After surgery, the patient and their family look forward to going home, the place of comfort and familiarity. But the first days and weeks after leaving hospital need care and organization, because much of recovery happens at home, not in hospital.
Before leaving hospital
Ask the medical team for clear discharge instructions, in writing if possible:
- New medicines, their doses and times, and whether any medicine should be stopped.
- How to care for the wound or dressing, and when to change it.
- Which activities are allowed or not, and when they can resume.
- The next follow-up appointment, and the number to call when needed.
Prepare the home before arriving
Preparing the place ahead helps the patient's comfort and safety: a bed in an easy-to-reach spot, walkways clear of obstacles, daily needs close by, and help available when moving in the first days, especially to the bathroom.
Things to follow every day
- Pain and medicines: keep to the times of painkillers and medicines as the doctor prescribed.
- The wound: keep it clean and dry, and notice any change in it.
- Moving: light movement that the doctor allows often helps recovery, while avoiding strain.
- Eating and drinking: good nutrition and enough fluids, following the doctor's instructions.
Signs to contact the doctor
Contact the treating doctor or seek medical help if you notice signs such as: a fever, a wound that turns red and swollen or leaks, pain that gets worse instead of easing, shortness of breath, or any worrying change in the patient. In an emergency, call an ambulance at once.
When does home care help?
A family may need a care provider at this stage if the patient needs ongoing help moving or with personal hygiene, if their medicines and readings need regular follow-up, or if family members can't stay with them all the time.
How we help at the Specialized Medical Care Center
A doctor at the Specialized Medical Care Center reviews every request before care starts and shortlists suitable care providers for the patient's condition. During care, visits, readings and medicines are recorded in the family's account, and the doctor is alerted to any reading that needs attention.
This article is general education; the instructions of the doctor and the treating team come first in everything about recovering after surgery.