There are some common reactions that people may have after an operation and anaesthetic. Many of these will be evident in the recovery room and we can assist in minimising any discomfort you may have.
SHIVERING AND FEELING COLD
Even though we keep you warm during your operation with special warming blankets and warm fluids, some operations will make you quite cold. In recovery we will continue to warm you until you no longer feel cold. Some drugs and especially epidurals can make you shiver. It is a normal reaction and will settle with time.
NAUSEA
It is quite common to have some transient nausea after an operation and anaesthetic, some operations are more likely to make you feel nauseated. Most often we can alleviate your nausea with medications so please let the recovery nurse know if you feel sick. There are some patients who have a predisposition to nausea with operations, if you have previously been sick after an operation let your anaesthetist know as there are several things we can do to assist with this.
BRUISING AND DISCOMFORT AT THE SITE OF THE IV CANNULA
Not uncommonly you can have a bit of a bruise at your injection site. Some people tend to be more prone to bruising than others. In a small percentage of people they can get some chemical irritation from the drugs injected into the vein. This can give an area of redness and bruising that can be sore. Generally this will settle in a few days with paracetamol or ibuprofen and sometimes a cold compress or ice may help. If it hasn’t settled please contact us.
DIZZINESS AND LOW BLOOD PRESSURE
Temporary dizziness may occur, is not uncommon and will generally settle over the first 24 hours. We recommend taking your time when you first stand up out of bed, it is best to sit on the bed and give your feet a wiggle around then stand up. If you are at all worried or dizzy on your feet please consult the nursing staff. This is one of the many reasons that we ask you to go home with another adult for the first day or two, and to be picked up rather than taxi or uber.
BLURRY VISION
You may often have some blurry vision as you wake up from your anaesthetic, this is often a combination of the effects of your anaesthetic drugs wearing off as well as the eye lubricant we use to protect your eyes whilst you are asleep.
SORE THROAT
It is very common to have a sore throat for a day or two and there are several reasons.
- If you have a breathing tube placed this can cause some inflammation and a sore throat.
- The anaesthetic gases are a dry gas this can sometimes dry out your throat and cause some irritation.
- If you have an operation that is anywhere around the throat eg tonsillectomy, adenoidectomy, thyroidectomy or parathyroidectomy then the operation itself can cause throat discomfort.
- Gargling a local anaesthetic preparation such as Cepacaine or Difflam can help, or ice chips