DEAR READER: General anesthesia takes a person from a conscious to an unconscious state so an invasive surgical procedure can be performed. Anesthesiologists, nurse anesthetists and other trained professionals determine the amount of anesthesia to be administered, depending on the procedure to be performed. Some people remain anesthetized for a short time during a relatively simple process and are released the same day. Others, such as yours, take substantially longer and require hospitalization for several days following. While you didn’t mention what surgery was performed, four hours is extensive and could certainly be responsible for the unwanted results.

Some people are fortunate enough not to have any side effects at all. Others can be rather debilitated by them. Side effects commonly appear within a few hours and disappear while a person is still in the recovery room. They can include dehydration, nausea, headache, joint or muscle pain, or a person may feel as if he or she had too much to drink the night before. Unusual but entirely possible side effects can include nightmares, uncontrollable shaking and chills.

Be sure to check with your surgeon if you experience jaundice, weight loss, blood in your stool or have symptoms lasting two weeks or longer. He or she will want to be assured your postoperative recovery is progressing well. Otherwise, the symptoms should resolve on their own.

To provide related information, I am sending you a copy of my Health Report “Digestive Gas.” Other readers who would like a copy should send a self-addressed stamped No. 10 envelope and a $2 check or money order made payable to Newsletter and mailed to Newsletter, P.O. Box 167, Wickliffe, OH 44092-0167. Be sure to mention the title or print an order form off my website at www.AskDrGottMD.com.