Myth: waking up during surgery means you'll remember everything

This one scares people before an operation, so it's worth unpacking. Under general anaesthesia, depth is monitored continuously and the dose is adjusted through the case, not set once and forgotten. Awareness with recall is real but uncommon, and anaesthetists actively watch for it rather than ignore it. Muscle relaxants can make it hard to move even when depth is fine, which is why they are dosed carefully. If you or a relative has had an episode before, mention it at the pre-op check. It changes how we plan your anaesthetic, not whether surgery can happen. Fear should never be the thing deciding how you're put to sleep. Information should. General education, not medical advice.