waking up after surgery

[Joanna240 0]

<p>Waking up after surgery, what is the likely scenario? Am I going to feel like I've been hit by a Mack truck? Tubes everywhere? I'm a control freak and this is the part I'm most nervous about, that I'm sick and can't get it together. Just go ahead and tell me what to expect. </p> <p>Thx, Joanna in North Carolina Surgery by Dr. Cook at Frye Medical Wednesday January 16, 2008.</p>

[Wheetsin 714]

I felt no pain when I woke up. The first thing I remember is someone asking me to lift my butt so they could put xray films under me. Then I remember reaching up to make sure the breathing tube was already out(nurse had told me they may leave it in until I took it out myself), and then I remember being surprised that I didn't hurt b/c of all the horror stories I had read. I didn't have any pain. I remember peeking under the covers to see where my incisions were because I couldn't feel pain from them. They asked me to rate my pain 1 - 10 and I said "like a half" because I was hesittant to tell them I didn't have any. I was asking to be discharged within 5 mins of being able to keep my eyes open.

Never had significant pain unless I was sitting/getting up, coughing, sneezing, etc. Walking was very uncomfortable until I figured out to support my stomach, then it suddenly was not that bad.

[travelgirl 3]

I woke up SO groggy, and HOT. They had one of those warming air blanket things, called a bear hug or some dang thing, and it felt like it took me 5 minutes to say "hot". They took that off, and I snoozed for a little longer, then woke up again, not really in pain, no tubes or anything anywhere except for my IV. The longer I was awake, though, the more pain I felt. It never got awful, though, pain of about a 5 on a 1-10 scale. Mostly, I felt like I had a huge balloon in my sternum and belly area. I was resting comfortably in a hotel by 3:00 PM on the day of surgery, and my surgery was at 9:00 AM.

[Crishell 0]

My experience was not bad. Was my first time being under anethesia. I remember being cold and the nurses kept calling my name trying to get me fully awake. that was aggravating because all I really wanted to do was sleep. I did not have alot of tubes and monitors. I guess they unhooked those before I was fully awake. I do not recall being in alot of pain initially. I was surprised that it was over. Because there were no room vacancies at the time, I had to stay in recovery for like 3 hours before I got an actual room. I only had the morphine pump thing and I recieved IV for a while. My blood sugar spiked during surgery so I also had to get a couple of insulin injections before being discharged the next day.

[kellye 0]

It is not that bad. My throat was really dry and sore from the breathing tube but other than that I was wide awake and not hurting. I was only in recovery for 20 minutes then to my room. I had to stay 8 hours because my potassium was low and had to have IV but I was up and moving in about 45 after surgery. You will have an IV and that should be it. My doctor wanted me up and moving quickly to help with the gas.

You will do fine. Try not to think about it too much!!

Kellye

[Cota129 0]

I felt fine. A bit groggy, kinda sore, but alert quickly and ready to get up and walk around. The Mack truck feeling comes the next day or so .

[Big-D 0]

I had so problem, except for some pain around my ribs. You'll hear things first before your eyes open. I just kept saying ow, my ribs. But it wasn't a sharp, hard pain. Just like I had bruised ribs.

Now my ribs may not have been bruised. It just felt that way. Today, I'm 3 days post-op and I feel fine.

Best of luck to you.

[shortgal 5]

I was VERY groggy for hours after. I mean my legs wouldn;t even hold me up kind of groggy and can;t keep my eyes open at all kind of groggy.

Didn't feel any pain at that point. when I was more awake, I had chest and shoulder pain which was from the gas they use to inflate your stomach more, so the Dr can work inside.

The gas pain lasted four days. I asked for some pain meds in the hospital and took only two doses of a liquid pain med at home. Getting the liquid down the first few days was hard and after the fourth day, I felt much improved and started getting more liquids down.

In the hospital I had an IV hooked up. I have had one other surgery ( gallbladder and I was very groggy after that one, too, so I guess it's just the way I am).

If you're nauseous just ask for anti-nausea meds or if you have pain ask for pain meds.

My incisions never hurt me at all, just the gas pain.

Plan on resting, sipping Water once you're home and just do as much as you feel able to.

You'll do fine, Look how many here on the forum got thru it!

[gingerbug 3]

groggy and sore. It took a lot to shake the groogyness. The nurse helped me get dressed pretty quickly and was really really nice. I went to recovery area for my post op instructions and they weheeled me out.

[notateechanow 7]

I can't say as I remember much. When I woke up in recovery, there was someone moaning in the area next to me...I waited for what seemed an hour or so, but no clock, so I haven't any idea...then I remember requesting the cute young guy to transport me to my room, thinking he had a great rear end. Next thing I knew I was in my room with someone checking on my O2 levels and my pulse. I was cranky with her--because she hadn't said anything before just grabbing my hand, but other than that, was just annoyed by the tube my dr. put in my nose to my stomach. Not all dr.'s do this, though...

All things considered, I didn't have much pain. (AND they give you meds for that, if you're interest in taking them...)

[Joanna240 0]

Oh, some of you went home that afternoon after surgery? They got me staying the night (23-hour max in the hospital if no complications, same-day-surgery). Is that because I have Type 2 Diabetes?

They said I'd be catherized until I felt like walking. And hose on my legs to pevent blood clots. Breathing into a machine to make sure I'm not getting pneumonia. I'm not a sickly person, just fat with Type 2 Diabetes. Did they do all that to y'all?

They also said I'd have a morphine machine, that I could push the button every 11 minutes .

When the staff said that some people wake up feeling OK and some feel like they have been hit by a Mack truck, my husband piped up and said, "she'll be one that feels like she was hit by a Mack truck." Guess I have a reputation.

I just want to get back on my feet and get the heck out of there. I'm not a "hospital/going to doctor's" kinda person but I'm desperate to get this weight off and need some help.

Joanna in North Carolina

[kagoscuba 0]

The minimum stay for me was 24 hours (that's how they got me to pay so much), but I walked out 12 hours after I walked in. If you are ok and want to leave, all you need is a release to do so. There is no reason they can make you stay, unless they think there is a risk.

[ChattyCathy 0]

I have been under a few time but nothing to this extent...I am scared but excited all at the same time!

[mia31771 0]

How did you support your stomach? with your hands while walking? Or did you wear something?

[juliegeraci 7]

The only pain I experienced was from the tube. I had a terrible sore throat and they had to spray my throat with a numbing agent so I could swallow.