthesiologist?

[@lucillekochan]

Is it normal that I am told to drink 16oz of Gatorade 3 hours before surgery?

[@titaniumman_22]

With my luck, I’d probably have a ‘happy’ dream!

[@kelliebutler5307]

I was just under on the 18th and I didn’t really dream I was only thinking about what they were saying/doing I’m only 24

[@danielles3841]

I've been under anesthesia a few times and havent dreamed (as far as I know). I've woke up during surgery before though

[@silvercontained]

Did you feel any pain,?

[@TheFatesLieutenant]

I dreamed I was on a cruise with Reba McEntire - waking up was a bit of a letdown (though I did tell the nurse that at least waking up was a good sign...). Propofol for me!

[@Boodieman72]

I wonder if people can have lucid dreams under anesthesia.

[@southaussiegarbo2054]

I dreamt when under the knife...oddly about what the drs were taliking about around me

[@paulkoza8652]

I don't remember dreaming at all. I remember a pleasant sensation. I only hope to hell I wasn't talking while I was under. Otherwise, the OR crew got an earful!

[@tanya9112]

I dreamt I was lying on my couch watching TV and all of a sudden these strangers turned up in my lounge .. the tv was a monitor in the operating theatre and the people in my lounge were the doctors 😂

[@DudeWhoSaysDeez]

every time i have been under, its just nothingness, just like a pure black dream if that makes sense.

[@lukea.6298]

For me its like a cut in a video

[@n10cities]

I've never dreamed under anesthesia. They start pushing the sleepy stuff in and a couple of seconds later it is over and I am awake.

[@moosebat47]

Hope the dog was chromakeyed in!😂

[@18w69]

You spelled anesthesia wrong. Anethesia? But I dreamed vividly in a propofol induced coma after a cardiac arrest 8 years ago in Germany. I still remember with some clarity the dreams. They were bizarre wild psychosexual adventure dreams not frightening. My one really good memory of an otherwise disastrous trip And I felt surprising refreshed albeit confused when I emerged from coma. I could then relate to why Michael Jackson relished his propofol induced sleep. Dr Murray criminally treated his patient but you know that propofol is in general safe.