Scopolamine patch for nausea after surgery

TraciInLA
TraciInLA Member Posts: 1,994 Member
in Breast Cancer #1

For any of you who have surgery coming up and are worried about nausea after anesthesia, I wanted to suggest asking your surgeon or anesthesiologist about a scopolamine patch -- it worked unbelievably well for me.

I had bilateral lumpectomies in 2009, and woke up to wicked nausea from the anesthesia.  Before my bilateral mastectomy 3 weeks ago, I mentioned to my surgeon that I was a little worried about the same thing happening again.  He said that an anesthesiologist had given him the idea of using a scopolamine patch (a little skin patch that goes behind your ear -- the same kind they prescribe for motion sickness on cruises).  They stuck it on me as they were wheeling me into the OR.

I was completely shocked that I had NO nausea whatsoever after surgery.  None.  Zip.  Nada.  Of course, we're all different, and your results may vary, but you may want to ask about it as an option if you have surgery coming up.

(I've heard from folks who go on cruises that ripping off the patch too soon can cause withdrawal symptoms -- the nurses told me to just leave it in place for the full 3 days that it's effective.  I took it off at home after 3 days, and noticed no side effects at all.)

Hope that helps somebody!

Traci

 

 

 

Comments

  • GreeneyedGirl
    GreeneyedGirl Member Posts: 1,077
    #2
    Yes! so helpful!

    It was so helpful to me to have one also, as anesthesia makes me nauseous as well. It only took a couple times of stomach pyrotechnics to realize that!! They have also administered something through my IV to help as well.

    ~M

  • VickiSam
    VickiSam Member Posts: 9,079 Member
    #3
    GreeneyedGirl said:

    Yes! so helpful!

    It was so helpful to me to have one also, as anesthesia makes me nauseous as well. It only took a couple times of stomach pyrotechnics to realize that!! They have also administered something through my IV to help as well.

    ~M

    i suffer for days with the nausea ---

    IV. medication given - at times it works, other time not so much ..   I have written this down and will request next time I have surgery.

    Thank you so much for this valuable information, TracinLA.

     

    Vicki Sam

  • GlowMore
    GlowMore Member Posts: 789 Member
    #4
    Thank You

    Thank you for a great suggestion..........which I hope and pray I will NEVER have to use.... 

    So how about telling us how you are doing Traci  ...after 3 weeks how is it going for you?

     

  • Blessedmomof3
    Blessedmomof3 Member Posts: 4
    #5
    Yes it works!!!

    Anytime I have had anesthesia in the past I have suffered from terrible nausea for at least 24 hours following. My sister in law who happens to be an anesthesiologist suggested the scopalamine patch when I recently had bilateral mastectomy and it worked incredibly well!! I could not believe it!!! What a good idea to post this suggestion!! - blessedmomof3

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