Most, if not all, of us experienced post surgical nausea. Whether it is a slight queasiness or a half an hour with our heads in the toilet all of us can say that, after surgery, it is the worst. There are several drugs that our physicians can dole out but those can have some nasty side effects that make the whole miserable experience even worse.

A nurse that I met after my surgery had some advice on things that can be tried in place, or as a compliment, of prescription drugs.

Jell-o

I have heard of giving children Jell-O when they had the flu (thank you Grandma) but this was a whole new twist on that old recipe. At the first sign of nausea, or for those who don't want to wait until the symptoms start, try this simple and cheap treatment. When you are packing for your trip to the hospital throw in some Jell-O snack packs. There are quite a few flavors to choose from and every store I have been to offers a pack of six for under two dollars. After surgery, when your doctor says you can have liquids, have your nurse microwave a single serving for about 30 seconds. Just enough for the Jell-O to become a liquid again but not to hot that you can't drink it. Sip on the liquid slowly. If one serving makes you feel a little better drink another one to maximize the effect. Most women who have tried this remedy report that it works in just a few minutes. There are no down sides to drinking Jell-O, it does not have any side effects, it can be taken with other medications, it's cheap and offers excellent results.

I have gave hot Jell-O to my husband a few years ago when he got a nasty stomach flu. It calmed his stomach almost immediately and allowed him to get a good nights sleep. I try to always keep some on hand to treat upset stomachs and heartburn. This is definitely one of my favorite remedies because it is so useful.

Ginger

It nearly all herbal remedies for stomach upset you will find ginger. Known for centuries as a digestive aid it has made it into many medicine cabinets in place of other over the counter treatment options. Many women have written to me touting the benefits of drinking ginger tea after surgery to treat nausea. I myself use ginger capsules when I have over eaten or had something that didn't agree with me.

Licorice

Licorice tea is wonderful for calming the stomach. I highly recommend this for quieting the milder nausea that you can experience after surgery. This is not to be confused with licorice candy which can upset the stomach further because of the sugar.

If you decide to try any of these it is important to speak with your doctor first. Because it is common to experience nausea after surgery it is a wise idea to plan ahead and have one, or all, of these things on hand for a more comfortable recovery.