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Knowing what to expect after your surgery will help you recover easily and quickly. Ask your surgeon what precautions to take in the first few days, as well as weeks and months, following the surgery. At Far North Surgery Center, we provide verbal and written post-surgical instructions to help you recover faster. Our aim is to make you as comfortable as possible to assist in your recovery.
After your surgery, you will be taken to the Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU), or recovery room, where the anesthesiologist and nurses will monitor you closely. Your heart functions and breathing will be monitored, and you may be given pain medications and extra oxygen, if needed.
Your surgeon or nursing staff will update your family members about the surgery and recovery progress. The time you will spend in the recovery room depends on your surgery and your response to the anesthesia you received.
Once you have recovered from anesthesia and are medically stable, you may then be transferred to another room where your family or friends can meet with you. Before discharging you, our surgeon and nursing staff will evaluate you to make sure your vital signs are stable, pain is managed, and you can digest fluids easily.
Your nurse will review the post-surgical and discharge instructions with you and your family, and will give you a copy of the instructions that you should follow at home. The discharge instructions may include:
After the surgery, you should follow these instructions while going home or staying at home:
It's important to ask questions after your surgery to make your recovery experience easier and comfortable. Here are some common questions our patients ask after their surgery:
You will feel some discomfort and pain after the surgery. Nausea or vomiting may be caused due to anesthesia or medicines you have received. You may experience drowsiness and have other minor effects including sore throat, muscle aches, and headaches, or occasional dizziness.
Make sure that you understand your doctor's or nurse's post-surgical instructions and follow them at home. Keep yourself comfortable for a few days until you feel normal. Move around, and increase your activity at home. Increased mobility helps in preventing post-surgical complications and speeding the recovery time.
Surgical discomfort and side effects of anesthesia or medications may cause general tiredness. Plan to rest for a few days until you feel better. It may take a few days before these effects are gone completely.
The discomfort and pain will go away within a few days. You will be able to resume your normal daily activities within a week. You will have to go for a follow-up appointment with your doctor or surgical team two weeks after the laparoscopic surgery.
The recovery time from a hernia operation depends on the hernia and the type of surgery (open or laparoscopic) performed. You may feel pain, discomfort, tiredness, nausea, or have a low fever for a few days, but you should feel better within 7 days. You may feel pulling or twinges in the hernia repair for several weeks. Depending on your situation, full recovery may take around 4-6 weeks.
Eat high-fiber foods that include fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grain breads, or oatmeal. Avoid processed foods, red meats, sweets, dried or dehydrated foods, cheese, and dairy products. Drink plenty of water and avoid caffeine.
It takes around 2-24 hours for propofol to be eliminated from your system. A single dose used for IV sedation wears off within minutes.
Call us at 907-276-3676 for any help you need after your surgery.
