Hello all. Me again in all my panicky glory. I do not know why I am so osessed with this, but knowledge is power. Can anybody tell me for sure and not just assume what actaully causes all the nausea that everyone speaks of immediately following surgery? Most people say it is from the pain medication, but a few people have mentioned that it is from the change in the CSF flow. I really would like to know, even though I realize it will not change the reality of that. Thanks as usual!! - TracyJessica PS.....any knowledge of steroids being used after surgery to avoid swelling? Any experiences with side effects from that? That was casually mentioned as a probibility by the nurse at my pre-op.
The nausea I had immediately after surgery was from the valium they were giving me. I would feel sick every time they gave I to me, once they stopped that medication the nausea stopped. So we assume that's what was causing mine.
No info on nausea. I was lucky enough to not really deal with it. I basically sat up and ate right after I got to my room and maybe ate a little fast. I felt momentarily sick and then it passed and I never dealt with it again. So I assumed just eating too much on the anesthesia did it to me but IDK.
As for a steroid...I got a couple of doses in the hospital but I was released the day after surgery and they didn't give me any to take home. They explained to me that directly after they wanted to cut down the acute inflammation from the procedure and ease up on the pain some but that after that they didn't want them used because it could mask complications.
I wonder the same thing about the nausea.. I know there are meds to stop nausea/vomiting.. but I have still heard of them not working and people vomiting and it was very uncomfortable right after the surgery... I am worried about it as well :/
Interesting, Hayperk. So it may be fair to say then that the nausea is not specific to decompression surgery. But if this is the case, I wonder if people who have a little tolerance to that medication fair better with the nausea. It’s such an odd phobia, but there is something about the thought of having brain surgery and waking up to throwing up that just freaks me out badly. Thanks for weighing in! - TracyJessica
hayperk said:
The nausea I had immediately after surgery was from the valium they were giving me. I would feel sick every time they gave I to me, once they stopped that medication the nausea stopped. So we assume that’s what was causing mine.
Thanks Anglyn. It’s amazing how different people’s stories are. I hope you are doing well! - TracyJessica
Anglyn said:
No info on nausea. I was lucky enough to not really deal with it. I basically sat up and ate right after I got to my room and maybe ate a little fast. I felt momentarily sick and then it passed and I never dealt with it again. So I assumed just eating too much on the anesthesia did it to me but IDK.
As for a steroid…I got a couple of doses in the hospital but I was released the day after surgery and they didn’t give me any to take home. They explained to me that directly after they wanted to cut down the acute inflammation from the procedure and ease up on the pain some but that after that they didn’t want them used because it could mask complications.
Yea. I’m thinking one of the last things I want right after brain surgery is vomiting! Interestingly, so far no mention of the change of spinal fluid flow. I have heard that before and I believe my surgeon may have mentioned it. But can’t quite remember! Are you having surgery soon? - TracyJessica
shellybelly0930 said:
I wonder the same thing about the nausea… I know there are meds to stop nausea/vomiting… but I have still heard of them not working and people vomiting and it was very uncomfortable right after the surgery… I am worried about it as well
I'm curious as to the ones who did have vomiting post-op whether they were prone to vomiting before surgery? Other than when I was pregnant (when I threw up 10x a day for 6 mos) I rarely throw up. Even as a kid. Basically that's how my family knows a virus is bad...if I actually throw up. I've never throw up after any surgery and I've had a few. My sister in law however has the world's weakest stomach. She always throws up after anesthesia.
For what it’s worth. I did vomit 3 or 4 times about a week after surgery (another medicine issue) and it was scary. I was so afraid I would cause a leak. But I didn’t and it really wasn’t any worse to get sick after surgery than on a normal day. It was also one of my biggest fears, but my dr prescribed some anti nausea medications and I believe that helped.
My nurse said she was always puzzled by why Chiarians are so nauseous after surgery until she recently went to a seminar and specialists speaking said it is because of the blood (the blood from the surgery ) putting pressure on that part of the brain that makes us feel so very nauseous.
