Surgery can be scary, but with the right plan in place, recovery at home can support the healing process. When recovering at home, it’s important to have a clear understanding of the do’s and don’ts to avoid complications and setbacks.
When recovering from surgery at home, be patient as you follow your doctor’s orders. This includes getting plenty of rest while also doing any exercises that they may recommend. Avoid over-exerting yourself, driving, or working until you’re ready, and take action on any complications you may have.
Always talk to your doctor about what to expect during recovery before the actual procedure. This gives you time to mentally prepare as well as to make any arrangements you may need to ensure the process goes as smoothly as possible.
Things To Do Before Your Surgery
Proper preparation can significantly ease your recovery process before your surgery. You can start with meal prepping by cooking and freezing healthy, easy-to-reheat meals that will support healing. You should also be sure to stock up on hydrating beverages like water, juice, and electrolyte drinks to keep within easy reach.
If you have children or other responsibilities, arrange for help during your recovery period. You should also create a comfortable recovery space in your home to heal. This is ideally in a quiet room with all of your essentials within reach. Remember to fill any prescriptions your doctor has provided ahead of time.
At Evansville Surgical Associates, we’re committed to supporting your entire surgical journey, from preparation through recovery. From weight loss surgery to colorectal procedures, these steps will help ensure a smoother recovery whether you’re in Evansville or one of our neighboring communities in the Tri-State area.
Do’s of Recovering From Surgery at Home
When recovering from surgery, make sure you’re doing everything you can to ensure the best and fastest recovery possible. Follow these “do’s” so that your next visit is scheduling a simple follow-up and not another procedure.
Be Patient
Recovering from surgery can be a long, slow process, and it’s natural to want to speed things up. Unfortunately, this can lead you to overestimate your ability to recover and underestimate how demanding the recovery process can actually be.
The best way to gauge your recovery and develop patience is by following your doctor’s orders to the letter. Listen to your body and rest when you feel tired, ask the doctor if you have questions.
Move Around
When recovering from surgery at home, it’s best to follow your doctor’s recommendations for how and when to reintroduce physical activity. With that said, make sure that you’re getting any type of light exercise that your doctor may suggest. This can be an uncomfortable process at first, but light exercise has been proven to aid in the recovery process of common procedures such as abdominal surgery.
You won’t need much movement or exercise when recovering from your surgical procedure. Simply make sure that you’re following the instructions given by your medical team, whether it’s your doctor, nurse, or in-home care provider. Just a little bit of exercise can do wonders for your recovery.
Don’ts of Home Surgery Recovery
While it’s good to know what to do when recovering from surgery, knowing what not to do is just as important, if not more so. Understanding what to avoid during home recovery after surgery is crucial to prevent complications and avoid further surgeries.
Unnecessary Physical Activity
While physical activity is important for your recovery process, there are limits to what you should do. Your doctor’s instructions provide the boundaries you need to make the best recovery possible.
This can be frustrating. Sometimes you may not be allowed to lift more than a certain amount of weight, which can be as low as 5 pounds. This is especially true for minimally invasive (laparoscopic) forms of surgery, which are often used in abdominal and hernia procedures.
Make sure to talk to your doctor about what you can and can’t do once you’re back at home. You can try to take care of physical tasks before your surgery or ask friends and family to help out afterward.
Ignoring Complications
Complications after surgery can vary. It can be difficult to know exactly what’s causing them on your own or how to deal with them.
Despite this fact, be on the lookout for issues such as:
- Fever
- Increased pain
- Chills
- Infection of the incision site
Bleeding, infection, and negative reactions to anesthetics can happen after a number of different types of surgeries. Symptoms of surgical complications like these can point to a serious problem and require immediate attention.
See your doctor as soon as possible to find out what’s causing these complications, how to treat them, and how to prevent more from occurring.
Driving Before You’re Ready
You shouldn’t drive for 24 hours following your surgical procedure. For some people, this may be even longer depending on the type of anesthesia given. While anesthesia is fantastic for preventing pain during surgery, its lingering effects can impair cognitive abilities and turn driving into a dangerous activity.
This is because anesthesia impairs your ability to react as quickly as you normally would. It’s best to have a ride to and from surgery and make arrangements to have someone drive you to any follow-up appointments, if recommended by your doctor.
Going Back to Work Too Soon
Some surgical procedures may require you to take off from work for a period of time. Make sure to talk to your doctor about when it’s safe to return to your job. Even then, you’ll need to keep your safety and recovery in mind once you’re back.
People who work jobs where they sit all day run a higher risk of developing blood clots after surgery than those who don’t. If you have a desk job, make sure to get up and walk around occasionally to get your blood pumping.
Feel free to call us with questions any time after your surgery. Contact us today!
Proper preparation before surgery can enhance your recovery. Meal prep easy-to-reheat meals and stock up on hydrating beverages. Arrange for help if you have responsibilities and create a comfortable, quiet recovery space. Follow your doctor’s orders closely, engage in light exercise, and be vigilant for any complications.
Evansville Surgical Associates has been providing comprehensive and compassionate surgical care for over 50 years. Call us at (812) 424-8231 or (800) 264-8231 to contact us or schedule an appointment. We are available from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Central Time.
