July 1, 2026 Salus Health Care Forum

Mark

I think Gay’s experience is very common. People are pre-contemplative on the impact of major surgery on one’s brain and mental health. And if we could elevate, just get people contemplative regarding that. We were trying this in the health op. We weren’t going to prevent depression necessarily, but we were going to get people prepared for it.

Bill B

I want to enter this from a radically different perspective. I want to talk about childhood.

So, how many children still get the tonsils taken out? Do most kids still have it?

Mark

I don’t think so.

Bill B

How about wisdom teeth?

Jack

The most common operating room surgery at Denver, Colorado Children’s Hospital is full mouth restoration in preteens. Medicaid spends a million dollars a month at Colorado Children’s Hospital doing full mouth restorations under general anesthesia in five to 10 year olds.

Bill B

I’m wondering if the following has ever been studied. I remember as a child having my tonsils taken out and it was the first time in my life that I ever was put to sleep. That was a very scary experience for me as a child. For almost a year, when I’d wake up every day, I would say, “Am I still asleep? Have I woken up from this thing that was being done to me?” I’ve never heard anyone else talk about it. I wonder with children, because as a child, this is a radical experience. It is frightening to suddenly lose consciousness. I’m wondering what the impact is for other children, because for me, I was doubting reality for a while. So, does it make any sense what I’m saying? Is that possible?

Mark

I had my tonsils removed when I was maybe six or seven. Back then, if you had two colds in a year, you automatically got your tonsils out. And I remember having Ether, and Ether took a while to get you under. And I remember them telling me that you’re going to Mars. And I was excited about that. And when I woke up, for a brief moment, the nurse left. These were long rooms, they almost looked like dormitories. There were 10 beds on a side. And for a brief moment, I remember being alone in this room. I got out of bed with my throat on fire, and looked out the window, and I recognized that I was still in Mount Clemens, Michigan. it was the first time I realized that adults are liars. These were my first thoughts. As a kid, I still remember that very clearly.

Jack

But then he saw Santa Claus and realized that it was all a lie.  [laughter]

Bill B

I’ve never seen anyone write about this. Is there a lingering traumatic response to losing consciousness? As an adult, sometimes it’s nice to kind of be put away in la-la land, especially if you’re nervous about, frightened about an upcoming procedure. But as a child, it is a radically different experience to lose that.