I was nauseous after surgery really bad for 2 days and it started to calm down after that.
Appetite didn't return for a week almost two.
I ate candied ginger and drank lots of hot tea.
Hope this helps!
:-)
Yes I don't have my date yet, but the NS talked about it yesterday.. I am going to Boston for a second and third opinion.. but I have terrible symptoms.. haven't been able to live my life with my 4 children.. chiari is a mean monster!
One of my symptoms from chiari is SEVERE nausea.. ALL THE TIME.. and the awful headaches and neck pain.. I feel like I have the flu 24/7 non stop.. never a break between.. so I will probably be one of the many that do vomit after surgery :( even though its the worst thing ever I hate the nausea feeling..ugh I don't even want to think about it..
jessica said:
Yea. I'm thinking one of the last things I want right after brain surgery is vomiting! Interestingly, so far no mention of the change of spinal fluid flow. I have heard that before and I believe my surgeon may have mentioned it. But can't quite remember! Are you having surgery soon? - TracyJessica
shellybelly0930 said:I wonder the same thing about the nausea.. I know there are meds to stop nausea/vomiting.. but I have still heard of them not working and people vomiting and it was very uncomfortable right after the surgery... I am worried about it as well :/
Yes!!! Anesthesia!! Of course that is another factor that has been brought up in discussions, I just forgot. Perhaps these are all valid issues and the odds are stacked high against not having some nausea. I don’t know.
Anglyn said:
I’m curious as to the ones who did have vomiting post-op whether they were prone to vomiting before surgery? Other than when I was pregnant (when I threw up 10x a day for 6 mos) I rarely throw up. Even as a kid. Basically that’s how my family knows a virus is bad…if I actually throw up. I’ve never throw up after any surgery and I’ve had a few. My sister in law however has the world’s weakest stomach. She always throws up after anesthesia.
Well,thanks. Any little bit of encouraging words help so yes, to know it wasn’t worse than normally getting sick helps in its own odd way!
hayperk said:
For what it’s worth. I did vomit 3 or 4 times about a week after surgery (another medicine issue) and it was scary. I was so afraid I would cause a leak. But I didn’t and it really wasn’t any worse to get sick after surgery than on a normal day. It was also one of my biggest fears, but my dr prescribed some anti nausea medications and I believe that helped.
Almost every Chiari patient has some nausea post-operatively. Just like head-aches can come from many causes, so can nausea.
Truthfully, most patients who receive anesthesia have some nausea. Add to that the post-operative medications(particularly narcotics), reduced mobility(it hurts to move for at least a few hours and usually a few days) and the location of the surgery, and you get at quadruple whammy. Many chiari patients have baseline nausea(and, yes, posterior fossa irritation increases nausea, so there is always some blood and air at the surgical site, which is touching the brain if the dura is opened).
There are medications that can help. Zofran is the most common and is used for chemotherapy patients. Phenergan is a little older school but can be used to potentiate narcotics, so less narcotics are needed post-operatively. And then steroids. Steroids are meant to be used for their anti-inflammatory process(particularly for brain irritation around surgical time). Some MDs love them. I do not routinely use them post-operatively, due to concern about reduced healing(healing also has inflammatory processes at work that are slowed by steroids).
The bottom line is, each patient is an individual and each MD has their routine, which needs to be tailored to the patient based on how they respond to treatment.
Thank you so very much for sharing your knowledge Dr. Trumble! The more things make sense the easier it is to try to come to terms with it. I think that helped a lot of us. - TracyJessica
Dr. Trumble said:
Almost every Chiari patient has some nausea post-operatively. Just like head-aches can come from many causes, so can nausea.
