Once your surgery is over, and you are ready to go home, are you prepared for your post-surgery recovery? Your Victorville General Surgeon wants to make sure that both your surgery and your recuperation are successful. Before you leave the surgeon’s office, the clinic, or the hospital, there are several important things that you will need to know.
Day of Your Operation
While your surgeon spoke with you before your operation about how what you will need to do, or not do, following your procedure, you will be given those instructions again before you go home. You will also be given written information on possible side effects from either the operation or from the anesthetic. If you will need medications, you will be instructed on when to take them. Depending on the type of operation that you had, there may be dietary restrictions for one or more days after the procedure. If you need to clean your surgical area and change any dressing, you will be shown how to safely tend to the wound. You will also be informed about any limitations on physical activities during your recovery.
Post-Operative Care at Home
It is very important to follow your surgeon’s instructions for a successful recovery while you are at home. Pushing yourself to do too much can delay your recovery, and may even undo the corrective procedure itself. If you trusted your surgeon with your operation, then it only makes sense that your surgeon also wants you to have a safe and complete recovery. If you are experiencing any unusual bleeding, develop a fever, or have severe pain, call your surgeon’s office right away for how to handle your situation.
Follow-Up Appointments
Possibly one of the most important components of your recovery is keeping your follow-up appointments with your surgeon. That is the only definitive way for your surgeon to know how well you are progressing in your recuperation. If you have stitches that need to be removed, it will be done in the surgeon’s office. You may also need to have additional X-rays or other tests to see internal healing. If the particular surgery that you had requires physical therapy, your surgeon will be able to determine if you are ready to begin the exercises during a follow-up examination.
