Is Nausea Normal After General Anesthesia?

Before you undergo a vasectomy reversal , you’ll consult the anesthesiologist to discuss your options. You may prefer general anesthesia, which will completely put you to sleep. However, you should be aware that general anesthesia can cause some side effects. One of those is nausea.

Why Surgery Leads to Nausea

Some people are more susceptible than others to nausea after surgery. And as a general rule of thumb, the longer a patient is asleep, and the more anesthesia drugs that are required, the greater the risk there is of nausea. The average vasectomy reversal surgery takes two to three hours, depending on the complexity. Other factors can also play a role in causing nausea, including the following:

• Being dehydrated from fasting before surgery
• Taking medication on an empty stomach
• Returning to a normal diet too quickly

How You Can Prepare

Tell the anesthesiologist if you’ve previously experienced nausea after having surgery. He or she should also know if you tend to be susceptible to nausea in everyday life. If so, the anesthesiologist can select the anesthesia drugs with an eye toward minimizing the risk of nausea. The doctor may also prescribe medications that can combat nausea. These medicines may be taken to prevent nausea or to treat it once it develops.

How You Can Cope

If you do experience nausea after being under general anesthesia, take any medications as prescribed. You’ll need to try to avoid vomiting, as the stress of vomiting can affect the integrity of the surgical site. Minimizing the risk of vomiting might seem impossible, but it’s really quite simple. Just avoid exposing yourself to the following:

• Strong smells
• Strongly flavored foods
• Air temperature that’s uncomfortably warm
• Fluids that are too cold or too hot
• Dehydration
• Pain

Note that some people who are prone to nausea avoid taking pain medication, but taking your medications as prescribed can actually help reduce nausea. Take it with small sips of water. Stick with clear fluids after surgery until you no longer feel nauseated.

We pride ourselves on extensive patient education, and pre- and post-operative support services here at the Center for Vasectomy Reversal. Call the office of Dr. Joshua Green, vasectomy reversal surgeon in Sarasota, if you have any questions before or after your procedure. You can get in touch at (941) 894-6428.