Surgery planner
After surgery youll be moved to the recovery room, where youllbe told how the operation went.
You may feel hazy or groggy as you come round from the anaesthetic. A nurse will give you oxygen (through tubes or a mask) to help you feel better.
It's common tofeel sick or vomit after you've been given anaesthesia. Your nurse may offer you medicine to help relieve this discomfort. You may also have a sore throat and dry mouth.
Your blood pressure will be taken via an automatic cuff that squeezes tightly at regular times. Your temperature will also be taken.
It's importantto find out how well your operation went.Here are some questions you may want to ask:
Tell your nurse as soon as you start to feel any pain, sothey can give you painkilling medication as soon as possible, to stop it getting worse (the medication can take 20 minutes to start working).
The sooner youstart to move around, the better. Lying in bed for too long can cause some of your blood to pool in your legs. This puts you at risk of a DVT .
If possible, doing some leg exercises can help to prevent a blood clot. These may be as simple as flexing your knee orankle and rotating your foot.
You may be given special support stockings to wear after surgery to help your blood circulation. Your nurse or doctor will explain how you should use these. Some people are given an injection to thin the blood slightly to help reduce the risk of clots.
Research shows the earlier you get out of bed and start walking, eating and drinking after your operation, the better.
Your hospital may offer an enhanced recovery programme if you've had major surgery. This rehabilitation programme aims to get you back to full health quickly, which means you could go home sooner than traditionally expected.
It's important to arrange for appropriate care following your operation. For elderly people, it's important to arrange for suitable equipment and care. You shouldn't be afraid to ask for things that may help you, such as a wheelchair or walking frame.
Before you leave hospital you may (depending on the type of operation you had) have an appointment with a physiotherapist, who will be able to advise you about any exercises you need to carry out.
You'll also be given advice about how to care for your wound, a dose of painkillers, and any equipment you may require, such as dressings, bandages, crutches and splints.
Each hospital will have its own policy and arrangements for discharging patients. Your discharge will be affected by:
You may want to ask some questions before you leave hospital, such as:
Instead, you could ask someone to pick you up or take you home in a taxi. It's a good idea to have an adult available to help you for at least 24 hours after surgery.
See the page on getting back to normal for information and adviceon recovering from an operation at home.
If you're considering having an operation or your GP has suggested you may need surgery, this guide is for you.
Your first appointment will be with the consultant in charge of your treatment at your chosen hospital.
In the days leading up to your surgery, you'll need to make travel arrangements for getting to and from the hospital, and think about what to pack.
Your admission letter from the hospital will tell you the date and time of your operation, and what time you need to turn up.
After surgery youll be moved to the recovery room, where youll be told how the operation went.
Don't be surprised if you feel very tired when you get home, especially if you've had a major operation or a general anaesthetic.