After Your Surgery
After your surgery you will be brought to the recovery room where a registered nurse will care for you while the effects of anesthesia or sedation are wearing off. Nausea and vomiting may occasionally occur after surgery. Our anesthesiologists will do everything they can to try and prevent this from occurring. Many times this depends on how sensitive your body may be to medications. If you do become nauseated, your nurse will be there to help you. Other symptoms may occur after surgery which are related to anesthesia or the surgical process. They may be: shivering, headache, muscle soreness, sore throat, nervousness, or sleepiness. These symptoms are usually gone within 24 hours. If you do experience any pain your nurse will be able to assist you by providing medications prescribed by your anesthesiologist.
Depending on the type of anesthesia given in surgery, the average stay in the recovery room can last from 30 minutes to 1 hour. You will not be sent home until you are awake, and able to drink fluids. If you were given an IV line it will be taken out at this time. Your nurse will make sure that any pain you might be experiencing will be under control before you leave, and will teach you how to maintain that level of comfort in your own home. Your instructions for home will be reviewed by the nurse with you and your family member/friend and a written copy will be given to you at that time to take home with you. (Please see below for a copy of the Discharge Instruction Sheet)
CALL YOUR SURGEON IF YOU HAVE ANY PROBLEMS. AFTER OFFICE HOURS, YOUR PHYSICIAN CAN BE REACHED THROUGH HIS/HER ANSWERING SERVICE.
Complications to Watch For
- Fever over 101 degrees taken orally.
- Increased redness, warmth, hardness around operative area.
- Excessive drainage from surgical area.
- Swelling around operative area.
- Rash, itching after taking medications.
- Excessive bleeding from operative site or blood-soaked dressing (Small amounts of oozing may be present)
- Pain not relieved by medication.
- Continued nausea and vomiting.
- Inability to urinate.