After
Surgery:
You
will be taken to the post anesthesia recovery area for approximately one to
two hours. If you are an
outpatient, you will go to the observation area for an hour or two prior to
leaving. If you are being admitted, you will be taken to
your hospital room after the time in the recovery area.
You will be given
instructions regarding activity, exercises, dressing care, etc. prior to being
discharged to go home.
You will also be given
prescriptions for medications to help control pain. Depending on the
procedure, you may not need to have the pain medication prescription filled if
the discomfort can be controlled with over-the-counter analgesics.
However, if pain gets out of control, it can take many doses of even powerful
prescription pain medications to get it back under control. So, don't
wait until the pain is just unbearable to start taking pain medication. Other medications may also
be prescribed to you depending on individual needs.
Diabetics may start
taking their sugar level reducing medications as usual, unless stomach upset limits ability
to eat. Often in the first few days following a surgical intervention,
blood sugar levels in diabetic patients may remain somewhat elevated and
resistant to the usual medication dosage. This is a normal and temporary
bodily response to the stress of surgery. Be sure to maintain adequate
fluid intake.