Did you know you can faint and throw up after eye surgery?
By mommaj
@mommaj (23112)
United States
October 18, 2009 6:14am CST
This is evidently a common side effect of the eye surgery. Did your doctor tell you it could happen? My step mother went for cataract and laser surgery. This is an outpatient surgery. She came home she was fine. Then less than an hour later she went outside and came back in to sit down. She said she didn't feel good. I was in another room and I came to the living room. All the sudden she was white as a ghost and clammy. She got up took my hand, took a couple of steps, and went down. I got the phone and called 911. By the time the call was over she came to. Then she got sick on her stomach. The woman hadn't eaten since before 9:00 the previous night. The ambulance took her to the hospital. My dad went with them.
Have you had eye surgery. Did you know this was a side effect? Why is the surgery outpatient if this happens in most cases?
8 responses
@Canellita (12029)
• United States
20 Oct 09
I hope to never have to need any type of surgery whatsoever! I can't count on one hand how many times I have ever had to go to a hospital.
1 person likes this
@mommaj (23112)
• United States
20 Oct 09
Okay I am tired. Have you been to the hospital alot or never? I can't think right now. LOL
I have been to the hospital twice for "panic" attacks which were actually acid reflux problems, twice to deliver kids, and once to have my foot sewn from a trashbag with glass in it slid across my foot. I'm a clutz! Anyway that's been my life of going to the hospital.
1 person likes this
@Canellita (12029)
• United States
22 Oct 09
Hospital trips: once when I was six; once a few years ago.
@kalav56 (11464)
• India
18 Oct 09
Even getting up suddenly and changing position can cause this attack- sudden /vertigo and nausea are the effects of this imbalance.As the doctor pointed out pressing some nerve inadvertently can also do this because once I saw my son having this problem.Moreover, acute pain also causes nausea occasionally[have faced this]
@mommaj (23112)
• United States
18 Oct 09
Sorry about your nausea with pain. I just think the doctors should keep the patients until they are in the same shape as they were when they came into the doctors care. I really believe if touching a nerve in the eye causes it, that a doctor should be the one to take the bandage off the eye and remove the goo. What the heck are they thinking. MONEY, MONEY, MONEY. They should pay me for going over a thousand miles just to be there for my stepmom!
1 person likes this
@suzzy3 (8342)
•
19 Oct 09
No I did not my husband had a torn retina repaired but don't remember him being anything else but tired.Well that is interesting to know.I expect your poor step mother was terrified and you as well.They should have warned you that is bad,I do hope your step mother has recovered ok.poor thing.
@mommaj (23112)
• United States
19 Oct 09
My step mother felt better the next day. She really gave me a scare though. She wanted me there in case she couldn't see for longer than what they said. A couple of days later she got a little sick to her stomach and didn't feel well, but it was three or four days later and I think it was her eyes adjusting.
1 person likes this
@msfrancisco9369 (10002)
• Boston, Massachusetts
18 Oct 09
Hi Friend,
I think almost all surgeries made you vomit as a side effect of the anesthesia. So, it is advisable that after the procedure, you have to stay in the recovery room for a while for observation. There can be post reactions and even worst side effects. Eye surgery is not a major operation and it home-based care is advised. That's why the first 3 hours after the procedure is very important to observe any reaction from the patients.
I haven't experience eye surgery but had two CS for my 2 sons. My grandmother had her cataract operation ans she vomited too and she's under home-based care.
@mommaj (23112)
• United States
18 Oct 09
The anesthesia is medicine in your eyes. You are still awake for the surgery. That was what I thought to was anesthesia. She didn't have that. The doctors say it is normal around the eye because of the nerves. I think if that is the case they should stay in the hospital until everything clears up. If it only takes three hours what is the harm in the patient staying for those three hours?
@msfrancisco9369 (10002)
• Boston, Massachusetts
19 Oct 09
The patient who's under recovery for three hours can be observed for any side effects as a reaction of the body from the procedure and worst that can happen is a cardiac arrest or respiratory destress. That's why these hours are very important. Don't leave the hospital if the patient is not clear yet for any side effects, reaction or serious condition.
I just ask a friend doctor and he told me that not all patients vomit after an eye operation. If the patient is hungry it could one of the trigger.
@amijor (234)
• Philippines
19 Oct 09
When she sat down did she bend down? If so, then it must be the probable cause why she fainted and thrown up. The intraoccular pressure or the pressure that holds your eye in place increses while the patient is undergoing the surgery and even after it. When your step mom sat,she might have bent down which increased her IOP (intraoccular pressure) which in turn "pushes back" the pressure to her brain. The pressure build up in her brain compressed her medulla that is why she threw up.
Cataract removal is an outpatient procedure since there is a little risk of having complications immediately after surgery which often requires attention and close monitoring.
@mommaj (23112)
• United States
19 Oct 09
Complications should include some of these side effects. Obviously the person won't hurt anyone else because they aren't supposed to drive or lift. They can still hurt themself if they faint. Obviously, when sitting you bend so maybe that is what happened, but she felt bad even before she sat down. She sat down to try to feel better and it got worse.
@devref (240)
•
18 Oct 09
not as funny as it may seem a few years back i had a cyst removed from an eye.as we were driving back from the hospital i toldthe wife i dont feel good stop to let me get some air.i passed out she called an ambulance and i was taken back to the hospital.outcome i had a dvt in my leg and now cant go on long haul holidays sp to those who have fun with this its not always a funny thing
@mommaj (23112)
• United States
18 Oct 09
For the life of me, I really think this procedure should be an inpatient surgery. Any time there is a great chance of someone passing out, they should be at the hospital, especially when the people are not told about the possible negative side effects! INSURANCE!
@aixshaonline (600)
• Philippines
19 Oct 09
Hi.
If I'm not mistaken, it's already a given that a doctor should explain the side effects of a surgery. I think that the reason for having this kind of surgery could be due to the fact that the eyes are really near the brain. Have you tried having something swell and it feels like it's going to burst? It might have been that case. I think your mom needed to rest first before going home. Her eyes needed to rest first. There might have been too much pressure in her eye when she walked around and traveled right after.
@mommaj (23112)
• United States
19 Oct 09
It may be a given that a doctor SHOULD explain the side effects, but this doctor didn't include fainting or nausea. I think the hospital should have kept her longer. Fainting can be serious if you faint and fall down stairs or fall into something sharp. I think the doctor should have been more explicit with the side effects.
