# Had general anesthetic 12 years ago, vomited a lot - can they fix that? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 1, 2012, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/had-general-anesthetic-12-years-ago-vomited-a-lot-can-they-fix-that/639606 "2012-11-01T20:11:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2012, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/had-general-anesthetic-12-years-ago-vomited-a-lot-can-they-fix-that/639606/1 "2012-11-01T20:11:41Z")
When I had a laparoscopic surgery 12 or so years ago, I vomited for hours afterwards. I’m going in for another laparoscopic surgery tomorrow (getting my tubes tied - FINALLY!), and they mentioned that the anesthetist should be able to fix that. What do you think? Should I bring my bucket and all my liquids that don’t burn coming back up again, or is there a chance that I _won’t_ be spending all tomorrow vomiting? ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2012, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/had-general-anesthetic-12-years-ago-vomited-a-lot-can-they-fix-that/639606/2 "2012-11-01T20:14:55Z")
They’ve come a long way in 12 years. Do make sure you tell the anesthesiologist (I never rely on someone passing the message or having read the chart.) Knowing you had that reaction once, they may choose something less puke prone, or give you something to quell the nausea. Have faith. And prepare a bucket, just in case. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2012, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/had-general-anesthetic-12-years-ago-vomited-a-lot-can-they-fix-that/639606/3 "2012-11-01T20:18:48Z")
Sounds good! I’m bringing my own bucket - those stupid little trays that they give you for vomiting that hold about half a cup of fluid are ridiculous. ---
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2012, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/had-general-anesthetic-12-years-ago-vomited-a-lot-can-they-fix-that/639606/4 "2012-11-01T20:25:54Z")
Just to echo what **WhyNot** said. Tell them you got really nauseated from anesthetics in the past and maybe even drop the term '[odansetron](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ondansetron) (Zofran)". You may also ask “naively”: ‘might pre-op steroids be indicated’? ---
**Author:** ![Quercus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/7ab992/32.png) [@Quercus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quercus)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2012, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/had-general-anesthetic-12-years-ago-vomited-a-lot-can-they-fix-that/639606/5 "2012-11-01T20:28:55Z")
Yeah the first time I had general, I puked right in the wake-up room. A decade later, I made it home before puking. So I made a point of telling them that a couple years later, and had no problem the next few times. You should be OK, as long as you make sure the anesthesiologist knows about your issue. Ideally, she/he’d know in advance and have some way of getting your medical records to find out what exact drugs you got last time that sent you to pukey-land. ---
**Author:** ![Bambi\_Hassenpfeffer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Bambi\_Hassenpfeffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bambi_Hassenpfeffer)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2012, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/had-general-anesthetic-12-years-ago-vomited-a-lot-can-they-fix-that/639606/6 "2012-11-01T23:49:47Z")
> [@KarlGauss](#): > > Just to echo what **WhyNot** said. Tell them you got really nauseated from anesthetics in the past and maybe even drop the term '[odansetron](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ondansetron) (Zofran)". I was going to say the same thing. I was getting twilight last time I had a procedure, so they hit me with midazolam and fentanyl. The few times I’ve had any opiates in me, they make me pretty nauseous, and right after they pushed the fentanyl I started feeling it. So I asked for Zofran, and it stopped the nausea immediately after I got it. I got some odd looks though from the nurse. She slipped over to the doc and whispered, “He asked for Zofran, doctor.” – a little too loud, so I totally heard her, and asked her if she’d rather I aspirate after I threw up on the table. ---
