Worried About Recovery Room Pain & Nausea

[slimthickens 28]

Hi All,

I'm in the insurance approval process and waiting for for a date. Although I am not afraid of the actual surgery I find that I am very concerned about the pain and nausea after coming out of anesthesia. What have been your experiences?

[5DoxieMom 87]

Its fresh in my mind, since my surgery was last Mon. The first second you wake up, it feels like a truck hit you, but the nurses are right there with your IV pain meds. I was constantly getting coached to take deep breathes, as my O2 sats monitor kept beeping. My doc gave an RX for scopolamine patch to put on prior to surgery. It helps with nausea, but really dries you out. My nausea was minimal. But they have the IV nausea meds available too. The whole thing is kind of miserable, but short lived. I first woke up after surgery at 11:20 (clock right in front of me on the wall). At 2:30 in the afternoon, I was walking out of the place. Just had a little trouble getting in the car. Moving very slooooooowlly.

[favoredone 590]

I was nauseous from the morphine... so, I didn't want much of it.. I was in a drug induced daze for the first day... after my swallow test, I was switched to lortab and wasn't nauseous again...

I think you'll be fine... Most surgeons give their nurses strict orders about pain management after major surgery...

[VJSlim 156]

I was neck deep in pain meds the first day and did'nt feel one bit of anything! The next day, I had a mild pain in my largest incision - as it was on my left side, I had to make a concious effort to get down from the bed on my right side. If I forgot to get down on the right side, I had a stinging pain for a few seconds. This was only on my second day. From the third day onwards I did not experience any pain unless I had too much to drink/eat during the first week.

[slimthickens 28]

Its fresh in my mind, since my surgery was last Mon. The first second you wake up, it feels like a truck hit you, but the nurses are right there with your IV pain meds. I was constantly getting coached to take deep breathes, as my O2 sats monitor kept beeping. My doc gave an RX for scopolamine patch to put on prior to surgery. It helps with nausea, but really dries you out. My nausea was minimal. But they have the IV nausea meds available too. The whole thing is kind of miserable, but short lived. I first woke up after surgery at 11:20 (clock right in front of me on the wall). At 2:30 in the afternoon, I was walking out of the place. Just had a little trouble getting in the car. Moving very slooooooowlly.

Wow! They let you go home the same day?

I was nauseous from the morphine... so, I didn't want much of it.. I was in a drug induced daze for the first day... after my swallow test, I was switched to lortab and wasn't nauseous again...

I think you'll be fine... Most surgeons give their nurses strict orders about pain management after major surgery...

What was your pain level?

[slimthickens 28]

I was neck deep in pain meds the first day and did'nt feel one bit of anything! The next day, I had a mild pain in my largest incision - as it was on my left side, I had to make a concious effort to get down from the bed on my right side. If I forgot to get down on the right side, I had a stinging pain for a few seconds. This was only on my second day. From the third day onwards I did not experience any pain unless I had too much to drink/eat during the first week.

That sounds so encouraging, thanks! I've been so worried from watching all the horror story videos on Youtube...lol

[gramaof4 58]

I had my surgery in Mexico, Dr. Aceves...they treated me as if I were a queen...I never had ANY pain...zip zero...none! Amazing...20 minutes after surgery I was up walking and cruising the halls, visiting with the other ladies...I felt nausious only 3 times, the nurses got a shot in my IV quickly and it stopped immidiately...was amazing...

I was in hospital for 3 days (although I could have left on day 2) in Mexico if you did not feel comfortable leaving...you stayed till you did. I happened to have walked over the boarder to have surgery and if I stayed until day 3 then the staff would give us a ride back across the border. Was way better no walking...waiting in crossing line...just sat in a nice clean vehicle for 2 1/2 hours...was dropped right at my sisters home.

I went to the county fair, to the movies, to church...all the same week after surgery...had no pain....

You will do fine!

[CaseyKay 12]

I had my surgery in Mexico' date=' Dr. Aceves...they treated me as if I were a queen...I never had ANY pain...zip zero...none! Amazing...20 minutes after surgery I was up walking and cruising the halls, visiting with the other ladies...I felt nausious only 3 times, the nurses got a shot in my IV quickly and it stopped immidiately...was amazing...

I was in hospital for 3 days (although I could have left on day 2) in Mexico if you did not feel comfortable leaving...you stayed till you did. I happened to have walked over the boarder to have surgery and if I stayed until day 3 then the staff would give us a ride back across the border. Was way better no walking...waiting in crossing line...just sat in a nice clean vehicle for 2 1/2 hours...was dropped right at my sisters home.

I went to the county fair, to the movies, to church...all the same week after surgery...had no pain....

You will do fine![/quote']

WOW. My Mexico experience was nothing like that. I pray everyones ends up like this!

[Jack Fabulous 35]

I was not able to go on pain killers because of my sleep apnea. They gave me nausea medicine. I won't lie, the first two days were no picnic. but it got better each day. You will have pain meds, so you will be fine. I was back at work on day 5.

[Jack Fabulous 35]

"Pain don't hurt" -- Patrick Swayze in Roadhouse. Best.Movie.Ever! LMAO

[300PoundsDown 101]

For me it wasn't that bad but I've had 4 csections and my gall bladder removed so maybe I'm more accustomed to what to expect. But I do know this---I would do it again and again if I had to for the results. Hang in there!! Good luck with everything!

[slimthickens 28]

Thanks ladies, Your experiences really help to ease my concerns.

[Felicia 28]

I woke up in really bad pain BUT once I started complaining that I was hurting they switched my medicine to something stronger and gave me a shot right into the IV in my hand and BOOM I was a happy camper. Most of my pain was from the gas that gets stuck in your shoulder, I always seem to get that worse than others. If I said I was feeling sick to my stomach they got right on it. Even though I was in pain I felt like a Queen. LoL. I left the day after surgery but after being home a few hours and getting stressed (fiance and my 2.5 year old daughter causing complete CHAOS!) I said take me back to the hospital. So off I went. In the ER they gave me medicine right away and I only sat a couple hours until my room was ready and went right back up to my part of the hospital. It was not a pleasant few days but I am 4 months post op now and all that stuff seems like a distant memory.

[Anakin Jay 39]

I'll never forget waking up right after surgery:

Me: (only 20% awake, still on the table) I have to pee.

Nurses: It's ok you have a catheter you can pee.

Me: No I have pee

Nurses: It's ok go ahead

Me: NO, not here... Get this thing out of me.

They took it out and I walked to the bathoom and pee'd like a respectable male.

But not going to lie, the next 3 days were pretty awful. You just have to kind of tough it out. You'll be feeling pretty good by day 7

[gramaof4 58]

"Beauty is painful"...my mom used to say...when she was wacking my hair putting it in braids or curling or pinning it up...when I was laying on the bed stuffing myself into those pants that fit last month....

A little pain is well worth the gain of what you will lose....Now I experienced ZERO PAIN I do not even remember waking up in recovery...I remember being wheeled back down the hallway but don't remember getting into the hallway....

You will do just fine, I had myself syked out for a ton of pain...when I was pleasently surprized by the ZERO PAIN factor.

Good Luck, God will keep you safe and with little pain trust in him...