Nausea and Flu Like Symptoms Post Surgery?

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db8ne1
db8ne1 Member Posts: 142 Member
in Colorectal Cancer #1

I had CRC surgery (and hernia surgery) last year and don't remember experiencing the following issues after those surgeries. 

I just completed my scheduled kidney surgery on Tuesday, 7/8: DaVinci Robotic Assisted Partial Left Nephrectomy for RCC.  Surgery took 3 1/2 hours - as they had a hard time "turning the kidney" so that they could access the tumor.  However, once that was completed the surgery was uneventful and no complications.  I was discharged on Wed 7/9 with lots of pain medication and was miserable Wed, Thurs, and most of Friday.  I'm only taking the pain meds at night to help me be comfortable enough to sleep (and only Tylonol during the day), but I've had on again off again temperatures from 99 - 100.2. Further, I'm constantly nauseaous and food tastes horrible. (No vomitting though).  I had a horrible headache for several days but thankfully that has subsided.  Now it's just the nausea and flu like symptoms/feelings.

Has anyone had this?  Is this the norm?  My written instructions indicate that if I have a fever continuously at or over 100.4 I should contact the doc.  But my low grade fever comes and goes.  I do have anti-emetics (Zofran) left over from my CRC chemo treatment, but I don't like to take it as it has its own side effects.

Thoughts anyone?

Thanks!

J

Comments

  • Lovekitties
    Lovekitties Member Posts: 3,364 Member
    #2
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    Hi

    I say, regardless of what the paper says, you should call your surgeon and report your symptoms.

    If it is to be expected then perhaps there is something he/she can recommend to resolve it.

    Better to know for sure than to wish later that you had called.

    Wishing you the best,

    Marie who loves kitties

  • Trubrit
    Trubrit Member Posts: 5,796 Member
    #3
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    Thinking of you

    I had you on the calendar on Tuesday, and have been thinking of you. I'm glad you have posted, but not happy to hear that you are feeling even more miserable than regular post surgery miseries. 

    I have heard people mention that they have had temperature fluctuations after surgery, but I agree with Marie, you should call your surgeon's office and at least have a chat with one of the nurses, if not the surgeon himself. 

    Good luck and many blessings. 

    SUE/TRU

  • db8ne1
    db8ne1 Member Posts: 142 Member
    #4
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    Thanks!

    Thanks Marie who loves kitties and Sue.

    I appreciate your thoughts.  I posted on the Kidney board and got some good advice there, too.  I love this site and the people on it.  You are all so warm and caring!

    I'm wondering if this is just a LONG hangover from the anesthesia.  I haven't had issues previously, but I don't know if the meds used this time were different? And it seems with each subsequent surgery, it takes me longer to recover. (This is my 4th surgery in the last year).  Or, could be that I'm just getting old! :)

    I'm a bit better tonight (day 4 following surgery).  Hopefully my nausea and flu like symptoms will pass completely. I can understand the surgical discomfort from surgery - and really only take OTC Tylenol during the day and Oxicodone at night so I can sleep (I Hate sleeping on my back...).   But if this doesn't subside I will certainly call the surgeon on Monday.  The Kidney Board folks did say it takes some time for your body to adjust to not having full kidney function (fever, malaise, etc), so maybe that's it.  Who knows?

    Of course, I'll be back here posting and looking for more good vibes (and whining) if there's no improvement :)

    Thanks again!

    J

  • Helen321
    Helen321 Member Posts: 1,459 Member
    #5
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    I had different surgeries,

    I had different surgeries, same symptoms, I think it could be all of the drugs in the body all at once.  Also hydration is a serious issue and could be the headaches.  The best person to ask is the doctor, don't ever hesitate to call and ask.

  • db8ne1
    db8ne1 Member Posts: 142 Member
    #6
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    Helen321 said:

    I had different surgeries,

    I had different surgeries, same symptoms, I think it could be all of the drugs in the body all at once.  Also hydration is a serious issue and could be the headaches.  The best person to ask is the doctor, don't ever hesitate to call and ask.

    Thanks!

