After surgery, you may wonder what to expect from your recovery. Recovery times vary depending on the type of surgery, your fitness level, and any cancer treatments you’re having. Whether you live alone or with a family member, you should arrange for someone to stay with you for the first night after discharge. Reassuring your loved ones about your recovery will alleviate some of the stress and make your recovery go more smoothly. The recovery process is a time for you to reconnect with the people who mean the most to you.
The recovery period for any type of surgery is different for each individual. Inpatient and day surgery recovery periods differ. Inpatient procedures require a stay in a post-anesthesia care unit for a few hours. You’ll be able to breathe on your own afterward, but you’ll still be closely monitored for signs of infection or other complications. Many people feel drowsy once the anesthesia wears off, but this is normal. Other people will experience chills, nausea, and vomiting, especially if they were intubated during the procedure.
Once you leave the hospital, you’ll be given instructions on how to care for your wound and incisions. You’ll also be given a list of warning signs and symptoms to watch for. You’ll need to follow instructions from your physiotherapist to ensure that you get the most out of your recovery. If you’re not feeling well, contact your doctor immediately. If you have pain or bleeding, you’ll want to visit your doctor. Most people can start eating the day after surgery, though some people start on soup or broth and then move on to a more solid diet.
Postoperative recovery is a process of returning to your usual self and regaining a sense of health. It may take a day or two for some people to fully recover from surgery, especially if they had trouble remembering what their surgery was for. While most people are back to normal within hours, some may have ongoing mental effects that last weeks or even months. This condition is called postoperative cognitive dysfunction. Your postoperative recovery can leave you feeling restless, anxious, and twitchy.
During surgery recovery, patients are taken to a large area called a recovery room. Here, medical monitoring equipment and specially trained staff will monitor your condition. Sometimes, this area is called a post-anaesthesia care unit, or a recovery ward. In any case, it’s important to talk to your physiotherapist about any specific exercises you should do in order to help your recovery go smoothly. When you wake up from general anesthesia, you may feel tired and disoriented, but your doctor or nurse will tell you to relax and rest.
A hospital nurse will be with you during your recovery time. Nurses will monitor your vital signs and the wound. You can visit your loved one if you wish. You might also be given a drip or a tube that drains fluid from your arm. These will provide you with fluids until you can eat or drink again. A tube will drain excess fluid from your wound. You will be given instructions on your diet and activities during the recovery period.