**Author:** ![applebetty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4af34b/32.png) [@applebetty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/applebetty)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2012, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/had-general-anesthetic-12-years-ago-vomited-a-lot-can-they-fix-that/639606/7 "2012-11-01T23:58:12Z")
It’s much better these days. Twenty years ago, I remember waking up with vomiting and chills so bad my teeth were chattering. Recently I had another surgery, the anesthetist talked with me beforehand, and I explained previous problems. That time I woke up feeling only calm and tired. If you are honest when they ask you about previous reactions, they can manage you much better. There are several different medications they can use to put you under, and if they have an idea of how you reacted before, they can prevent problems by adjusting dosages and meds. That’s why they earn the big bucks. I think you’ll be fine, but good luck anyways! ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2012, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/had-general-anesthetic-12-years-ago-vomited-a-lot-can-they-fix-that/639606/8 "2012-11-02T00:17:12Z")
> [@Bambi\_Hassenpfeffer](#): > > “He asked for Zofran, doctor.” “So good, patients ask for it by name!” Where I come from, that’s an ad campaign right there. ---
**Author:** ![rsat3acr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a3d4f5/32.png) [@rsat3acr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rsat3acr)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2012, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/had-general-anesthetic-12-years-ago-vomited-a-lot-can-they-fix-that/639606/9 "2012-11-02T00:36:44Z")
There shouldn’t be anything in your stomach to vomit. Dry heaves maybe but stomach should be empty. Like others said tell the anesthesiologist things are much better now. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2012, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/had-general-anesthetic-12-years-ago-vomited-a-lot-can-they-fix-that/639606/10 "2012-11-02T00:44:46Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > Sounds good! I’m bringing my own bucket - those stupid little trays that they give you for vomiting that hold about half a cup of fluid are ridiculous. Hopefully the anesthesiologist can avoid the problem, but if not, here’s a puking tip. Get some ziploc gallon freezer bags. They’re a lot handier than carrying around a bucket. And if you do have to vomit, you can just open the bag, throw up inside of it, and then seal it up and throw it away (and in a hospital you can ask an employee to do that last part for you). ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2012, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/had-general-anesthetic-12-years-ago-vomited-a-lot-can-they-fix-that/639606/11 "2012-11-02T01:00:12Z")
What they said. Mr. S woke up vomiting after hernia surgery in 1973. That was fun. He needed another hernia repair about 5 years ago, told the anesthesiologist about it, and they gave him something for it. No vomiting after Hernia Repair 2.0. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2012, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/had-general-anesthetic-12-years-ago-vomited-a-lot-can-they-fix-that/639606/12 "2012-11-02T03:17:55Z")
They are definitely better at managing nausea. They may even give antinausea meds prophylactically (I know they did when I had surgery a couple years ago). The gastro who does my colonoscopies uses Zofran routinely when a patient needs antinausea meds for a procedure. That’s vs. older meds. The subject came up because Zofran is the one they recommend for people with Restless Legs Syndrome. ---
**Author:** ![carnut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnut/32/3531_2.png) [@carnut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnut)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2012, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/had-general-anesthetic-12-years-ago-vomited-a-lot-can-they-fix-that/639606/13 "2012-11-02T03:34:11Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > They’ve come a long way in 12 years. Do make sure you tell the anesthesiologist (I never rely on someone passing the message or having read the chart.) Knowing you had that reaction once, they may choose something less puke prone, or give you something to quell the nausea. Have faith. > > And prepare a bucket, just in case. 😉 CW, I have the same problem as you. The second time I had the surgery, I told them about my Meniere’s and my first experience. So he added something to the mix to quell the nausea. It worked - sort of. This time I didn’t sick up until I got home. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2012, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/had-general-anesthetic-12-years-ago-vomited-a-lot-can-they-fix-that/639606/14 "2012-11-02T03:34:41Z")
> [@rsat3acr](#): > > There shouldn’t be anything in your stomach to vomit. Dry heaves maybe but stomach should be empty. Like others said tell the anesthesiologist things are much better now. I followed the instructions for surgery - no foods or liquids after midnight. I still vomited for hours after I woke up. Trust me, there is _something_ in your stomach, even after a long time without food. And of course, since you can’t eat, you wake up ravenous and try to eat something, which comes back out much quicker than it went in. > [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Hopefully the anesthesiologist can avoid the problem, but if not, here’s a puking tip. Get some ziploc gallon freezer bags. They’re a lot handier than carrying around a bucket. And if you do have to vomit, you can just open the bag, throw up inside of it, and then seal it up and throw it away (and in a hospital you can ask an employee to do that last part for you). That’s a great idea! I do have some of those - I’ll pack them for tomorrow. Thanks, guys - you’ve really set my mind at ease about this. Vomiting for hours after abdominal surgery was about the least fun part of the surgery last time. ---
