What to expect after surgery

Everyone reacts to anesthesia differently, and individual reaction will vary depending on your body, the type and duration of the anesthesia and surgery. These effects can last up to 24 hours. You may feel tired and sleepy, or a bit confused. Some people may have a sore throat, dry mouth, or sound hoarse. Nausea, vomiting, shivering, and muscle aches may occur. These are all common reactions and are generally brief. For the first 24 hours, please follow these instructions to reduce these possible effects:

Rest as much as possible

  • Have someone stay with you. If you have small children, have someone help take care of them.

Drink plenty of liquids

  • Do not drink alcohol. Between having nothing to eat or drink for many hours before surgery and the effects of some medications, it is easy to become dehydrated. Alcohol can make dehydration worse. If you have a medical condition that requires limiting fluids, please follow your physician’s advice.
  • Drink cold fluids to decrease swelling and soothe a sore throat Eat light meals and snacks to help manage nausea and vomiting Do not drive or operate mechanical or electrical equipment
  • Do not make important decisions or sign legal documents

Nausea and vomiting

After you have had surgery, you may feel sick to your stomach (nauseated) or you may vomit. Some surgical procedures and anesthetics can make you feel sick. It is a common side effect and generally does not last long. Pain also can make you feel sick or vomit. After the anesthesia wears off, you may feel pain from the incision (cut). That pain can contribute to nausea, as can taking pain medicine on an empty stomach. Taking pain medicine can also make you feel sick to your stomach.

How can you care for yourself at home?

  • Rest in bed until you feel better.
  • To prevent dehydration, drink plenty of fluids, enough so that your urine is light yellow or clear like water. Choose water and other caffeine-free clear liquids until you feel better. If you have kidney, heart, or liver disease and have to limit fluids, talk with your doctor before you increase the amount of fluids you drink.
  • When you are able to eat, try clear soups, mild foods, and liquids until all symptoms are gone for 12 to 48 hours. Other good choices include dry toast, crackers, cooked cereal, and gelatin dessert, such as Jell-O.
  • Do not smoke. Smoking and being around smoke can make nausea worse. If you need help quitting, talk to your doctor about stop-smoking programs and medicines. These can increase your chances of quitting for good.

Managing pain after surgery

Any surgical procedure can cause some discomfort or pain. Coping with pain after surgery does not have to mean taking more prescription pain medication. Pain medication certainly has its place in pain management, but there are additional strategies that can help you deal with your surgery pain. Here are a few tips to help manage your pain.

Stay ahead of the pain

  • Do not wait until your pain is severe before you take medication. In the days immediately following your surgery, take your pain medication as prescribed by your surgeon. As your pain improves, you can extend the time between doses until you are able to quit using it altogether.

Get enough sleep

  • Adequate sleep improves your ability to cope with pain, speeds healing, and can actually reduce pain. Some patients experience insomnia following surgery, which may require medication along with proper positioning.

Don’t sit too long

  • Sitting or laying in one place for too long can lead to more pain. Moving every hour or two during the day helps keep you from getting stiff, and has the added benefit of decreasing the risk of developing blood clots after your procedure. If your doctor has given you any restrictions on activity, such as no weight bearing, be sure to follow those directions.

Brace your surgery site

  • Bracing just means holding your incision or surgery site when you do anything that can cause stress on the site, including standing up, sneezing and coughing. Bracing your incision will help reduce the pain you feel at the site and reduce your chances of complications. Pressing a pad to the area, such as a folded towel or small pillow, can also help support the incision and make moving easier.

Manage your stress levels

  • An increase in stress can and often does increase pain. Surgery is a type of physical stress, and while that cannot be avoided, emotional stress can be minimized. Try to avoid situations and even people who tend to increase your stress in the early days of your recovery. Stress reduction techniques, such as deep breathing and relaxation exercises, can be very helpful.