Nausea after anesthesia is common, and it can happen because of the anesthesia drugs, some pain medicines, low blood pressure, or fasting before surgery. Some types of surgery also raise the risk, especially belly, genital, ear, nose, throat, eye, and longer operations. Feeling anxious or having had travel sickness or sickness after anesthesia before can also make it more likely.

If you feel sick after surgery, the team can help by checking your blood pressure and heart rate, giving fluids, and giving anti-sickness medicine. It also helps to start drinking and eating again as soon as you safely can, because going too long without food and drink can make nausea worse. Small sips of water may come first, then light meals.

Usually, the sickness lasts an hour or two and gets better after treatment, but it can last longer in some people. If you start to feel sick, tell the nurses or anesthetist early, because it is easier to treat before it gets worse. Verify the exact plan with your surgical or anesthesia team in case they want something different for you.