Sick after SNB--please help.

Anonymous

Sick after SNB--please help.

Briannek

On June 23, I had a partial lumpectomy. That evening I was in a lot of pain but was able to control with pain meds and rest. I never felt nausea. Yesterday, I had a sentinel node biopsy. The pain is a 9/10 and I have been vomitting off and on for 24 hours. I called the on-call resident last night and he was no help. He just told me to take the Percocet every 4 hours. Has anyone else experienced this with a SNB and have any helpful hints because the stress of vomitting is effecting my incision site and making the pain amplified.

JAN69

Brianneck, I'm sorry I don't have experience with your symptoms, but I'm sure someone will be along soon to help. Weekends are often very quiet around here. Wishing you less pain and more comfort. Jan

Annette47

Can you call your primary care (or whoever they have covering). Sounds like you could have a stomach bug unconnected to the SNB other than possibly contracting it in the hospital. Maybe they can at least prescribe some anti-nausea meds so you don’t keep aggravating the incision. Hope you feel better soon!

TwoHobbies

I have a pretty bad reaction to both anesthesia and pain meds. Do you think the Percocet is bothering you? I have to get off the pain meds and use ibuprofen myself. You might try a little ginger ale or 7 up-a couple of tablespoons every ten minutes. I found the ice packs to help with the pain. Call them if it continues and may be you'll get someone more responsive.

Molly50

If you are that sick you might want to go to the ER.

DaraB

Like TwoHobbies, I also react strongly to percocet and oxycodon. But it really should be a doctor who evaluates you and determines the cause. Listen to Molly and perhaps go to an urgent care or ER if things don't get better soon.

I_Spy

It doesn't really make sense for the doctor to tell you to take percocet if you're throwing up, does it? Won't you just throw up the pain medicine and still be in pain? You shouldn't be throwing up and in pain 9/10; no, that is not normal. Call back and get someone on the phone who isn't an idiot, or go to the ER or Urgent Care. Sometimes your insurance company will have a nurse help line, or the hospital will have a triage nurse you can talk to. Sometimes nurses can be a bit more sympathetic. Or just call your family doctor, or call back the same place and ask for the attending physician (realize these doctors work for YOU, not the other way around; say: "I did not care for the resident I spoke to; I would like to speak to an attending physician).

Like the girls above said, some people are very sensitive to pain medication, but you would probably know that about yourself if you've already had a lumpectomy? Or is this pain medication new to you? In any event, call someone else or go to the ER. Sorry you are going through this!

Briannek

Thank you everyone for the suggestions. I believe it was the anesthesia. My anesthesiologist on June 23 was amazing. I take Ambien and Ativan regularly. I didn't think about it until right now but on the 23rd they gave me anti-nausea medicine because of the medications that were already in my systems. The anesthesiologist yesterday was not as compassionate. Last time I woke up after an hour in the recovery room. This time I woke up as they were wheeling me out of the operating room. The anesthesiologist this time said, "do you drink a lot of beer or liquor, because I had to give you more anesthesia than a normal person". Here's my rant (and I normally don't rant, it must be the pain I'm in🤕). I told him no I don't drink and he looked at me like I was lying. It is in my chart that I take ambien and Ativan the first anesthesiologist noted that and adjusted according. This guy seemed rushed and kept interrupting the nurse as she was asking me questions. I was told I could have clear liquids prior to surgery and I had six ounces of water. He was annoyed when I told him that. I didn't realize the difference the right anesthesiologist can make. I'm doing better and the vommiting as stopped. The pain is down to a 6, it's more of a burning sensation if I accidentally move my arm. I love this community and I thank you for the support.

HappyHammer

Briannek- So glad you are feeling better.  Still 6/10 is a good deal of pain.  And, please be sure to take something like Colace or the like since you have been taking that Percocet.  Pain meds can really mess with your digestive system. Hope you continue to feel better!  Hugs!

I_Spy

Ok and remember that over the counter benedryl and over the counter dramamine are both anti-nausea medications and work great. They give benedryl in the hospital even for nausea. They will also help you sleep. You can call a pharmacist (doesn't matter which one at which pharmacy they all really like to help) and ask them if you can take a benedryl with the other medication you're taking (the answer is always yes, but just so you aren't getting medical advice from some random person on bco )

And yes, I've learned the anesthesiologist is the most important doctor in the room. I found a good one and emailed her every time I had a surgery and asked her to be there and she worked it out. I'm terrified of having surgery at a different hospital because then I wouldn't have "my" anesthesiologist! I've had terrrrriiibbbbble experiences with other ones, so I know what you mean.

Briannek

Happy Hammer- I am taking Colace. I learned the hard way after my surgery on the 23rd. I have never had an issue with constipation and didn't realize how bad it could be. I wish I would have reached out before my first surgery and wouldn't have suffered for almost seven days.

Blessings2011

Briannek - so glad you are feeling better!

Just a reminder to anyone with severe vomiting... ALWAYS call your doctor, especially if you can't hold down any liquids for more than 8 hours... you may need to be seen in the ER for IV hydration.

As for medication, if you can't keep a pill down, there are Phenergan suppositories that can stop vomiting without having to take them orally. They're worth asking your doctor about.