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Postoperative Problems

Overview

Many people don't feel well after surgery. Pain, nausea, and a lack of energy may occur even after a minor surgery. In most cases, if you get some rest and follow the instructions your surgeon gave you, you will feel better over time.

Different types of surgery require different home care instructions. Your surgeon will give you specific instructions to follow after your surgery. This includes learning about your medicines, diet restrictions, wound care, and showering or bathing. You'll also learn when you can get back to your regular activities. If you have any questions about your discharge instructions, be sure to ask your surgeon.

Your surgeon will want to talk to you if you have:

  • Questions about your home care instructions.
  • A symptom or problem that you don't know how to handle.
  • An unexpected symptom or problem.
  • Problems with your prescription medicines. These may include a rash, hives, nausea, vomiting, or stomach problems.

Check Your Symptoms

Have you had surgery in the past month?
Yes
Surgery in the past month
No
Surgery in the past month
How old are you?
Less than 12 years
Less than 12 years
12 years or older
12 years or older
Are you male or female?
Male
Male
Female
Female

The medical assessment of symptoms is based on the body parts you have.

  • If you are transgender or nonbinary, choose the sex that matches the body parts (such as ovaries, testes, prostate, breasts, penis, or vagina) you now have in the area where you are having symptoms.
  • If your symptoms aren’t related to those organs, you can choose the gender you identify with.
  • If you have some organs of both sexes, you may need to go through this triage tool twice (once as "male" and once as "female"). This will make sure that the tool asks the right questions for you.
Do you have symptoms of shock?
Yes
Symptoms of shock
No
Symptoms of shock
Could you be having symptoms of a heart attack?
If you're having a heart attack, there are several areas where you may feel pain or other symptoms.
Yes
Symptoms of heart attack
No
Symptoms of heart attack
Since having the surgery, have you had new or worse trouble breathing?
Yes
New or worse trouble breathing
No
New or worse trouble breathing
Would you describe the breathing problem as severe, moderate, or mild?
Severe
Severe difficulty breathing
Moderate
Moderate difficulty breathing
Mild
Mild difficulty breathing
Have you had any new neurological symptoms?
Yes
Neurological symptoms
No
Neurological symptoms
Are you bleeding?
Yes
Bleeding
No
Bleeding
Would you describe the bleeding as severe, moderate, or mild?
Severe
Severe bleeding
Moderate
Moderate bleeding
Mild
Mild bleeding
Does it hurt when you breathe?
This can be a warning sign of a blood clot in the lung, called a pulmonary embolism.
Yes
Pain when breathing
No
Pain when breathing
Yes
Symptoms of pulmonary embolism
No
Symptoms of pulmonary embolism
Yes
At risk for pulmonary embolism
No
At risk for pulmonary embolism
Is there any pain?
Yes
Pain
No
Pain
How bad is the pain on a scale of 0 to 10, if 0 is no pain and 10 is the worst pain you can imagine?
8 to 10: Severe pain
Severe pain
5 to 7: Moderate pain
Moderate pain
1 to 4: Mild pain
Mild pain
Is your belly painful, hard, or swollen?
Yes
Painful, rigid, or distended abdomen
No
Painful, rigid, or distended abdomen
Does pain medicine relieve the pain?
Yes
Pain medicine helps
No
Pain medicine helps
Do you have pain or swelling in one calf?
Pain and swelling in the lower leg can be symptoms of a blood clot.
Yes
Pain or swelling in one calf
No
Pain or swelling in one calf
Have you had surgery on your arm or leg?
Yes
Surgery on limb
No
Surgery on limb
Is the limb blue, very pale, or cold and different from the other limb?
If the limb is in a cast, splint, or brace, follow the instructions you got about how to loosen it.
Yes
Limb is blue, very pale, or cold and different from other limb.
No
Limb is blue, very pale, or cold and different from other limb.
Is the incision opening up or are the stitches coming out?
An incision is any cut that was made for the purpose of the surgery. It may have been closed with stitches, staples, or a bandage.
Yes
Incision opening or stitches coming out
No
Incision opening or stitches coming out
Has more than one-third of the incision opened up?
Yes
More than one-third of incision has opened
No
More than one-third of incision has opened
Do you think you may have a fever?
Yes
Possible fever
No
Possible fever
Do you have diabetes or a weakened immune system?
What weakens the immune system in an adult or older child may be different than in a young child or baby.
Yes
Diabetes or immune problem
No
Diabetes or immune problem
Are there any symptoms of infection?
Yes
Symptoms of infection
No
Symptoms of infection
Are you nauseated or vomiting?
Nauseated means you feel sick to your stomach, like you are going to vomit.
Yes
Nausea or vomiting
No
Nausea or vomiting
Is the vomiting severe?
Yes
Severe vomiting
No
Severe vomiting
Have you felt nauseated or been vomiting for more than 4 hours?
Yes
Nausea or vomiting for more than 4 hours
No
Nausea or vomiting for more than 4 hours
Do you have problems with urination?
Yes
Problems with urination
No
Problems with urination
Are you able to urinate at all?
Yes
Able to urinate
No
Unable to urinate
Yes
Symptoms of urinary tract infection
No
Symptoms of urinary tract infection
Are you having any problems with your bowel movements, such as constipation or diarrhea?
Yes
Bowel problems
No
Bowel problems
Are you constipated?
Constipation means your stools are hard and you have trouble passing them. If your stools are soft and pass easily, you are not constipated.
Yes
Constipation
No
Constipation
Have you had a bowel movement in the past 3 days?
Yes
Bowel movement in past 3 days
No
Bowel movement in past 3 days
Do you have diarrhea?
Yes
Diarrhea
No
Diarrhea
Do you have severe diarrhea?
Severe means more than 10 loose, watery stools in a single day (24 hours).
Yes
Severe diarrhea
No
Severe diarrhea
Are you having any new or unexpected symptoms?
Yes
New or unexpected symptoms
No
New or unexpected symptoms
Would you describe these symptoms as serious or minor?
Serious
Serious new or unexpected symptoms
Minor
Minor new or unexpected symptoms
Do you think that a medicine may be causing your symptoms?
Think about whether the symptoms started after you began using a new medicine or a higher dose of a medicine.
Yes
Medicine may be causing symptoms
No
Medicine may be causing symptoms

