Question:
I'm having surgery on Monday. I'm scared of feeling nausea after surgery . . .
I guess I need to hear from you guys who had open rny who got through this without nausea after anesthesia and during hospital stay. My friend had none at all. She had lap though. I have a fear of nausea and vomiting, (haven't thrown up in 17 years). I've had anesthesia before and was fine. I guess I'm scared because this involves the tummy. Please give me encouragement. I'm SCARED!! PLEASE no bad or scarey stories. Thanks everyone. — lerli1 (posted on May 18, 2002)
May 18, 2002
Rest assured that they will do everything in their power to help you not
throw up. That was my one fear, because I ALWAYS throw up after surgery.
That is the first thing that I am aware of when I come to in recovery. I
HAVE TO THROW UP!!! I discussed this with my surgeon and the
anestesiologist and they told me that they would make sure that I didn't.
They were true to their words. This was no easy feat because I am allergic
to many drugs. I didn't have any nausea problems the whole hospital stay
until the night before I went home and that was my own fault. I had taken
my pills that they have you take every night. My husband talked me into
taking a Darvocet because I hadn't been taking anything for pain and my
back was hurting from laying on my back all the time. Anyway, I had to cut
it in 4 pieces and by the time I got all of it down, the last piece felt
like it was stuck in my esophogus and I was extremely full. So about 2
hours after going to sleep, I woke up heaving. My husband ran and got the
nurse and she RAN down with a shot for the nausea so I wouldn't throw up
anymore. Like I said, it was my fault. I shouldn't have taken them all at
the same time.
— livnliter
May 18, 2002
I'm 11 days out lap RNY. I had very slight nausea in the hospital, but it
wasn't that bad. I haven't thrown up at all. When I did have nausea, the
doctor put meds into my IV so it worked on contact. You'll be fine. Hope
this helps a little. Good luck.
— Sarah K.
May 18, 2002
I told the Doctors that I get sick from th anesthesia. They did everything
in their power to keep me from getting sick. They stuck something in my IV
to keep me from getting sick. So make sure you tell them that the
anesthesia make you sick.
— Sharon T.
May 18, 2002
The nurses gave me a shot in my iv for nausea everyday. It wasn't a
problem at all. Please don't be afraid. Just let your Dr. know how
worried you are about this and I'm sure he will take care of it.
— mamadawny
May 18, 2002
I am 9+ mos post op open RNY - I had no nausea in the hospital and have
really had none post op! Don't be afraid - if you feel nauseated, just ask
for compazine or something else that will get rid of the problem. Good
Luck!
— Jean K.
May 18, 2002
I was sick the day after my surgery 3 months ago, but come to find out the
NG tube was not working right. So if you do find that you are more than
just a little sick, ask the nurses to check the NG tube. Wish you lots of
luck, it will be worth it!
— Tammy M.
May 18, 2002
I did have nausea if I thought about eating food, or if I saw large greasy
foods on TV. I'd have to look away. I just couldn't think about putting
large greasy grose foods in my mouth! This lasted a couple months. It
totally changed my relationship with food and how I thought about food. But
in the hospital, I was thirsty! I asked for ice water and found I loved it.
I loved the first popsicle the nurse gave me! It was grape and I'll never
forget how wonderful it was. It was cold and tasted good to me. The fat
free pudding cups,applesause cups and Boost were the same! I never felt
nausea as long as I was eating nice clean creamy foods! Don't worry about
throwing up! I am just over 5 months out and I've throw up 3 times!(it's
gentle like a baby's spit up) And all 3 times -which were about a month
apart- I was talking and eating and not paying attention to my chewing.
You will do fine! Good luck and have a good day Monday! Becky
— blank first name B.
May 18, 2002
The anesthesiologist will give you something during surgery to ensure you
don't become nauseated when you wake up. You will probably see them before
surgery--just be sure to tell them that you are concerned about feeling
nauseated and ask them to give you something so that you won't be sick. In
the hospital, at the FIRST signs of nausea, tell the nurse so that they can
put some medicine in your IV. I got nauseated only once in the hospital,
and the IV thing worked instantly. Before you leave the hospital, ask your
surgeon to give you a prescription for something that will fight nausea in
case you get sick when you get home. I had surgery 11 days ago, and I have
experienced nausea only twice. I haven't thrown up once, and I'm amazed at
how well I'm tolerating everything. I've been very lucky, and I hope
you're just as lucky! Just remember that the first couple or three days in
the hospital are pretty bad--but it gets much better very quickly. Good
luck!
— Kristie B.
May 18, 2002
lora, like the other posts have said, you should be ok in the
hospital..........and then after that, i am sure the doc will prescribe
something to prevent nausea, (that is standard procedure) .............
but don't fool yourself, things are gonna be different, and yes you may be
nauseated and uncomfortable.........to what extent, know ones
knows.........just remember to stay positive and take things as it come
and remember that in the end you decided to have this to save your life.
the yukky stuff will eventually pass.... GOOD LUCK
— Tica G.
May 18, 2002
First of all I don't believe the nausea is determined by whether you have a
lap or an open procedure. Nausea can be caused by several factors and all
of them are the same for either type of surgery.Anesthesia, pain and
settling of blood in our digestive tract. Sometimes people with ng tubes
are helped with nausea because this prevents the blood from accumulating.
Others are nauseaus BECAUSE of the ng. Everyone is different. I had an open
RNY with no ng tube. I was nauseated twice in the hospital both within 12
hours of surgery. I called the nurse and was instantly given something in
my iv. It helped immediately!!! I never vomited. I am 16 months post op and
have never been nauseated since!!! Shelley
— Shelley.
May 18, 2002
I don't think you can even predict what kind of reaction you'll have in the
hospital, if any. I had had morphine before when I was operated on for a
brain tumor. No problem. With my RNY on 5/2/02, the morphine made me all
kinds of nauseous and they had to discontinue it and give me Toradol shots.
Luckily I didn't seem to have that much pain and the shots worked great.
Now that I think of it, I DID have nausea with the anesthesia (when I woke
up from the brain tumor surgery), but DID NOT have it this time with my
RNY. Whenever I felt the nausea, I did not vomit though. Unhappily, I'm
having problems with nausea again 2 weeks out from my surgery. Working on
trying to find the cause of that. Go in with positive thoughts and the
docs and nurses will give you all the help you need. Hugs, Joy
— [Deactivated Member]
May 18, 2002
I have had to have 6 surgeries in the last 8 years for a chronic reason, i
always have become very nauseated afterwards , everytime and even had to
stay overnite due to the nausea not the surgery!! finally an
anestesiologist asked me if he could give me some Zofran, he said they give
it to kemo patients..l it worked wonders, I have had 3 surgeries since then
and asked for each time and it worked. Ask your dr about it.
— Nicole K.
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