… your doctor determines that you are ready to go home. At this point, your doctor and nurse will provide you with discharge instructions. Your family member or friend will then be able to take you home.
Intake and Output
After surgery, it’s important for your doctor and nurse to keep track of the amount of fluid that goes into and comes out of your body. Hospital staff refer to what you take in as input and to urine that you pass as output. Any liquid that you drink or that is given to you in the form of IV fluids will be measured. Your urine output also will be measured.
Depending on the type of surgery, you may have a urinary catheter in your bladder that measures the amount of urine your body makes. You also may have drainage tubes in place at incision areas. These help fluid and excess blood drain from under the skin.
A nasogastric tube (NG tube) may be in place with certain types of surgery. This tube is put into the nose and stomach during surgery. It helps drain fluids from your stomach.
Pain and Discomfort
Many patients are most concerned about avoiding pain after surgery. It is normal to have pain in the surgical area. Pain medication is available, and you should take it when you feel you need it.
If you had general anesthesia, your throat may feelsore. This is from the breathing tube that was inserted during surgery.