Many things can affect how your body responds to a symptom and what kind of care you may need. These include:

  • Your age. Babies and older adults tend to get sicker quicker.
  • Your overall health. If you have a condition such as diabetes, HIV, cancer, or heart disease, you may need to pay closer attention to certain symptoms and seek care sooner.
  • Medicines you take. Certain medicines, such as blood thinners (anticoagulants), medicines that suppress the immune system like steroids or chemotherapy, herbal remedies, or supplements can cause symptoms or make them worse.
  • Recent health events, such as surgery or injury. These kinds of events can cause symptoms afterwards or make them more serious.
  • Your health habits and lifestyle, such as eating and exercise habits, smoking, alcohol or drug use, sexual history, and travel.

Try Home Treatment

You have answered all the questions. Based on your answers, you may be able to take care of this problem at home.

  • Try home treatment to relieve the symptoms.
  • Call your doctor if symptoms get worse or you have any concerns (for example, if symptoms are not getting better as you would expect). You may need care sooner.

Severe vomiting can mean that:

  • You vomit more than 10 times in 24 hours.
  • For at least 24 hours, you vomit every time you try to drink something.
  • The vomit shoots out in large amounts and with great force.

If you have pain when you are breathing, you may be at immediate risk for a pulmonary embolism if you also have:

  • Pain deep in one leg for no clear reason. This can be a sign of a blood clot in the leg (deep vein thrombosis) that could travel to the lungs.
  • A history of problems with blood clots, such as deep vein thrombosis or a previous pulmonary embolism.

Severe trouble breathing means:

  • You cannot talk at all.
  • You have to work very hard to breathe.
  • You feel like you can't get enough air.
  • You do not feel alert or cannot think clearly.

Moderate trouble breathing means:

  • It's hard to talk in full sentences.
  • It's hard to breathe with activity.

Mild trouble breathing means:

  • You feel a little out of breath but can still talk.
  • It's becoming hard to breathe with activity.

Severe trouble breathing means:

  • The child cannot eat or talk because he or she is breathing so hard.
  • The child's nostrils are flaring and the belly is moving in and out with every breath.
  • The child seems to be tiring out.
  • The child seems very sleepy or confused.

Moderate trouble breathing means:

  • The child is breathing a lot faster than usual.
  • The child has to take breaks from eating or talking to breathe.
  • The nostrils flare or the belly moves in and out at times when the child breathes.

Mild trouble breathing means:

  • The child is breathing a little faster than usual.
  • The child seems a little out of breath but can still eat or talk.

