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7 Things You Should and Shouldn’t Do After Surgery
- A surgical procedure’s effect on you does not just end at the operation theatre.
- You need to take special care after the fact to make sure your body heals properly, and no complications develop.
- People often do not take the necessary precautions during aftercare for minor surgeries, considering it to be not that serious.
- However, any procedure involving incisions and anaesthesia needs to be given time to heal properly.
- With that in mind, here are 7 things you should and shouldn’t do after surgery:
Don’t Start Driving Right After the Surgery
- The no-driving rule after surgery should be followed without question.
- It is usually advised because of anaesthesia administered during the surgery.
- Anaesthesia slows down your motor skills for quite some time, making it difficult to coordinate and take quick decisions.
- However, more than that, you need to avoid driving to help heal your wound.
- Moving around the car and exerting your muscles is going to add pressure to the wound and will slow down recovery.
Do Take Pain Medication as Advised
- People usually don’t like taking pain medication as it makes them groggy and slows them down.
- Nevertheless, you should take pain medication if your doctor has advised it.
- Being in pain will limit your mobility, which increases the risk of blood clots in the legs.
- To avoid that, you have to be on your feet and active during your recovery.
- Taking pain medication, and not going beyond the prescribed limits, is a great way to help you with that.
Do Not Lift Things Until You are Allowed To
- Lifting heavy objects is usually discouraged during recovery.
- Even if you feel strong enough to lift objects heavier than the limit you have been asked to stay under, do not attempt it.
- You can get worse quite quickly after the exertion, and your healing wound might even open up again.
- Take it easy and follow the guidelines until you are allowed to lift heavy objects.
Do Be Wary of Infection
- Incisions during surgery put you at risk of infection during your recovery.
- To avoid that, you need to keep the wound dry and keep a lookout for possible signs of infection.
- Tingling, soreness, itching, and a bit of discharge from the wound are all signs of healthy recovery.
- However, pus, fever, and excessive bleeding are signs of developing an infection, and you have to get them checked out.
Don’t Get Constipated
- Gastrointestinal surgery puts you at risk of constipation, which is something you cannot take lightly.
- The strain caused by constipation also acts on your wound and can impede recovery.
Do Take Your Antibiotics
- Antibiotics prescribed during recovery help protect you against infection.
- Just because you seem to be doing well doesn’t mean you are free of risk.
- Take the antibiotics as long as you are supposed to.
Don’t Smoke
- Smoking makes your wound heal slower as it causes inefficient oxygen transport in the body.
- Avoid smoking during recovery at all costs.
