Passed out 8 days post op

[Snoviper]

Well last night even though I felt tired I decided to take my first shower. I made sure my wife was there, took an extra pain pill. I am not sure if I was feeling quite right before the shower. I finished showering and she was helping me dry off, all of a sudden I felt like I was weak, sat on the toilet, felt like I could'nt catch my breath she said my eyes rolled back and I was having a hard time breathing and I fell forward off the toilet and went to my knees, she was holding on to me. This didn't last but a minute, I came out of it and was tired but feltt fine. I was just wondering if maybe I overdid something, I did some dishes earlier in the day and I was kinda bending backwards in the shower to get my hair washed, also bending forward so my wife could help wash my hair. I was anxious before going in to the shower because I have a lot of incisions from the OHS and pacemaker. Well I fell ok today, my wife is calling the doc to let him know, just kind of scared me though. There was no chest pain just the shortness of breath. I had taken 2 percosets about 2 hours before.

 

[Duff Man]

I have no experience with post-op, but FWIW I can tell you that showers make me feel dizzy pretty often. Sometimes I have to get out before I fall out.

 

[Nancy]

Just wondering you took 2 Percosets two hours before and then took another pain pill just before going into the shower?

Maybe that is what caused the fainting episode.

Do you have a small chair in the shower, if not, get one. Even if you don't want to sit down all the time, you can steady yourself by holding onto the chair back.

You don't have to spend a fortune on a chair, just get one that is small, sturdy and plastic and won't slip around in the shower.

 

[Superbob]

Glad your wife is checking with the doctor. Seems plausible to me that a combination of the pain pill (percocet is pretty powerful stuff -- I was only allowed it in the hospital) and the shower, could bring on dizziness. I remember how unsteady I felt in my first showers after surgery...

So good luck -- let us know how you're doing.

 

[Bina]

It sounds like your shower and hair washing was too strenuous, too soon.
Of course the 2 percosets would have put me on my butt anyway....LOL
Are you able to put a small stool inside the shower? It is so much easier to wash while sitting.
I also have a chair outside the shower door with my towel on it, and I will still sit down to dry off. It's simple and safe.

 

[SHEEPDOG]

Gotta take it easy!

Gotta take it easy!

I was lucky that I got to have a shower in the hospital. You do need a shower chair. Perhaps at a Garage Sale. The water could have been too hot. That plus the strain + the dope could have been bad. Glad you are mentioning it to the Dr.

 

[BackDoc]

I would also question the amount and timing of the pain meds. They are narcotic and can make you feel light headed. Combine this with the warm water from the shower and you have a perfect recipe for feeling momentarily faint. The next thing to question is: are you also taking a beta blocker. if so, then pain meds + beta blocker can = light headedness and fainting. If you added a warm shower to the mix, you just may have spiked a sudden sharp decrease in your blood pressure and you fainted.

Next time hold off on the pain meds until after your shower.

Many of us experienced feeling very light headed when standing up after surgery as a result of the combination of beta blocker and pain med.

 

[rocksoldier]

glad your wife let the doc know. try putting a chair in there-like a lawn chair or a beat up ole one -cover w/a garbage bag if needed.... be safe ! trish

 

[hall]

I agree, to hot of water and for sure 2 percocet. 2 of those would have done me in. Glad your wife was with you and she is calling the doc. I am sure it scared both of you. Hope everything is ok. Let us know how you are doing. Prayers.

 

[Bridgette]

A plastic chair is reallly important for those first few showers post op.....and also having someone (as you did) within call.
It must have been very scary for you - hope it was just the pain meds as the others have said.
Good luck with your recovery.

Bridgette

 

[ponygirlmom]

.... I was kinda bending backwards in the shower to get my hair washed....

Others have talked about your med combo. Add to that pinching your spinal column when you bent back your neck. You probably bent your neck more than you realize, because you can't bend your mid-back very well right now.

If you don't have a showerhead on a hose, then keep your body straight, or bend your neck forward, but don't arch backwards for the time being.

 

[Jkm7]

I had two showers while in Mass General. My nurse was standing two feet from me, just in case. I was weak and it tired me and both times as I finished showering and the nurse was helping me dry off, she sat me down immediately in the shower chair as I got very dizzy and felt a bit faint. The bathroom was steamy and my heart rate had dropped and she said it happens to many.

She got me into my hospital gown and back into bed with the monitors and in fifteen minutes I felt back to where I was pre shower.

But......I wasn't 8 days post op. I was three and four days post op.
I came home on day five and the morning of day six I showered alone and was fine. (My home care health aid (friend) who came here for about a week was with me.)

Again, everyone is different. We all recover differently and at our own pace.
I think it a good idea to contact your doctor.

Hope things go smoothly for you.

 

[BDMc]

I think the hot shower could've caused a drop in blood pressure. I had an incident where I felt like that, and it was at least 8 days post op, only all I did was stand up suddenly. Scary, but thankfully wasn't serious. Hope yours is the same. Brian Mc

 

[tobagotwo]

I agree with the weirdness of hot showers, and that they (especially mixed with painkillers) can make you dizzy. While you're there with your doctor, have them check your pacemaker, to ensure it's cranked up high enough for your body's demands, and check your BP meds, to make sure they aren't overmedicating you - not uncommon after OHS (although it can be tough to get them to admit it).

Best wishes,

 

[WayneGM]

Ditto what's been said. Between the drugs and the hot water it is easy to become dizzy in the shower. I used a shower chair for several weeks post op.

 

[Pete]

I've been close to passing out a couple of times but I'm not on percoset. My blood pressure is running 90's/60's and I know when I get up too quickly its dropping even lower so now I try to get up gradually and deliberately. Once I felt faint while bent over toweling my legs dry.