Post-Op Alert: The symptoms you should never ignore

Recovering from an operation isn’t always straightforward.

It’s completely normal to run into some challenges along the way, so it’s important to prepare yourself as well as you can. It‘s also vital to tune into your body so you can act quickly if something isn’t quite right and you need to seek help.

When you’re recovering from an operation in hospital, staff will be there to help you and monitor your progress. But when it’s time to go home, you’ll be responsible for certain parts of your care.

It’s essential that you follow your treating team’s advice after you leave hospital. This could include things like caring for your wound, sticking to your medication schedule and following any dietary guidelines.

Recovery also means taking it easy. So, no heavy lifting or exerting yourself in a way that can put too much strain on your body.

New or unusual pain or discomfort can be your body’s way of flagging a problem, and you should report it to your treating team (and not rely on internet searches to self-diagnose).

Sometimes, you may be able to do this over the phone or at your next appointment. Other times though, can be more urgent and you may need to go back to the hospital.

It helps to know whether a problem is urgent, requiring immediate attention, or whether it’s something you can talk to your doctor about either by phone or, if it’s soon, during your next appointment.

Concerning but less-urgent recovery red flags include things like:

• a mild but manageable fever (slightly below 38°C)
• changes to your wound, such as warmth, redness or a slight discharge (which may be early signs of an infection)
• unusual bruising or swelling around the surgery area
• intense side effects from your medication, such as nausea, diarrhoea, constipation or rashes.

It’s important to look out for things that may require urgent medical attention, and to not simply ‘wait it out’. If you experience any of the following during your post-operation recovery, head to the hospital right away:

• a fever over 38°C (which could indicate a serious infection)
• heavy bleeding or pus discharge from your wound
• damage to your wound (such as an opening)
• pains in your chest
• shortness of breath
• coughing or vomiting up blood
• a change in alertness
• weakness, numbness or swelling of the limbs
• sudden or excessive pain.

If you need urgent medical help or your life is in danger, call 000.

Recovery can be challenging, both physically and psychologically, and you should celebrate your progress.

You might experience ‘post-operation blues’ during or after your recovery. This is completely normal, but it’s important to address any mental health issues before they become a serious problem.

Depression after surgery can result from a variety of things, including pain and lifestyle changes.¹

If you experience depression, anxiety or any other mental health concerns following your operation, reach out to a friend, your GP or a mental health practitioner for help. Navigating mental health can be tricky, even when you’re not dealing with medical recovery. But help is out there.

If you’re in crisis or need immediate support, call 000.

Following an operation, your body will need space to heal, which requires time, patience and extra care. This might mean staying off your feet for a while and taking it easy.

They can help you with things like:

• preparing meals
• showering and getting dressed
• getting around the house and to appointments
• cleaning
• caring for children.

This may be as easy as asking your neighbour if they can take out your bins for a few weeks or having a friend pop in to help out with dinner.

If you require more specialised care, talk to your treating team and hospital staff about getting the right help.