I find anasthesia very unsettling. It's a different kind of absence of "me" to just falling asleep, but I can't exactly say why.

I am also now aware of time stolen: I have been told that post-op I was interviewed for 10-15 minutes (research project related). Time spent conscious, communicating. Somebody was there, but as far as I am concerned, it wasn't "me" - I have zero awareness of this lucid episode. It's like theft of time.

Lastly, like all older people I pay attention to my friends state of mental acuity post anasthesia, and I have to say, it's scary: People take months to regain full function, and we all talk about how a risk of being put under, is coming back with less than you went in with.

They don't forbid you driving, operating machinery, for no reason.