I had IV line in for at least a day after surgery. When they finally got me to the scale to weigh me two or three days after surgery I looked at the reading and told them that their scale was broken. The nurse said that the scale was right, so I said "well, how the hell did I gain 20 pounds"? She said it was water weight gained from the IV fluid. I checked and a gallon weighs about 8 pounds. So I would have had about 2.5 gallons of IV fluid infused into me. No wonder I felt like crap. On top of that, the entire first day after surgery I had an unquenchable thirst and was sipping water all day, probably due to the anesthetic, which I guess dehydrates you. In the following days they gave me shots of the diuretic, Lasix. After nine days in the hospital I lost all the water weight plus left the hospital 3 pounds lighter than when I arrived.
So, does anybody know why they give you such a large quantity of IV fluid? If I didn't even have the surgery and was given 2.5 gallons of IV fluid I am sure I wouldn't feel very good. I am sure some of it is for antibiotics, and some for pain killer, but 2.5 gallons?
So, does anybody know why they give you such a large quantity of IV fluid? If I didn't even have the surgery and was given 2.5 gallons of IV fluid I am sure I wouldn't feel very good. I am sure some of it is for antibiotics, and some for pain killer, but 2.5 gallons?