Frequently Asked Questions
Where will I go after surgery?
After surgery, you are transferred to the recovery room where nurses monitor your blood pressure, pulse, respiration rate, and temperature. Often, medications for pain or nausea are administered. You will remain in recovery from 30 minutes to 1 hour. Your family member or a friend can join you. If you have no nausea, you will be given something to drink and offered a light snack.
How will I feel?
Most patients feel a bit groggy, light-headed, sore, and may be nauseated after surgery. How you feel depends on the complexity of your procedure, how long you were in the operating room, your pain threshold, and what type of anesthesia you were given. Each person responds differently to surgery and the effect of anesthesia. It is important to communicate with your nurse if you need pain medication or have special concerns.
How soon can I go home?
If your vital signs are stable, you feel comfortable and alert, and your nurse determines that your condition meets all discharge criteria, your doctor can release you to return home. You can then change back into your personal clothes. Before being escorted to your car, we will review your homecare instructions with you and give you a copy for easy reference. Please follow these instructions carefully. Be sure to contact your doctor if you have any questions. Nausea can be experienced as a side-effect of anesthesia, so you may begin to feel sick to your stomach during the drive home. If you begin to feel sick, stopping the car and rolling down your window for a breath of fresh air can help.
What should I do when I get home?
Patients often feel tired and sleepy most of the day after surgery. You should rest when you get home and begin your regular diet and resume normal activity when you and your doctor determine you are ready. A few days after surgery, a nurse from the center will call to find out how you are doing.
What should I do if I have a problem?
If you feel your condition is an emergency, call 911, or go to the nearest emergency room. Call your physician at 706-324-6661 or 1-800-331-2910 if you notice excessive drainage from the incision, increased redness, swelling, severe pain, or you have a fever over 101º for more than 24 hours.