Being sick after operation

[Morph22010]

My mum had a knee replacement Friday and was discharged yesterday. She struggling to keep down food and water as it’s making her be sick. Is it a side effect of the pain medication? Is there anything that can help? She’s hardly going for a wee and hasn’t been for a number two since before the surgery. She is very well in herself other than the pain and being sick and is managing to get around ok with the crutches

Call the number on her discharge letter, always.

I’m always sick after anaesthetic and have to have an injection to stop me being sick. I’m also sick with any opiate based pain killers like pethidine or oramorph. I just say no now, because I know I’ll be very sick. If I have to have them (or any sort of anaesthetic) I have an antiemetic at the same time. Even codeine can make me sick. So it’s very possible that it’s the effects of anaesthetic or painkillers.

Morphine makes me sick. After both c-sections. IIRC it was fine in tablet form. I refused the morphine drip after a hysterectomy and was fine.

@KateyCuckoo she called about 530 and the person she spoke to said she’d get a nurse to call but they’ve not called back yet, guessing it will prob be the morning now.

@DanceMumTaxi @megletthesecond yes she does have oramorph and codeine'

Oramorph and codeine will cause constipation, so she will likely need a laxative if she's not up to eating things like fruit that might help more naturally.

The painkillers combined with constipation are likely what's causing the nausea and vomiting.

Is she restricting water too because it makes her vomit? If so that will be contributing to reduced urination, it may also be making constipation worse.

However despite that all being logical, there are also other possibilities so getting medical advice is very much the right thing to do.

In the meantime try to get as much fluids in her as you can, small regular sips, ice cubes, diarolyte or flat lemonade.

@CyberCritical shes got lactulose as well and has been taking that but I suppose the trouble is when she’s sick shes bringing it back up too

shes def not restricting water as she used to work in a hospital so knows its important to drink even if can’t eat, so is taking little sips and all seems ok but then she’ll bring a load up in one go