Recovering from surgeryis greatly dependent upon the punch in of surgery you will be having.
Let’s focus on recovery from an inpatient procedure.
Recovery From Anesthesia
You may need a few hours in the post-anesthesia care unit until theanesthesiawears off.
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Some people will feel sleepy but otherwise fine as the anesthesia wears off.
Others may experience nausea, chills, or vomiting.
There may also be throat pain if you wereintubatedto assist with breathing during surgery.
The post-operative nurse will monitor your condition so that appropriate treatment can be delivered if side effects occur.
Once the anesthesia has worn off, the business of recovering truly begins.
This activity is essential to prevent complications, includingdeep vein thrombosis.
A dramatic increase in pain for no apparent reason should be reported to the hospital staff.
For moderate to severe pain, NSAIDs are often used in combination withopioids.
Incision careis also important after surgery.
The nursing staff will show you how to care for the wound once you are home.
Two common side effects of anesthesia and pain medication areconstipationanddysuria(difficulty urinating).
In addition to temporary bladder paralysis, the digestive tract is often slow to wake from anesthesia.
Home Care
The level of activity permitted varies based on the procedure performed.
Painis a good indication of whether or not the patient is trying to do too much too soon.
Pain should be controlled enough to allow walking short distances, sitting in a chair, and coughing.
The goal of pain control is not to stop pain completely, especially after major surgery.
Doing so can lead to medication abuse, a particularly troubling situation when opioids are involved.
These are symptoms of a potentially deadly bacterial infection known ascellulitis.
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How Can I Recover From Heart Surgery?
The American Heart Association.