Truthfully, most patients who receive anesthesia have some nausea. Add to that the post-operative medications(particularly narcotics), reduced mobility(it hurts to move for at least a few hours and usually a few days) and the location of the surgery, and you get at quadruple whammy. Many chiari patients have baseline nausea(and, yes, posterior fossa irritation increases nausea, so there is always some blood and air at the surgical site, which is touching the brain if the dura is opened).
There are medications that can help. Zofran is the most common and is used for chemotherapy patients. Phenergan is a little older school but can be used to potentiate narcotics, so less narcotics are needed post-operatively. And then steroids. Steroids are meant to be used for their anti-inflammatory process(particularly for brain irritation around surgical time). Some MDs love them. I do not routinely use them post-operatively, due to concern about reduced healing(healing also has inflammatory processes at work that are slowed by steroids).
The bottom line is, each patient is an individual and each MD has their routine, which needs to be tailored to the patient based on how they respond to treatment.
One more question, sorry, but isn’t it dangerous to vomit right after the duraplasty? Wouldn’t the strain put the patch at risk?
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jessica said:
Thank you so very much for sharing your knowledge Dr. Trumble! The more things make sense the easier it is to try to come to terms with it. I think that helped a lot of us. - TracyJessica
Dr. Trumble said:Almost every Chiari patient has some nausea post-operatively. Just like head-aches can come from many causes, so can nausea.
Truthfully, most patients who receive anesthesia have some nausea. Add to that the post-operative medications(particularly narcotics), reduced mobility(it hurts to move for at least a few hours and usually a few days) and the location of the surgery, and you get at quadruple whammy. Many chiari patients have baseline nausea(and, yes, posterior fossa irritation increases nausea, so there is always some blood and air at the surgical site, which is touching the brain if the dura is opened).
There are medications that can help. Zofran is the most common and is used for chemotherapy patients. Phenergan is a little older school but can be used to potentiate narcotics, so less narcotics are needed post-operatively. And then steroids. Steroids are meant to be used for their anti-inflammatory process(particularly for brain irritation around surgical time). Some MDs love them. I do not routinely use them post-operatively, due to concern about reduced healing(healing also has inflammatory processes at work that are slowed by steroids).
The bottom line is, each patient is an individual and each MD has their routine, which needs to be tailored to the patient based on how they respond to treatment.
Before my surgery they put this little round patch behind my ear that they said was for nausea. The nurse said that it would last up to 2 days.
Right after they brought me to my room I needed to go to the bathroom. Well as soon as the nurses got me up and to the bathroom a wave of nausea hit me bad. I told the nurses I was going to throw up. One of the nurses left the room quickly while the other helped me back to bed as quickly as she and I could go. The one nurse that had left the room had actually went to go and get some Zofran to put in my IV. As soon as she put it in my IV the cause went away. Luckily I did not throw up. They acted quickly thank goodness.
I did not have any nausea in the hospital. They were giving me anti nausea meds regularly and I just remembered they put a motion sickness patch behind my ear before surgery! I think they took it off the day I went home. That might explain why when we got to the hotel after being released, I got very nauseas and had to take phenergan. My husband rubbed a washcloth with ice inside under my chin and on my neck and that helped so much until meds kicked in. I was nauseas quite often before surgery. Discuss all of your concerns with your dr and you’ll do great!
I always get sick after surgery. I cannot tolerate anesthesia and then pain meds on top of that make it worse. I told anyone that would listen that I couldn’t take pain meds and they all assured me that with the cocktail of anti-nausea meds and the patch that I would be fine. I vomited the whole night following my decompression surgery, which was awful.
Ugg. I don’t have any idea how I tolerate anesthesia and according to Dr.Trumble, there are other factors working against us as well. How long did you have to deal with that?
BigD821 said:
I always get sick after surgery. I cannot tolerate anesthesia and then pain meds on top of that make it worse. I told anyone that would listen that I couldn’t take pain meds and they all assured me that with the cocktail of anti-nausea meds and the patch that I would be fine. I vomited the whole night following my decompression surgery, which was awful.