**Author:** ![Bambi\_Hassenpfeffer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Bambi\_Hassenpfeffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bambi_Hassenpfeffer)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2012, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/had-general-anesthetic-12-years-ago-vomited-a-lot-can-they-fix-that/639606/15 "2012-11-02T03:54:01Z")
> [@Derleth](#): > > “So good, patients ask for it by name!” > > Where I come from, that’s an ad campaign right there. Heh. I did ask for it by name, but just because it’s an excellent med, well-tolerated, and available as IV as well as oral, works very quickly, and it’s generic and relatively cheap. I don’t think they knew that I worked in a pharmacy. ---
**Author:** ![Quercus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/7ab992/32.png) [@Quercus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quercus)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2012, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/had-general-anesthetic-12-years-ago-vomited-a-lot-can-they-fix-that/639606/16 "2012-11-02T12:18:58Z")
> [@rsat3acr](#): > > There shouldn’t be anything in your stomach to vomit. Dry heaves maybe but stomach should be empty. Unless you had wisdom teeth surgery. Then there might be lots of blood to vomit up! Good times, good times… ---
**Author:** ![Antigen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/848f3c/32.png) [@Antigen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antigen)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2012, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/had-general-anesthetic-12-years-ago-vomited-a-lot-can-they-fix-that/639606/17 "2012-11-02T13:42:12Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > Sounds good! I’m bringing my own bucket - those stupid little trays that they give you for vomiting that hold about half a cup of fluid are ridiculous. Last time I was in an emergency room, I had [one of these](http://www.advmedical.com/images/thumbs/0002016.jpeg) instead of those stupid kidney-shaped plastic cups. Makes a hell of a lot more sense, if you ask me. ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2012, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/had-general-anesthetic-12-years-ago-vomited-a-lot-can-they-fix-that/639606/18 "2012-11-02T16:57:49Z")
> [@Antigen](#): > > Last time I was in an emergency room, I had [one of these](http://www.advmedical.com/images/thumbs/0002016.jpeg) instead of those stupid kidney-shaped plastic cups. Makes a hell of a lot more sense, if you ask me. And you can record the volume, for bragging purposes! 😛 ---
**Author:** ![jharvey963](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/54ee81/32.png) [@jharvey963](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jharvey963)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2012, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/had-general-anesthetic-12-years-ago-vomited-a-lot-can-they-fix-that/639606/19 "2012-11-02T18:22:22Z")
I’ve had occasion for general anesthesia a couple of times in the last few years. I tell them this: “I’m very sensitive to drugs and often have a bad reaction to them. I had general anesthesia \ and was puking after surgery. Please use the minimum number and amount of drugs to keep me under. I REALLY don’t want to wake up on the table, but I also want to minimize the side effects I get from the anesthesia. Thanks a lot.” And this seems to work. The last anesthesiologist said, “well, we normally we give you DrugA, DrugB, DrugC, and DrugD but if you can put up with a little bit of a feeling of pressure at the IV site, we can do it with only DrugA.” My response, “Sounds great to me!”. And he was right. I did feel some pressure, but was out within seconds. I woke up without any grogginess or nausea on the table as they were applying the bandage to the incision. And I felt NO side effects of the drugs. J. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2012, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/had-general-anesthetic-12-years-ago-vomited-a-lot-can-they-fix-that/639606/20 "2012-11-02T22:58:15Z")
Moved from General Questions to IMHO. **samclem** ,Moderator [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/had-general-anesthetic-12-years-ago-vomited-a-lot-can-they-fix-that/639606.md?page=2)