The first two weeks at home after surgery
Wound care, pain, moving about and the warning signs after an operation: what to expect in the first two weeks at home, and when to call for help.
Written by HoMedi Editorial Team
Medically reviewed by Dr Vinod Kumar, MBBS · Reg. No. APMC/FMR/97301 (Andhra Pradesh Medical Council)
Published · Last reviewed · 2 min read
Coming home after an operation is a relief, but the first two weeks can bring questions. The most important rule is simple: follow the discharge instructions you were given. They are written for your operation and your health. This article covers the general points most families ask about.
Caring for the wound
- Keep the wound clean and dry, and wash your hands before touching the dressing
- Do not remove or change the dressing unless you have been told how and when
- Ask when stitches or staples come out, and who will do it
Contact the surgeon or a doctor the same day if you notice increasing redness, warmth, swelling or pain around the wound, pus or a bad smell, the wound opening, or a fever.
Managing pain
- Take pain medicines exactly as prescribed, and do not take extra doses
- Pain should slowly improve day by day; tell the doctor if it gets worse instead
- Some pain medicines cause constipation. Drink enough fluids, eat fibre if you are allowed, and ask the doctor before taking a laxative
Moving about
Rest is important, but so is gentle movement. Walking short distances, as advised by the surgical team, helps blood flow in the legs, keeps the lungs clear and helps the bowels recover.
- Get up and walk a little several times a day, if you have been told it is safe
- Avoid lifting heavy things until the surgeon says it is safe
- Use a support or walker if one was recommended
Warning signs that need urgent help
Call 108 straight away for:
- Sudden breathlessness or chest pain
- Heavy bleeding from the wound
- Fainting or confusion
Contact a doctor urgently for:
- Pain, swelling, warmth or redness in one calf or leg, which can be a sign of a blood clot
- A fever, chills or feeling very unwell
- Vomiting that stops you keeping fluids or medicines down
- Not being able to pass urine
Help at home
A registered nurse can visit to change dressings, give prescribed injections, look after drains or catheters and check vital signs, so you do not have to travel for every step of recovery. Read more in What a nurse can do at home.
Questions people ask
Increasing redness, warmth, swelling or pain around the wound, pus or a bad smell, the wound opening up, or a fever. Contact the surgeon or a doctor the same day if you notice any of these.
Gentle walking, as advised by the surgical team, keeps blood flowing in the legs, which lowers the risk of clots, and helps the lungs and bowels recover. Follow the specific advice you were given.
