ADVERTISEMENT

YouTube has brought the world many gems, but none greater than the trend of filming people at their most vulnerable - under the influence of laughing gas - and sharing all the funny stories with the rest of the internet.

Nitrous oxide or "laughing gas" is a sedative that calms the nerves, used commonly during dental procedures, like pulling teeth, and while the name suggests the patient will break out into fits of laughter, a lot of times the side-effects makes those around them laugh even harder. Someone on Reddit asked, "Anesthesiologists, what are the best things people have said under the gas?" and the answers may send you into fits of giggles without any local anesthesia. Scroll down below, and don't forget to upvote your favorite funny anesthesia stories!

The laughing gas (nitrous oxide) we use today was developed through experimentation by British chemist and inventor Humphrey Davy in 1799. He was curious to see the effect the gas would have on people and what they might do, so he began with experiments on himself.

Humphrey and his assistant Dr. Kinglake, began by heating up crystals of ammonium nitrate, collect the released gas in a green oiled-silk bag, pass this through water vapor in order to remove any impurities, and inhale it through a mouthpiece. According to records the Public Domain Review, anesthesia side-effects recorded involved giddiness, flushed cheeks, intense pleasure and the “sublime emotion connected with highly vivid ideas.” 

#4

Funny-Anesthesia-Stories

Report

Add photo comments
POST
hoijunkmail1 avatar
j_judd avatar
Janet Judd
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

She would have thought it was funny. I'm a nurse and we hear it all. It's also fairly common for patients to ask if they're in Heaven, so the magic witch one would have been even funnier.

Load More Replies...
wolfpuppet avatar
Bored Fox
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don't understand why in USA it is common to use anesthesia with colonoscopy. Here in Finland anesthesia is only used when it is really needed because there are some health risks with using anesthesia. Colonoscopy is not painful if it is done correctly so anesthesia is not usually needed.

dariab_1 avatar
Daria B
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Having a hemorrhoid problem, I'd disagree with you. It's literally a pain in the a*s. A real and debilitating one.

Load More Replies...
mascha-claessens avatar
Mascha Claessens
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

First time I got a colonoscopy, I got quite a heavy sedative that made me fall asleep entirely. When I came to, my mother was sitting next to me and I told her how awesome the stuff was: I fell asleep right away and didn't notice anything during the scopy! My mom's answer: "yeah, you already told me that three times during the last fifteen minutes!" :'D

jerrylemke avatar
Jerry Lemke
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There are two different types of colonoscopies. One is less invasive and does not require complete sedation. The other more invasive colonoscopy is usually given with complete sedation. We're talking about two different procedures.

mascha-claessens avatar
Mascha Claessens
Community Member
4 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think the less invasive one you mean is a sigmoidoscopy? They only look at the first 30 cm/foot with that one, so yeah, most people don't take sedetion for that one. Also because it only takes a couple of minutes. But I hate pain in my butt (have some problems around that area) so I always take a (mild) sedative with a sigmoid as well. :')

Load More Replies...
yasmin_1 avatar
Yas Min
Community Member
4 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I wasn't that cool, I said "It doesn't do any-zZzzzzz"

kcanded avatar
KCN
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Before my colonoscopy I blinked. When I opened my eyes they were done.

sink_venice avatar
Amina Hays
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You were put under for a colonoscopy? On man, jealous. I had to have an endoscopy and colonoscopy, at the same time. It felt like some weird torture porn. I was given a mild sedative but it did jack s**t. When they were putting the endoscope down my throat (it's much bigger than you'd assume it would be), I started gagging, obviously. My eyes were streaming and my nose completely blocked up, I couldn't breathe. I lifted my hands to try and wipe my nose but they thought I was trying to pull it out and pinned my arms down. I couldn't breathe at all and started to panick. It was incredibly traumatic and I never want to have it done again

bubs623 avatar
Beth Arriaga
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Find a new doctor. Now. Never go back to one who does not at least give you sedation. Total anesthesia is best... I am so. So. So. Sorry for you bottom and throat. But the 'weird torture porn' comment is gold.

