Post-op pain meds with least amount of nausea and dizziness?

Hello Everyone,

I am scheduled for a tummy tuck with muscle tightening next Tuesday. One of my biggest concerns is that I  have a lot of nausea from anesthesia (several days). In addition, the pain meds (pills) that I have tried so far from other surgeries, ie. vicodin (hydrocodone) and percoset, also make me extremely nauseous and dizzy. For me, the nausea and dizziness is almost worse than the pain.
 
Have you had the same effects from these medications? Is there a better alternative for pain relief that does not cause nausea and dizziness? I have had gastric bypass, so not sure if this has something to do with it?

Thanks!
Lynn

Lynn, my LBL/ hernia repair and arm lift was the first time I've had surgery - LOL I was too afraid of surgery to have WLS so I lost it by diet alone. I was shocked by all the nausea and dizziness that I got - while I was in the hospital they were able to give me IV medication that worked immediately. I was off pain meds on the second day so by the time I went home I didn't have any problems. I also didn't have that OnQ pain medication that some people have because my surgeon found they often slipped out of place and didn't work well. I hope that you will be like me and have so little pain that you won't need anything - I haven't even needed Tylenol.

I had an LBL with ab tightening last April. I had the on-Q pump but it didn't seem to make much difference - maybe it slipped out of place? That's the first I've heard that this happens but that would explain why I didn't feel much relief in my tummy.

I've had the RNY, and I found that Vicodin (hydrocodone) gave me severe stomach pains, but Percoset (oxycodone) didn't, though all pain meds make me dizzy. I did take my complete prescription of Percoset and then switched to Tylenol but I probably could have gotten by on just Tylenol after the first couple of days.

I don't get nausea after anesthesia, but a lot of people do. You should discuss this with the anesthesiologist and/or your PS, there are meds they can give you to control the nausea (phenergan for one).

My doc gave me a script for both percocet and vicoden.  I found the percocet to be a little better for me.  I also asked her to give me a script for an anti nausua drug and that has helped a lot.  I am also making sure that I eat something before each pain pill and that has made a big big difference as well.

 

My doctor prescribed Nucynta at first for pain, and boy does it make me LOOPY.  I'm now taking percoset, which just makes me a little dizzy/drowsy.  Pain meds do nauseate me, so I have a Transderm Scop (scopalimine) patch for behind my ear that I change every couple of days.  He also gave me phenergan for nausea, which I haven't had to use yet.

 In the hospital, I was given Protonix (for nausea, acid reflux) and didn't have any problem with nausea on that.

Codeine makes me vomit profusely and Lortab elixir gave me hives after my RNY. 

I'm three weeks out tomorrow (with complications) and am taking about 2-3 percocets each day.  I do have the option of taking 12, but I don't need that many and never really did.

 

In addition, my past three surgeries I've told (and made a big deal) the anaesthesiologists that I usually vomit a lot after surgery.  Every time I've told them, they added something to the mix that made me NOT nauseated afterwards.

 So let them know that you do get sick and they might be able to add something that will help you after. 

Aloha CA-
I LOVED my OnQ Pain Blocker-  numb core for 5 days without the grogginess, constipation, driving restrictions , addictive problems associated with narcotics. I wanted my doc to refill the vessel when it ran out, but FDA only approves the use for 5 days. Never had a problem with slippage of the catheter ( you can anchor the distal end with an anchoring suture- then it doesn't move around). We even use a similar apparatus on our canine limb amputations, and it makes a BIG difference in those pets' recoveries.
Multi -modal pain relief should be the standard of care- using a combination of chemical ( narcotics, NSAIDs, local anesthetics) and physical ( cool pack, support pillows, wraps) pain relief means you are less dependent on any one drug.
Good luck- XOXOLori

Lori, thank you for your response!

Is the OnQ Pain Blocker the one that is like a "fanny pack"? My surgeon said that she would use this for my surgery. I had one for the RNY and honestly felt NO pain, ever, just nausea from the anesthesia.

Lynn

I had the OnQ and can't really say it did its job as I was in quite a bit of pain through the whole ordeal. I can say that the little pack that the OnQ came in makes a handy dandy bag to keep my JP drains in...