Most children or teenagers take anywhere from a few minutes to half an hour to wake up after surgery. Time varies from patient to patient. Your child will probably be sleepy the first time you see him or her.
Waking up from anesthesia may bring about confusing feelings, especially for younger children. It is common for young children to be crying after surgery, and they may not respond immediately to efforts to comfort them.
Sometimes surgery patients have an upset stomach or feel dizzy following anesthesia. These feelings will pass with time.
Children may complain of a sore throat following surgery. This is normal and usually lasts for a short time.
A child’s breathing may sound different after surgery. This is caused by the throat muscles being very relaxed and the child still being sleepy. Breathing should sound normal once they are fully awake.