Symptoms of a pulmonary embolism may include:

  • Sudden shortness of breath.
  • Sudden, sharp chest pain that may get worse when you breathe deeply or cough.
  • A cough. The cough may bring up blood or pink, foamy mucus.
  • Fast heart rate.
  • Wheezing.
  • Fainting.

Pain in adults and older children

  • Severe pain (8 to 10): The pain is so bad that you can't stand it for more than a few hours, can't sleep, and can't do anything else except focus on the pain.
  • Moderate pain (5 to 7): The pain is bad enough to disrupt your normal activities and your sleep, but you can tolerate it for hours or days. Moderate can also mean pain that comes and goes even if it's severe when it's there.
  • Mild pain (1 to 4): You notice the pain, but it is not bad enough to disrupt your sleep or activities.

Pain in children under 3 years

It can be hard to tell how much pain a baby or toddler is in.

  • Severe pain (8 to 10): The pain is so bad that the baby cannot sleep, cannot get comfortable, and cries constantly no matter what you do. The baby may kick, make fists, or grimace.
  • Moderate pain (5 to 7): The baby is very fussy, clings to you a lot, and may have trouble sleeping but responds when you try to comfort him or her.
  • Mild pain (1 to 4): The baby is a little fussy and clings to you a little but responds when you try to comfort him or her.

Several types of medicines can be used to treat pain.

Pain medicines may be over-the-counter (OTC) medicines—like acetaminophen (Tylenol) and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen. Ask your doctor which OTCs are safe for you to use.

Your doctor may prescribe other pain medicines. These may include some NSAIDs that aren't OTC medicines.

Opioids are strong medicines. They may be prescribed if your doctor thinks you may need them to relieve moderate to severe pain.

To avoid the risk of side effects from pain medicine, take the lowest dose that works to relieve your pain.

Take pain medicines exactly as prescribed or according to the label on the medicine bottle and box.

Shock is a life-threatening condition that may quickly occur after a sudden illness or injury.

Adults and older children often have several symptoms of shock. These include:

  • Passing out (losing consciousness).
  • Feeling very dizzy or lightheaded, like you may pass out.
  • Feeling very weak or having trouble standing.
  • Not feeling alert or able to think clearly. You may be confused, restless, fearful, or unable to respond to questions.

Shock is a life-threatening condition that may occur quickly after a sudden illness or injury.

Babies and young children often have several symptoms of shock. These include:

  • Passing out (losing consciousness).
  • Being very sleepy or hard to wake up.
  • Not responding when being touched or talked to.
  • Breathing much faster than usual.
  • Acting confused. The child may not know where he or she is.

Certain health conditions and medicines weaken the immune system's ability to fight off infection and illness. Some examples in adults are:

  • Diseases such as diabetes, cancer, heart disease, and HIV/AIDS.
  • Long-term alcohol and drug problems.
  • Steroid medicines, which may be used to treat a variety of conditions.
  • Chemotherapy and radiation therapy for cancer.
  • Other medicines used to treat autoimmune disease.
  • Medicines taken after organ transplant.
  • Not having a spleen.

Certain health conditions and medicines weaken the immune system's ability to fight off infection and illness. Some examples in children are:

  • Diseases such as diabetes, cystic fibrosis, sickle cell disease, and congenital heart disease.
  • Steroid medicines, which are used to treat a variety of conditions.
  • Medicines taken after organ transplant.
  • Chemotherapy and radiation therapy for cancer.
  • Not having a spleen.

Urinary tract infections may occur in the bladder or kidneys. Symptoms may include:

  • Pain or burning when you urinate.
  • A frequent need to urinate without being able to pass much urine.
  • Pain in the flank, which is either side of the back just below the rib cage and above the waist.
  • Blood in the urine.
  • Fever.

Symptoms of infection may include:

  • Increased pain, swelling, warmth, or redness in or around the area.
  • Red streaks leading from the area.
  • Pus draining from the area.
  • A fever.

Neurological symptoms—which may be signs of a problem with the nervous system—can affect many body functions. Symptoms may include:

  • Numbness, weakness, or lack of movement in your face, arm, or leg, especially on only one side of your body.
  • Trouble seeing in one or both eyes.
  • Trouble speaking.
  • Confusion or trouble understanding simple statements.
  • Problems with balance or coordination (for example, falling down or dropping things).
  • Seizures.

