What to expect after surgery
Day of surgery
Activity
- You will be helped to a chair and sit for two hours.
- You will walk the day of your surgery.
- You may be asked to walk from your surgery bed to your hospital bed when you get to your room.
Diet
- You will have a diet of clear liquids. This may include water, clear broth or bouillon, Gatorade®, Jell-O®, Popsicles®, coffee or tea (without milk or cream), fruit juices without pulp, such as apple or white grape.
- If you are tolerating clear liquids, you may be given small amounts of solid food.
- You will have a nutritional supplement to drink.
Medicines
- Your doctors and nurses will work with you to help you manage your pain.
- You will also receive acetaminophen (Tylenol®) to help control your pain.
- You will be given anti-nausea medicine to help prevent nausea.
Treatments
- You will get IV fluids the first night after your surgery.
- The nurse will check your temperature, breathing, pulse and blood pressure.
- A pulse oximeter sensor will be placed on your finger. The sensor will record the amount of oxygen in your blood.
- You will wear leg compression devices to help with your circulation.
- You will use an incentive spirometer one time every hour while you are awake. Take 10 breaths each time you use it.
- Be sure to take deep breaths and cough every two hours.
- You may receive integrative therapies (such as acupuncture or massage) if they are available at your hospital.
Day one after surgery
Activity
- You will be up with help to walk at least four times or more during the day.
- You may take a sponge bath with help.
Diet
- You will have clear liquids and either a full liquid or regular diet as tolerated.
- You will receive nutritional supplements to help you heal.
Medicines
- You will receive pain medicine as needed.
- You will also receive acetaminophen (Tylenol®) to help control your pain.
- You will be given anti-nausea medicine to help prevent nausea.
Treatments
- Your IV fluids will be stopped if you drink enough liquids.
- The urinary catheter may be removed. If it is, the nurse will measure your urine.
- The nurse will check your temperature, breathing, pulse and blood pressure.
- A pulse oximeter sensor will be placed on your finger. The sensor will record the amount of oxygen in your blood.
- You will wear leg compression devices to help with your circulation.
- You will use an incentive spirometer every two hours while you are awake. Take 10 breaths each time you use it.
- Be sure to take deep breaths and cough every two hours.
- You may receive integrative therapies (such as acupuncture or massage) if they are available at your hospital.
Day two after surgery
Activity
- You will be up with help to walk at least six to eight times during the day.
- You may take a shower. (If you have an epidural, this will need to be removed first.)
Diet
- You will have a full liquid diet or regular diet, as you can tolerate.
- You will receive nutritional supplements to help you heal.
Medicines
- If you had an epidural, it may be stopped. Tell your nurse if you need more pain medicine.
- You will also receive acetaminophen (Tylenol®) to help control your pain.
Treatments
- Your dressing may be changed or removed.
- The nurse will check your temperature, breathing, pulse and blood pressure.
- You may receive integrative therapies (such as acupuncture or massage) if they are available at your hospital.
Day three after surgery
Activity
- You will be up with help to walk at least six to eight times during the day.
- You may take a shower. (If you have an epidural, this will need to be removed first.)
Diet
- You can have a regular diet, if tolerated.
- You will receive nutritional supplements to help you heal.
Medicines
- You will be given pain medicine to take by mouth to help control your pain.
Treatments
- Your dressing may be changed or removed.
- The nurse will check your temperature, breathing, pulse and blood pressure.
- You may receive integrative therapies (such as acupuncture or massage) if they are available at your hospital.
First Published: 01/24/2013
Last Reviewed: 08/15/2017