    I'm glad to know it wasn't just me.  I agree that meds (expecially anesthesia) can mess up the body.  My headaches have subsided and I've been very diligent about staying hydrated - more than normal.  My nausea and flu like symptoms have finally passed (mostly) and I feel like I'm in recovery mode.  Now my only problem is getting sleep. I can't seem to sleep more than 4 hours at a time.  (and I LOVE my sleep). I'm done with the oxi/percocet and hardly even take OTC Tylenol.  I mostly just feel bruised.  Oh, yeah, I am bruised...

    I think I need to start getting outside and walking more... :)

  • Trubrit
    Trubrit Member Posts: 5,796 Member
    #7
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    db8ne1 said:

    Thanks!

    I'm glad to know it wasn't just me.  I agree that meds (expecially anesthesia) can mess up the body.  My headaches have subsided and I've been very diligent about staying hydrated - more than normal.  My nausea and flu like symptoms have finally passed (mostly) and I feel like I'm in recovery mode.  Now my only problem is getting sleep. I can't seem to sleep more than 4 hours at a time.  (and I LOVE my sleep). I'm done with the oxi/percocet and hardly even take OTC Tylenol.  I mostly just feel bruised.  Oh, yeah, I am bruised...

    I think I need to start getting outside and walking more... :)

    Woosh Woosh

    Do you think music, white music, or the sound of waves would help you to sleep?  I can't get to sleep without my waves, or thunder, or Steven Halpern. 

    I'm glad you are feeling a little better. Batteredd and bruised but thinking of walking. I got told off for thinking about walking too soon, so be sure and check with your surgeon first. As usual, there is a fine line between doing to little and doing too much. 

    Keep on getting better. Thinking of you.

    SUE/TRU

  • db8ne1
    db8ne1 Member Posts: 142 Member
    #8
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    Trubrit said:

    Woosh Woosh

    Do you think music, white music, or the sound of waves would help you to sleep?  I can't get to sleep without my waves, or thunder, or Steven Halpern. 

    I'm glad you are feeling a little better. Batteredd and bruised but thinking of walking. I got told off for thinking about walking too soon, so be sure and check with your surgeon first. As usual, there is a fine line between doing to little and doing too much. 

    Keep on getting better. Thinking of you.

    SUE/TRU

    I LOVE White Noise

    Hi, Sue.

    I hope you are doing well!

    I can't sleep without white noise.  During all of my surgeries I've taken my iPad to play white noise to sleep at night.  Sometimes the night nurses would come in and look for the "leaking" noise.  LOL.  It does help - but unfortunately, hasn't been doing the job this past week.  I'm hoping its just getting these toxins out of my body and adjusting to a different "norm" for kidney function?  IDK.  I even took a sleeping pill last night and only slept for 4 hours.  Ugh!

    I will definitely be careful and won't overdo it.  I ended up with a ventral (incisional) hernia after my CRC surgery, so don't want to have to deal with THAT again. 

    Thanks for all your thoughts and advice.

    Best,

    J

  • traci43
    traci43 Member Posts: 773 Member
    #9
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    hows your breathing?

    Have you been practicing with the spirometer?  I had some problems with low grade fever and nausea after surgery and my brother-in-law, a PA, said that happens if you don't do the breathing exercises or start walking soon after surgery.  He was right, in my case!  I started walking more and the fever went away.  Nausea too, but I doubt that was from the breathing.

    It's been a few days since you posted so I hope you're doing better now.  Traci

  • Helen321
    Helen321 Member Posts: 1,459 Member
    #10
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    db8ne1 said:

    Thanks!

    I'm glad to know it wasn't just me.  I agree that meds (expecially anesthesia) can mess up the body.  My headaches have subsided and I've been very diligent about staying hydrated - more than normal.  My nausea and flu like symptoms have finally passed (mostly) and I feel like I'm in recovery mode.  Now my only problem is getting sleep. I can't seem to sleep more than 4 hours at a time.  (and I LOVE my sleep). I'm done with the oxi/percocet and hardly even take OTC Tylenol.  I mostly just feel bruised.  Oh, yeah, I am bruised...

    I think I need to start getting outside and walking more... :)

    I also had that problem and

    I also had that problem and since I have poor reactions to meds I did melatinin just before bed. It gave me a better rrst although not longer. I also found that my vitamin D was low. A blood workup might help bc it could be something fixable. Since I've been taking Vitamin D I sleep longer. It's important to go to a General Practitioner. Get your body back to some level of balance. They do different bliodwork than your oncologist.

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