Your Surgery: What You Need to Know After

What to Expect In the Recovery Room

• After your surgery, you will go to the PACU (post anesthesia care unit), which is next to the operating room, immediately after surgery. While there, you will be watched closely and cared for until the effects of your anesthesia have worn off and you are fully awake, which may take several hours. The amount of time spent in the PACU varies for each person, but it is probably where you will wake up after your surgery. Although your care partner and family cannot visit you here, your team will let them know how you are doing.
• You may have a sore throat for a day or two because of the tube that was placed in your throat during your surgery.
• You will have a gauze dressing over your incision.
• Your IV may stay in place for several hours after your surgery. Let your nurse know if you notice any swelling or redness at your IV site.
• When you are ready, you will be moved to a hospital room on a stretcher. Your care partner and family can join you there. You will stay there until you are ready to leave the hospital.

What to Expect Back in Your Room

• Your health care team will check on your progress.
• Your nurse will help you sit up on the side of your bed and then stand up. You’ll be encouraged to walk around your room and to the bathroom.
• You’ll be encouraged to drink fluids.

How to Manage Your Pain

Tell your nurse if you are having any pain. You will be given medicine that can help relieve your pain so that you can move around and recover faster. It is important for them to know if you are having any other reaction to the medicine besides pain relief. 

Let Your Nurse Know If You:

• Have pain or nausea
• Feel pain and /or see redness or puffiness at your IV site
• Feel hot or cold.