I had my surgery early last year. I too have multiple drug allergies including local anesthetics and codiene so I was careful to relay these during my pre-op appt. On the day of my surgery I ended up having a reaction to the antibiotic they gave me prior to surgery (tingling feeling in my face, mouth and throat, vomitting, dizziness, headache) - all I remember is telling one of the nurses and the next thing I knew I was hooked up to a bunch of monitors and there was a bunch of people around me. Everything was put back under control and I went into surgery (still vomiting even in the OR!).

Apparently when I woke from surgery I was crying uncontrobly in the recovery room....I don't remember much of that time except my mom and BF being there and saying my hand was warm!

I spent two nights in the 'step down unit' of the hospital and was constantly being taken for xrays of my lungs. I don't remember exactly what was going on (I can find the papers and post if anyone is interested) but after two nights I seemed to have recovered. I had a family member with me 90% of the visiting hours and being in the step down unit I was constantly monitored and had great nurses. I did however have the IV that delivered my pain meds fall out in the middle of the night. I am a hard stick - they had nurses from every floor coming to try to help but it was morning before someone could get the IV back in - that was hell! I was on Dilaudid while in hospital and released on Oxycontin and Toradol (which I am still on to date). I had no drains in place after surgery.

I didn't eat the whole time I was in the hospital...I was pretty nauseous from the meds. But I was happy I had a house coat so when I got up to go to the washroom or to Xray I wasn't flashing all the old guys that were staying in the unit as well (I was the youngest one in the room!)

Not sure if this helps....