Diet
You will be able to drink clear liquids, such as gelatin, tea, broth, or protein drinks. You can drink these clear liquids, but do not have caffeine:
- Water
- Apple juice
- White grape juice
- Broth
- Decaf coffee or tea (do not use milk or creamer)
- Clear carbonated drinks, such as ginger ale or lemon-lime soda
- Gatorade or other sports drinks
- Kool-Aid or other flavored drinks
- Popsicles or jello
Do not use a straw or drink carbonated liquids, such as soda, until you are passing gas.
Activity
The nursing staff will help you get up to walk one or two times. Walking is important to prevent pneumonia, blood clots, and pressure sores, and it encourages your bowel to start making gas and stool (poop).
Comfort
It is normal to have some pain after surgery. You will have IV and/or oral pain medicine to help you stay comfortable. The pain medicine will not take away all of your pain. You should be able to walk, sleep, talk with family, or watch TV though. If you cannot do those things, have your nurse let the team know, and they will come to check you.
Sleep
It is common to have trouble sleeping the first few days after surgery. The nurses will take your vital signs often, and you will be getting different medicines, so uninterrupted sleep may be difficult. Sleep aids are usually not given due to interactions with anesthesia, pain medicine, and hospital environment. Short naps during the day are important. Let the team know if you are really struggling to get enough sleep.
Anesthesia effects
You may have nausea and vomiting in the first 24 hours after surgery from the anesthesia. Ask your nurse if you need anti-nausea medicine.
Catheters and drains
You may have a catheter in your bladder to drain urine (pee) after surgery. It will stay in for one to 14 days depending on your surgery.
You may have a drain in your abdomen as well. It will stay in during your hospital stay. Some drains need to stay in longer.
The nurse practitioner and/or resident doctors will let you know how long your catheter and/or drain will need to stay in. If you have to go home with these, the team will make sure you understand how to take care of them.