Very fearful of being nauseated

[Dabearo 118]

On schedule for June 13th. Getting very worried about being nauseated and throwing up. What was your real experience? What meds did you take to prevent?

[Navigating the Wilderness 824]

It certainly does not happen to everyone. I was nauseous for maybe 15 mins after I woke up from surgery. They gave me Zofran, but I never needed it.

[Joann454 1,329]

They gave me something when I woke up and it worked immediately.

[itstime4me123 139]

I was nauseated for 3 days. It gets better

[Joann454 1,329]

I should add, I did throw up my first night home. It was quick and didn't hurt as much as I thought. I've had zero nausea since then.

[Apple1 2,572]

I had nausea the first night, but never vomited and have been fine ever since. Ask for something and it will help.

[PatientEleventyBillion 851]

I felt nausea at first when first getting back on meds and taking chewable supplements the following morning after discharge.

Since then, the only time I've felt some nausea was when I overate.

Yet to actually throw up though. I wouldn't call myself fearful of throwing up I just have a very high aversion to it so I do all I can to suppress it unless I have no choice.

[Dabearo 118]

Ok, that's all very helpful. Sounds like it's minimal, manageable, and your medications worked. Ty

[mzlil2cool 17]

U will be ok nausea didn't really effect me at all it depends on ur body lovely but when u do need anything the nurse will be there to assist u for sure [emoji4]

[DaleCruse 756]

I've been very lucky. I've never felt nausea & have never thrown up. In the nearly three years since surgery I've had acid reflux many times, but have yet to throw up.

Worrying about something that may or may not happen is just torturing yourself. If you feel nausea, you'll treat it. If you throw up, you'll clean it up. You're going to be okay.

[starfishwish 129]

I was not as lucky. I was nauseas from the moment I woke up. I had constant episodes of gagging and wretching. They were giving me 4 different nausea meds and an antispasmodic. I wound up staying 3 nights in the hospital instead
of one. On the flip side, I had zero pain and needed no pain meds at all. I was not expecting or prepared for that. Everyone is different.

[MSinger 348]

I don't want to frighten you, but I had severe nausea and violent wretching from the moment I woke up from surgery. I had a scopalamine patch, compazine IV, zofran IV, tigan injections, and I was inhaling alcohol prep pads that were held up to my nose - believe it or not, they actually helped some. I was taking all of my nausea medications as soon as they were available and the nurses did an outstanding job of watching over me and reminding me as soon as I could take my next med. I couldn't eat or drink at all my first night. Compazine and tigan helped me the most. The good news is that as the days passed it gradually got better. When I was discharged, I had some lingering nausea when I woke up in the morning that I took zofran for. I'm a little over 2 weeks out now and don't need nausea meds at all.

My experience is really an outlier here. Most of the stories I've read here have been very mild, but everyone reacts to surgery and anesthesia differently.

[PatientEleventyBillion 851]

6 hours ago, MSinger said:

I don't want to frighten you, but I had severe nausea and violent wretching from the moment I woke up from surgery. I had a scopalamine patch, compazine IV, zofran IV, tigan injections, and I was inhaling alcohol prep pads that were held up to my nose - believe it or not, they actually helped some. I was taking all of my nausea medications as soon as they were available and the nurses did an outstanding job of watching over me and reminding me as soon as I could take my next med. I couldn't eat or drink at all my first night. Compazine and tigan helped me the most. The good news is that as the days passed it gradually got better. When I was discharged, I had some lingering nausea when I woke up in the morning that I took zofran for. I'm a little over 2 weeks out now and don't need nausea meds at all.

My experience is really an outlier here. Most of the stories I've read here have been very mild, but everyone reacts to surgery and anesthesia differently.

I'd say thats an outlier too.

There are also things that contribute to nausea people may not be aware of.. especially taking medications or supplements on an empty stomach.

If we look at Calcium for example.. calcium carbonate, the most popular version of calcium supplement, shouldn't be taken on an empty stomach or else it might cause nausea - which is why calcium citrate is recommended over carbonate and others. Some medications are the same way. Of course, right after surgery we can't really have a lot of stuff, yet we must take our meds and supplements anyways, so.. that's just one of the many juggling acts we have to put up with as part of the process, and that's on top of situations like yours where each person's body reacts differently.

Edited June 8, 2017 by PatientEleventyBillion

[blizair09 3,250]

I have had zero nausea throughout the entire experience. They gave me a bunch of prescriptions for gastric-related things, and I have never taken one pill. Some people just seem to take to it better than others in that arena...

[Joann454 1,329]

I'd say thats an outlier too. [emoji6]
There are also things that contribute to nausea people may not be aware of.. especially taking medications or supplements on an empty stomach.
If we look at Calcium for example.. calcium carbonate, the most popular version of calcium supplement, shouldn't be taken on an empty stomach or else it might cause nausea - which is why calcium citrate is recommended over carbonate and others. Some medications are the same way. Of course, right after surgery we can't really have a lot of stuff, yet we must take our meds and supplements anyways, so.. that's just one of the many juggling acts we have to put up with as part of the process, and that's on top of situations like yours where each person's body reacts differently.

I think calcium citrate is also more easily absorbed vs calcium carbonate.

I agree with the poster who said you're worrying about things that may or may not happen. I spent so much time worrying about this or that with surgery and recovery. For me it was a waste of energy and even if it does happen, what can you do? It's gonna be what it's gonna be. Use this time to get prepared and stay positive. I've had a perfect recovery so far and wish I'd been less of a mess before surgery.