Bad PACU experience?

Hello everyone, I wanted to hear about your experience specifically after waking up in the PACU. I have been resting since my surgery and have had nothing to do but really reflect on this experience and when I think about the PACU I get a little bit sad. I’m not sure if I should bring up my experience to my surgeon at my post-op appointment next week.

When I woke up apparently I was crying and very anxious. I do not remember this, but my family told me this a few days after my surgery. I remember waking up and there was some water in a cup on a tray in front of me. I remember wondering when I would be getting brought crackers or juice. No crackers came. I believe I was repeatedly asking if I was okay and the nurse had to answer me over and over again. Before I knew it she was telling me it was time to get up and go home. For me it felt like I had been awake 10 minutes but I know it was realistic probably more like 30.

I asked “do I have to go pee?” And she told me not if I didn’t have to. She had me sit up and my ears immediately filled with pressure. I said “I can’t hear my ears feel full” and she told me I was fine and was telling me to move to the edge of the bed. I noticed the curtain wall of my room was open at the edge and my backside was exposed. I looked over my shoulder and said I was worried about the open curtain and she kept saying “it’s fine no one cares.” But I cared.

I scooted to the edge of the bed and suddenly started getting super hot. I said “I feel really warm” and started getting incredibly sweaty. At this point my brain connected the dots that I was either going to pass out or throw up. I kept saying “oh no oh no” and “I don’t feel good.” But the nurse didn’t have me stop or lay back down she made me stand. Looking back it felt like she wanted to be able to check that off the box so I could go.

It felt so rushed. She asked if I wanted something to drink and she brought me a can of soda at my request. I couldn’t get it open. I felt so nauseated and sick as she wheeled me down the hall to go home.

I had been so scared of waking up alone and comforted myself with the fact there would be a friendly nurse there. Instead I felt rushed and like I was annoying. Idk why this bothers me. I think it bothers me they didn’t have me eat or try to pee before I left. I think if I had had some time to try to eat before standing up I might not have felt as sick.

Oh well, it is over and done now. It just makes me a little sad. I think it also clouded my recovery to where I have felt like I have to push myself to do things on a timeline and feel bad when my body can’t. For example I am taking a few extra days off because my body isn’t ready to go back and I feel like a failure. Whew. Let me tell ya, this anesthesia really does a number on the emotions 😅😅

I guess this is a bit of a rant/to let anyone else who had a less than ideal PACU experience that you’re not alone. I will debate mentioning to my surgeon that the nurses aren’t requiring having her patients pee after because I remember her telling me at my consultation that would be something I had to do before I could go home.