Load More Replies...
danjenn12 avatar
Dan Jennings
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I remember my colonoscopy, mine was similar. I told Doc I was feeling a bit dizzy and he told me " here take a breath if this" and that was the last thing I remembered until waking up.

t-m-robertson0997 avatar
Tessa Mallory
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I went in for a simple procedure, and when the anesthesiologist told me he was going to give me the good stuff now, I asked him how long it would take. He said they would count down with me and I wouldn't remember by the end. The last thing I remember was when he said they would be putting a guard in my mouth before they start the countdown. The next thing I know, I am at burger king, and my mom was telling me that i did not have a tumor, which I misinterpreted as I did in fact have a tumor and i thought I was going to die like my puppy did. But then I forgot and immediately thought my mom was super pretty, so i tried taking a photo of her. It didn't work out that well.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu

Eventually, the experiment conditions evolved in setting and frequency. Humphry would inhale larger amounts of the gas outside of his lab, “occupied only by an ideal existence”, and even consume it after drinking. The researcher continued to record the effects in detailed accounts but his addiction grew as well. He constructed an "air-tight breathing box" and would sit for hours at a time inhaling large amounts and almost died on several occasions. 

ADVERTISEMENT

Early in the summer of 1799 the nitrous oxide trials began on other people. The two researchers began to give the gas to their circle of friends and had them report their experiences after. Future Poet Laureate, Robert Southey said of the experience: "O, Tom! Such a gas has Davy discovered, the gasoeus oxyd! O, Tom! I have had some; it made me laugh and tingle in every toe and finger-tip. Davy has actually invented a new pleasure for which language has no name. O, Tom! I am going for more this evening; it makes one strong and so happy, so gloriously happy! O, excellent air-bag!"

ADVERTISEMENT
#9

Funny-Anesthesia-Stories

Report

While nitrous oxcide is safe when administered by health professionals some young people have begun a trend of inhaling it for festivals, nightclubs and concerts. Ian Hamilton, a drug researcher at York University, told MailOnline: "This significant rise in deaths due to nitrous oxide use needs urgent action, we need to educate young people about the dangers of using this drug. While the drug is relatively safe, the way it is used means people are at risk of asphyxiation. These reported deaths are most likely to have been accidental rather than deliberate, that gives us an opportunity to reverse this appalling trend."

ADVERTISEMENT
#11

Funny-Anesthesia-Stories

Report

Add photo comments
POST
callie-ffnet avatar
logical fallacy
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So, for my thesis I work with human aortas that we get from the mortuary of the uni hospital, but in recent months the pathologist responsible has been very ill and unable to harvest the organs. I got the call that she was well in the tube, so I proceded to say, in a normal voice, 'well a few more days and I'd have taken an axe to the tube and get them myself, yay for dead donors.' The entire cart froze. It's why I don't go out much...

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#13

Funny-Anesthesia-Stories

Report

#14

Funny-Anesthesia-Stories

Report

#15

Funny-Anesthesia-Stories

Report

Add photo comments
POST
snorincats avatar
Kathy Baylis
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There are some words and phrases that should be off limits for doctors and nurses to say in front of patients. I had a biopsy done a while ago and, while extracting the tissue sample, the doctor whispered something to the nurse that included the words "I can see it". I thought he was saying he could see cancer! I was too much in shock or I would've said something right then. I was a wreck until the labs came back. Luckily, there wasn't anything wrong. Turns out he was talking about something entirely unrelated to my procedure, but I think he and the nurse forgot for a moment that I was awake and my ears work just fine.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
See Also on Bored Panda
#19

Funny-Anesthesia-Stories

Report

Add photo comments
POST
raekaagostini-quest avatar
I HAD A GRAT TIM
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I had to go under this once too. I had a rock stuck in my upper left eye. I did the same thing. Surgery lasted 2 1/2 hrs and for me it was like ZAP. When I woke up everyone was staring at me like a lab experiment. Turns out I had a huge black eye and looked like a panda 🐼 😂

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#22

Funny-Anesthesia-Stories

Report

Add photo comments
POST
shikalouis2003 avatar
Shika Louis
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When you come in again - You:"Hi again" Surgeon : "Oh God, what name am I going to be stuck with now?"

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#27

Funny-Anesthesia-Stories

Report

Add photo comments
POST
callie-ffnet avatar
logical fallacy
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The screaming kids are common when they come out of anesthesia. I used to volunteer at my country's main childhood cancer hospital and we would even tell the parents before the treatment started (usually small kids going for multiple sessions of radiation), so they wouldn't freak out if their kid started screaming for no reason when they woke up. We called it anesthesia rage.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#29

Funny-Anesthesia-Stories

Report

Add photo comments
POST
charlotte_brine avatar
Charlotte Brine
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm afraid I'm tempted to call r/thathappened on this one... Thoughts from other people?

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#30

Funny-Anesthesia-Stories

Report

Add photo comments
POST
james_fox1984 avatar
Foxxy
Community Member
4 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I know it is extremely rare for that to happen but that was my biggest fear when I had my first surgery.

View more commentsArrow down menu