Have you known of anyone given ether alone before a surgery?

Was it ether? Ether is higher explosive and is used less and less in the last 60 years.

In the early 1960’s something like ether was used on me to knock me out for an appendectomy. I remember them telling me to breath deeply as they placed a cup over my mouth and nose. I struggled a bit and then I was out.

I was given ether as a sole sedative, in preparation for my tonsillectomy in 1953.

Me too. It was awful.

I am pretty sure my mom was, and I know a couple of my grandparents were. Things like tonselectomies were done in huge numbers in the 50’s through the 70’s and ether was in use. It was the thing to do. I figure that was one of the first medical procedures doctors did because it was a money maker and the public believed it had to be done. Appendectomies were right up there also and hysterectomies eventually followed. Sometimes those surgeries are necessary, but doctors were doing them when not necessary. So, there are still lots of people walking around who were given ether when they were younger for their surgeries.

As far as I know I had ether for my tonsillectomy in either 1959 or 1960.

The bastards still owe me ice cream from that operation.

Possibly my husband was now that I think of it. His surgery was in Mexico in 1972. Some doctors were still using it in America even in the early 70’s.

I distinctly recall a sore throat so horrible that it dawned on me the saying, “you can have as much ice cream as you want” was stupid since it killed me to swallow anything. I avoided ice cream and Jello and felt sorry for myself.

@Aster

How old were you when you had your surgery?