Nausea after general anaesthetic

[loggy01]

I am severely sick after a general anaesthetic and am due to have one soon for eye surgery. When I have been into hospital before I have told the Anaesthetist but nothing seems to help. Someone once said that there is a good anti-sickness drug which I think begins with a "Z" but it is not commonly given as it is so expensive. Does anyone know what this is called? I am dreading the after effects of surgery!!

[marval]

I don't know what it is called, but I suggest you ask to talk to the surgeon or Anaesthetist. Explain to them that you have this problem, they should be able to advise and reasure you. I am sure they will know what to give you to combat this sickness.

I always have some sickness after a general anaesthetic, but usually it goes off after a while.

Good luck

[daffy654]

Metoclopramide is the most commonly offered anti-sickness/nausea drug in hospitals in my experience.It works well for many people.

[sqad617]

Zofran.

[loggy01]

Yes, it was Zofran. Is it very expensive??

[sqad617]

Yes....one tablet may cost �15.

[daffy654]

Surely there are generic versions that cost less though sqad.?
I know Zofran is a brand name and that there are definitely generic products available that are the same.

[sqad617]

daffy......Zofran.........ondansetron...........no idea how much generic form costs.

[loggy01]

I looked it up on the Web and I can buy online 30 tablets for of Zofran for �30.00! What would the anaethetist think if I turned up with my own drugs! Surely this must be a stock item in hospitals?

[daffy654]

These online pharmacies are dodgy at best.You would need a private prescription to get the medication from a genuine online pharmacy.
No anaesthetist would risk letting you take your own medication....it could be anything for all they know!

[sqad617]

loggy...not necessarily as the NHS must be seen to be cost effective.

I would ask my GP if he would write out a prescription for 10 tablets....that shouldn't break the NHS bank.

An understanding GP would readily comply.

[daffy654]

The GP may comply sqad but what about the anaesthetist? Whenever I go into hospital they take my medication off me and give me hospital supplied stuff instead,I then get mine back upon discharge.

[sqad617]

daffy...the anaesthetist will come and see you before operation and one could explain the situation to him and I am sure that he would understand. If not, then keep one back in your locker.

loggy...are you sure that it is a GA that you are having and not a LA which are more common for eye operations?

[daffy654]

Hmmm,still not convinced sqad!

The hospital will supply what is best and will take into account the needs of loggy.If he/she asks specifically for Zofran and tells them of the usual sickness that occurs they will have the prescription ready for the appropriate medication.

[loggy01]

Yes, definately a general anaesthetic - thank god! It is to correct a squint so they are tightening the main eye muscle.

[sqad617]

daffy....that is loggy's complaint.....they didn't take "into account the needs of loggy."...she had a dreadful post op recovery.

I would not submit myself for operation until that problem is sorted out with the medical staff to my complete satisfaction and if it wasn't the I would make an official complaint.

The medical staff are here to satisfy the patient, not the other way round.

[daffy654]

I guess I have just been lucky then as apart from one anaesthetist who decided to lecture me on smoking (I had already told him I stopped 6 months previously),they have all listened and taken notice of my needs. I don't suffer sickness from anaesthetics,they do trigger severe asthma attacks though and after the last one I had a scary bout of a very fast heart rate (210 bpm) for almost 2 hours. They never did tell me why it happened :(

[DEN53]

I am the same loggy - general anaesthetics make me really sick - I have had 5 operations - they pump me full of anti sickness stuff, but I am still ill. In fact once, only after a routine laporoscopy, I made them put a drip back into my arm to get some fluids into me, I was drifting in and out of consciouness.

I don't know what the answer is, but perhaps that Zofran may do the trick.

Good Luck xx

[dinkydoo]

i am due a general anaesthetic soon ,just waiting for a date, and i also suffer from sever sickness after the anaesthetic, after reading this thread i intend to ask my g.p for zofran as sqad 617 suggested.

[sara3]

as sqad says, I had an eye op a couple of weeks ago under local anaesthetic. I know it sounds really scary but I had sedation and can't remember any of it. I'm sure I was asleep.. but apparently not!

maybe you could look into local anaesthetic as an option?

[loggy01]

I have had sedation for a tooth root canal filling and it was great but sereal. I remember hearing the dentist talk of his credit card being used twice in a restaurant but remember nothing of the actual operation at all. I was kind of there but not!

I guess as I have had my pre-op assessment I have to go with what the Consultant says.