After surgery

You may spend a short time in an intensive care or high-dependency unit (HDU) after your operation. You will be closely watched before returning to the ward. 

When you wake up, you may have some drips, drains or tubes attached to your body. This will depend on the type of surgery you had. Don’t be alarmed as they are normal after surgery. They can include:

Breathing and leg exercises

A physiotherapist may visit you regularly for the first few days after your surgery. These visits are to help you with breathing and leg exercises. Doing the exercises can help to prevent a blood clot.

Even when you are in bed you will be encouraged to move your legs and do deep breathing exercises at least once an hour. On the day after surgery, your nurses will help you get out of bed and take you for a short walk. These walks will become more frequent and longer as you feel stronger.

Pain 

If you are in pain you may not feel able to do your breathing or leg exercises, so let your nurse or doctor know if you need medication to help with pain. The physiotherapist can also show you any other exercises that will help you to recover after surgery.

If your surgery means you find it hard to sit down, try not to worry. This should get better as your wound begins to heal. 

You may be in hospital for up to 14 days, depending on the type of surgery, but often it isn’t this long. How long you have to stay in hospital and the type of side-effects you might get depend on:

• Where on your body the surgery was
• What type of surgery you had (for example, keyhole surgery or open surgery) 
• If you have any side-effects from surgery that need to be managed in hospital. For example, eating difficulties or problems going to the toilet
• Your general health 

The nurse will give you advice about how to manage at home. For example, if you have a catheter, stoma or a feeding tube, your nurse will give you advice about how to care for them. 

Having surgery can take a lot out of you. It may be weeks or even months before you feel fully recovered.

When you get home, you may feel physically and emotionally exhausted. Try to get plenty of rest, take some gentle exercise and eat a well-balanced diet. Get some emotional support if you feel you need it. 

If you can’t eat normally, it’s likely you will lose some weight in the first few weeks after your operation. Try not to worry about it as weight loss is normal and should slow down once you begin eating well again. Let your medical team know if the weight loss continues.

The dietitian will give you advice before you go home. For example, advice on the best foods to eat and how to prepare them.

If you can't eat normally, you may need to be tube fed for a time. Different types of tube feeding include:

Your doctor will tell you when you can start driving again but it is usually about 4 to 6 weeks after surgery. You won’t be able to drive if you’re still on strong painkillers that might make you drowsy. Check with your insurance company that you are covered to drive after your surgery.

You will be given contact numbers so that you can reach your doctor, nurse or hospital at any time. Contact a member of the team as soon as possible if you:

• Have any problems with feeding tubes, catheters or stomas, or any other medical issues, such as worries about your wound
• Have diarrhoea for more than 24 hours
• Have a temperature of 38°C (100.4°F) or higher. Or 35°C (95°F) or lower
• Feel unwell

If you have any worry or symptom that is causing you concern before your check-up date, contact your nurse specialist or hospital ward for advice. If you become suddenly unwell and can't contact your nurse specialist or hospital team, go to your GP or the emergency department at the hospital.