After the operation – in recovery

Waking up in the recovery room after an operation can be disorientating, it helps to know what may be happening.

·        There is a high ratio of staff to patient’s in recovery, this is because as you are waking up close monitoring is needed, and even closer monitoring while you are still unconscious.

·        You will have a blood pressure cuff on your arm intermittently inflating, this may happen every 5mins, do not be alarmed if you feel this as you wake.

·        You will have a probe on your finger which monitors oxygen levels.

·        There will be an intravenous drip attached to you, most likely in your hand but it could be further up your arm, remember you have been without food and drink, and anaesthetic is dehydrating, fluids are very important. This will likely stay attached until you have proven you can eat and drink without vomiting.

·        There will be an oxygen giving device, this will be either a mask, or nasal prongs (which literally sit inside your nostrils). They can feel uncomfortable, maybe even itchy, but they are important. Under anaesthetic your breathing rate slows, until you are conscious the oxygen must stay on, once you are awake it may take a little while for your ability to take in enough oxygen to return to normal, so be patient it must stay on until the nurse says it can come off.

·        For more major operations, or if you have had medications such as morphine, the oxygen will need to stay on longer; it may be days or even longer before the oxygen is removed completely. You may need to be weaned off the oxygen, slowly stepping down from different types of masks to nasal prongs, and eventually it can be removed.

·       Depending on the operation, you may have other attachments, such as drains coming from your wound that drain off blood, or a catheter, some operations you will have a tube coming out of your nose for feeding or draining fluids from the stomach. These attachments shouldn’t come as a shock as you should be informed what will be attached prior to surgery. Be sure to check with your doctor what exactly will be attached to you after the operation.

·       You may have an inflating ‘blanket’ on. This is to keep you warm, it’s not always required but theater is cold, sometimes people need extra help to warm up after.

·       Sometimes, surgery needs to be more invasive than planned; a simple scope can lead to more extensive surgery, such as excisional surgery, in these cases you may wake up with more attached than expected.

·       There is a good chance you will be in pain, depending on the operation. Pain medication is generally offered as you wake up, take it if you need it, your body needs to recover, operations are big ordeals, do not try and be tough, take the pain medication. If you are in pain and haven’t been offered anything, don’t be frightened to ask for medication.

·       You may have a PCA (Patient Controlled Analgesia), it’s fairly common these days for more painful operations (not day cases) to have a PCA, and this is a button which allows you to administer your own pain relief. The dose is controlled, it will only provide a limited number of doses per hour so there is no risk of overdose. When you press the button a small amount of analgesia will be released through your IV cannula, allowing you to control how much and how often you get pain relief.

·       You may feel sick, anaesthetic can cause nausea and vomiting, again you will likely be offered something for this as you wake up, if you feel sick and nothing has been offered, ask.

What then?

·        It depends on your operation, some cases are just day cases and you will be sent back to the day ward. In these cases you will be given food and drink upon arrival to the day ward. If you can tolerate food and drink, the pain and nausea are under control, and your vital signs (blood pressure, pulse, temperature) are ok, you will be sent home.

·        Sometimes in day cases the doctor will see you before you go home, otherwise follow up should be organised before you leave the hospital, either with your GP or specialist as appropriate.

·        More major operations will require a stay overnight or longer. Be sure you are aware of the expected length of stay prior to surgery.

·        If you are staying overnight or longer, you will be sent back to a ward, usually the appropriate surgical ward depending on the operation. You may not be able to eat and drink straight away after this, and may not be able to get out of bed.

·        Once your in the ward, the nurse will check your vital signs again and post-operative care will continue until you are recovered enough to go home. Be sure you can reach your buzzer once in the ward, the nurse should ensure this, but if you don’t know where it is make sure you are told or it is moved to a more visible spot for you.