This woman left traumatized after waking up during surgery 'I was screaming, but in my head'

What was supposed to be a simple operation turned into a real nightmare. And for good reason! Natasha Japhet, who was undergoing gallbladder surgery, had the misfortune of waking up in the middle of the procedure! Between witnessing her operation live, and the fact that it was impossible for her to alert the doctors, she is now traumatized.

An 'open stomach' operation

It's an incredible and slightly terrifying story that happened to Natasha Japhet, a 33-year-old Welsh woman, as reported by North Wales Live. While under general anaesthetic, undergoing surgery at Ysbyty Gwynedd Hospital, she suddenly woke up, totally unexplained. And not just once, but twice!

Conscious and able to feel absolutely everything the doctors were doing to her abdomen, she wanted to alert them. But to no avail. She was paralyzed, unable to speak or move.

All I remember is waking up during the operation. I was conscious and could hear voices around me, some talking about a camera. I felt like I couldn't breathe. I was screaming, but in my head. No sound came out, I was paralyzed, I couldn't move.

Faced with the horrifying sensations, the young woman claims to have fainted from the pain. But her nightmare didn't end there, as she woke up again. Fortunately, the doctors realized this and were able to quickly administer anesthetics.

Read more:Woman wakes up from surgery speaking with three different accents

Why do we wake up during surgery?

If usually the only thing to deal with after surgery is recovery, in Natasha Japhet's case, it goes further. The nightmare situation has left her with psychological scars.

From now on, I'm afraid to go to sleep.

Despite being placed under general anaesthetic, she woke up twice. How can this be explained?

It's a rare occurrence, as this study explains, but possible nonetheless. It happens if there has been a drug underdose, if the patient has developed a tolerance to anesthetics, or if the patient has a rapid metabolism. The hospital's board of directors is currently conducting an investigation to understand what may have led to this terrible experience.

Read more:This woman spent 4 years of her life in a vegetative state and then miraculously regained her speech

This article has been translated from Gentside FR.

Sources used:

North Wales Live: Gwynedd mum 'woke up' during gall bladder operation 'paralysed and unable to scream'

News in Health: Waking Up to Anesthesia