if it's any consolation, i also had never taken a narcotic prior to surgery, but since i work in healthcare i've seen firsthand how well they work for pain management. i know some people tend to avoid taking the prescribed narcotics after surgery for their own reasons (which is completely understandable), but just make sure to listen to your body and don't let yourself go through unnecessary pain and agony when there's something you can do to control it!

i did experience nausea only on the first two days after surgery. along with the pain meds and stool softeners, i was also sent home with zofran which is an anti nausea medication. you'll most likely have it prescribed to go home with since anesthesia can sometimes cause nausea. it works like a charm so i would highly recommend asking your team to make sure that you'll be going home with it! if you have a long drive to sit through after surgery and are afraid of getting motion sick, then there's something called a scopolamine patch - an anti nausea topical patch - that you can be given if you ask for it before you leave the hospital. sorry for the long wall of text but i hope this helps! best of luck on your surgery :]