Symptoms of a heart attack may include:

  • Chest pain or pressure, or a strange feeling in the chest.
  • Sweating.
  • Shortness of breath.
  • Nausea or vomiting.
  • Pain, pressure, or a strange feeling in the back, neck, jaw, or upper belly, or in one or both shoulders or arms.
  • Lightheadedness or sudden weakness.
  • A fast or irregular heartbeat.

For men and women, the most common symptom is chest pain or pressure. But women are somewhat more likely than men to have other symptoms like shortness of breath, tiredness, nausea, and back or jaw pain.

With severe bleeding, any of these may be true:

  • Blood is pumping from the wound.
  • The bleeding does not stop or slow down with pressure.
  • Blood is quickly soaking through bandage after bandage.

With moderate bleeding, any of these may be true:

  • The bleeding slows or stops with pressure but starts again if you remove the pressure.
  • The blood may soak through a few bandages, but it is not fast or out of control.

With mild bleeding, any of these may be true:

  • The bleeding stops on its own or with pressure.
  • The bleeding stops or slows to an ooze or trickle after 15 minutes of pressure. It may ooze or trickle for up to 45 minutes.

Seek Care Now

Based on your answers, you may need care right away. The problem is likely to get worse without medical care.

  • Call your doctor now to discuss the symptoms and arrange for care.
  • If you cannot reach your doctor or you don't have one, seek care in the next hour.
  • You do not need to call an ambulance unless:
    • You cannot travel safely either by driving yourself or by having someone else drive you.
    • You are in an area where heavy traffic or other problems may slow you down.

Seek Care Today

Based on your answers, you may need care soon. The problem probably will not get better without medical care.

  • Call your doctor today to discuss the symptoms and arrange for care.
  • If you cannot reach your doctor or you don't have one, seek care today.
  • If it is evening, watch the symptoms and seek care in the morning.
  • If the symptoms get worse, seek care sooner.

Call 911 Now

Based on your answers, you need emergency care.

Call 911 or other emergency services now.

Sometimes people don't want to call 911. They may think that their symptoms aren't serious or that they can just get someone else to drive them. Or they might be concerned about the cost. But based on your answers, the safest and quickest way for you to get the care you need is to call 911 for medical transport to the hospital.

Call 911 Now

Based on your answers, you need emergency care.

Call 911 or other emergency services now.

After you call 911, the operator may tell you to chew 1 adult-strength (325 mg) or 2 to 4 low-dose (81 mg) aspirin. Wait for an ambulance. Do not try to drive yourself.

Sometimes people don't want to call 911. They may think that their symptoms aren't serious or that they can just get someone else to drive them. Or they might be concerned about the cost. But based on your answers, the safest and quickest way for you to get the care you need is to call 911 for medical transport to the hospital.

Call 911 Now

Based on your answers, you need emergency care.

Call 911 or other emergency services now.

Put direct, steady pressure on the wound until help arrives. Keep the area raised if you can.

Sometimes people don't want to call 911. They may think that their symptoms aren't serious or that they can just get someone else to drive them. Or they might be concerned about the cost. But based on your answers, the safest and quickest way for you to get the care you need is to call 911 for medical transport to the hospital.

Self-Care

You will be given some general instructions about what to do after surgery. Your surgeon may also give you some special instructions on how to care for the surgery area. Be sure to follow those instructions carefully.

  • If the instructions from your surgeon aren't clear or don't cover your particular problem, contact your surgeon.
  • If your symptom or problem starts after the office or health facility is closed, call your surgeon's office. Leave a message with the answering service (or follow instructions given on the answering machine). If you leave a message, be sure to include your name and phone number so that your surgeon (or the on-call surgeon) can contact you.

Write down your symptom or problem. It may help you become more aware of your specific symptom or problem. Or it may give you ideas about its cause. It will also help prepare you to talk to your surgeon about what you are experiencing.

Don't smoke or use other tobacco products. Smoking slows healing because it decreases blood supply and delays tissue repair.

When to call for help during self-care

Call a doctor if any of the following occur during self-care at home:

  • New or worse trouble breathing.
  • New or worse chest pain, shortness of breath, or coughing up blood.
  • New or worse pain or swelling in your leg.
  • New or worse bleeding.
  • New fever.
  • New or worse nausea or vomiting.
  • New urinary problems.
  • New or worse signs of infection in the surgical area, such as redness, warmth, swelling, or pus.
  • Symptoms occur more often or are more severe.

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Current as of: July 26, 2023

Author: Healthwise Staff
Clinical Review Board
All Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.