- How to make the dressing in the postoperative
- How to feed in the postoperative period
- How to rest in the postoperative period
- How to relieve pain after surgery
Before surgery, it is important to ask the doctor and nurse for advice about the care that should be taken during the postoperative period, and what precautions to take a few days before the surgery. Learn more in Care Before and After Surgery.
Especially when the recovery is done at home, it is important to know exactly how and when to make the dressing, how to eat, rest and return to work and physical exercise, as these care usually vary according to the surgery that was performed.
However, there are some general precautions that must be followed after surgery, which include:
How to make the dressing in the postoperative
The dressing protects the scar from surgery from becoming infected and should be changed, preferably, at the clinic or hospital, according to the nurse's recommendation. However, if it is not possible, see how to make the dressing at home at: How to make a dressing.
The individual should check if the dressing is dirty or if the scar has a bad smell and is releasing pus, as these are signs of infection of the scar and, if that is the case, should go immediately to the emergency room. In addition, you should also be aware of possible signs of inflammation such as redness, pain and swelling in the scar area.
In addition, if the dressing is not waterproof, it is important not to wet it during the bath, protecting it because water entering the scar can cause infection in the wound.
How to feed in the postoperative period
What should be eaten in the postoperative period are easily digestible foods, in small amounts and with few fibers to decrease the volume of stool and so that the patient does not have to struggle to evacuate.
The first meal after surgery should be liquid because the patient must still feel nauseous due to anesthesia. A vegetable soup whipped in a blender or fruit juice with crumbled crackers can be a good option.
In relation to water it is important to drink water whenever you are thirsty because initially it can be difficult to get up to pee, although the use of a diaper is a good option.
On the second day after surgery, the food no longer needs to be liquid and you must invest in healing foods to facilitate recovery. Good examples are yogurt, meats and fruits rich in vitamin C such as strawberries.
You should avoid eating fried foods, fatty foods, condiments, pork or sweets, so that recovery is faster. In addition, you should avoid drinking alcohol and smoking.
In some surgeries, the doctor may recommend that the individual have a specific diet during recovery or even for a lifetime, so in these cases it is essential to consult a nutritionist. In some cases the liquid or pasty diet is recommended.
How to rest in the postoperative period
Generally, after surgery, rest is recommended to prevent the scar points from coming out and the scar to open, and the doctor must indicate how long the individual should rest, according to the surgery.
During this time, the individual should not make efforts, lift weights, drive, have sex or exercise until the doctor releases. However, if you stay more than 3 days in bed, you should do breathing exercises to prevent infections in the lung.
Usually, one month after the surgery, you can return to activities, such as working, driving, having sex and performing light exercises, such as walking.
More intense exercises, such as playing football, cycling, swimming, weight training or other gym exercises, can usually only be resumed 3 months after the surgery, but the doctor is the one who should indicate when the return to activities should be done.
How to relieve pain after surgery
After surgery, when the individual is discharged, the doctor usually prescribes pain relievers, such as Paracetamol, so in case of pain that does not go away with medication, and also in case of fever above 38ºC, diarrhea, badly being or short of breath, the individual must report the symptoms to the doctor or go to the emergency room.
Generally, before the patient is discharged, the doctor makes an appointment for 2 weeks to 1 month after the surgery in order to observe the patient and assess how the post-operative period is going, being very important not to miss this appointment.
To prevent blood clots from forming, read: How to prevent thrombosis after surgery.
