What to Tell the Doctor
- Be sure the person’s primary doctor has been notified of the surgery and any medicines ordered by the surgeon.
- The first time the person goes back to see the surgeon or doctor, take your care notes with you. Let the doctor know;
- How well the person is eating and sleeping.
- How well the person is following their exercise plan and any restrictions to their activity. Is the person exercising as often as ordered? Is the person having pain from the exercises?
- What you have observed with looking at the wound or changing the dressing.
- The amount of pain medicine the person is taking, how often he or she is taking pain medicine, and if he or she is asking for pain medicine frequently before the time it is due.
- If the person does not begin to have regular bowel movements or if the person has changes in the amount of urine he or she is passing.
- A number of signs can indicate problems after surgery. These guidelines are not meant to take the place of the person’s discussion with their own surgeon. Call the surgeon for any of these signs:
- The person still has pain (unrelieved) an hour after taking their pain medicine (medicine may not be strong enough).
- The person becomes very sleepy or groggy within 30 minutes after taking a pain medicine. The medicine may be too strong.
- The person has continuous nausea or vomiting.
- There is redness, swelling, bleeding or pus like drainage coming from the person’s surgical wound. (Signs of infection)
- The wound opens up, stitches pull out, edges of skin separate.
- The person has chills or a fever (100.5 degrees Fahrenheit [oral], or 101.5 degrees Fahrenheit [rectal or ear] or higher).
- Person notices tingling, numbness, swelling, or bluish fingers or toes (signs of reduced circulation).
- Persistent cough or shortness of breath.
- Person is unable to eat or drink liquids.