Surgery is tough enough without post-surgery issues. One of the most common symptoms after surgery is the feeling of nausea and discomfort.
These issues make it hard to return to normal life and being able to eat and drink without problems. Vomiting can be painful as it puts stress on surgical incisions.
But what does it all mean? Why do people get nauseous and even vomit after a major procedure?
Keep reading to discover important reasons you might suffer from nausea after surgery and what you can do about it.
Why People Experience Nausea After Surgery?
The biggest reason you may experience nausea and vomiting is because of the anesthesia that you are required to take before surgery. These symptoms are known side effects of anesthesia. It comes with the territory for many people.
Check with your doctor ahead of time to find out what type of anesthesia you will be receiving. Note that sedation for dental or other outpatient procedures requires much less anesthesia than for most common surgeries.
Still, there are other factors involved. For example, taking medication on an empty stomach and dehydration can directly affect your post-surgery symptoms. Returning to a normal diet too soon can also have adverse effects. Perhaps your doctor should give you preventative prescriptions to control nausea and vomiting.
Most experienced surgeons do a great job of advising your ahead of time of the risk of nausea and making sure you have the right plan of attack and medications for dealing with nausea. They want to make sure you have a smooth recovery, and naturally, they want to avoid a medical malpractice claim.
How to Prevent Nausea After Surgery
Fortunately, there are some things you can do to prevent or limit nausea and vomiting.
For example, take it slow at first and eat deliberately. Avoid hot meals at first and only eat small amounts of bland food. It’s important to stop eating before your stomach feels full.
Many doctors advise that you lay down flat on your back for two hours after consuming a meal. This is important to ensure a speedy recovery from surgery.
Collaborate with your doctor and let them know if you have had a medication in the past that worked well for easing nausea.
Stay ahead of the pain and take anti-nausea medications the moment your stomach feels uneasy. Talk to your doctor who may advise taking your medication at regular intervals. If you wait until you are feeling nauseous it will be too late to quickly alleviate the issue.
The Bottom Line
The feeling of nausea after surgery is all-too-common and not a fun way to recover from surgery. Remember, you don’t have to recover alone.
Involve your doctor before surgery and express your concerns about feeling nauseous and vomiting later. Make sure you have a plan in place and that you know exactly what anesthesia and medications you will be using.
Take it easy after surgery. Don’t rush back into your normal activities until your doctor advises it is okay.
Discover more health advice by exploring our latest posts.