Going Home Post-Surgery: What to expect

[heynowkc 329]

There is nothing I hate more than having to spend the night in the hospital. The constant wakings, the uncomfortable (not my) bed, the pre-dawn morning bloodwork, the IV, the "this is what prison feels like" unsettling feeling washing over me, etc.

That's why I was thrilled when my surgeon told me that most of his patients go home the next evening. But I just got my official "surgery time" today (I had forgotten to ask about it before) and discovered I will be going into surgery at 2:15 PM. I'm pretty sure this means my chances of being a "one-nighter" were just demolished. What do you guys think? What have your experiences been if you've had a "non-AM" surgery time?

[LightlyMyDarling 5]

My surgery was two days ago at 4pm. I went home the day after around 1pm, so I wasn't in the hospital for even 24 hours! I did enjoy having morphine via IV during the night as it helped with pain and made me sleepy, but now I'm just on pill vicodin which works okay as well.

It was really nice coming home to my own bed and shower and dog! :-)

[ProjectMe 909]

Get it girl!!!!

[heynowkc 329]

@@LightlyMyDarling Thanks! Maybe I will be able to go home earlier. But you do have a good point about the IV pain meds being a big help!

[BLERDgirl 6,417]

My doctor keeps his patients 2 days. I went in at 10 am, not sure when I went into surgery. I was tuck in recovery a long time waiting for my bed to be ready. It was probably close to 4 by the time I got in my room. By the next day, I wanted to go home. I wasn't in pain and I was bored. Maybe your doctor will be nice and let you go in 24 hours if you have no complications.

[Kindle 8,667]

I had surgery at 3pm, discharged at 9am next day.

Edited December 12, 2014 by Kindle

[heynowkc 329]

@@Kindle That's so fast! Wow!

@@BLERDgirl Hoping I have no pain the same as you! Crossing my fingers!

[Kindle 8,667]

@@Kindle That's so fast! Wow!

@@BLERDgirl Hoping I have no pain the same as you! Crossing my fingers!

No pain, no nausea, well hydrated from all the IV fluids, and sipping my Water just fine. No reason to stick around in a hospital bed. I was out shopping by 11am, took a little nap, then walked to Starbucks and GNC. Too chilly to lounge by the pool that evening, so rented We Are the Millers and lounged around nibbling pineapple popsicles and sipping chicken broth.

Good luck!

[CheleLynn45 615]

My surgery was scheduled for 2:15pm and was home the next day by dinner time.

I was glad to stay one night, because I stayed overnight there was no waiting period for my disability to kick in!! If I had gone home the same day I would have had to wait 14 days.

[heynowkc 329]

No pain, no nausea, well hydrated from all the IV fluids, and sipping my Water just fine. No reason to stick around in a hospital bed. I was out shopping by 11am, took a little nap, then walked to Starbucks and GNC. Too chilly to lounge by the pool that evening, so rented We Are the Millers and lounged around nibbling pineapple popsicles and sipping chicken broth.

Good luck!

Wow. You are like the poster child for instant recovery!

@@CheleLynn45 Hey, were surgery time buddies (lol). That is good to know! Thank you. Guess I was worrying for nothing!

Edited December 12, 2014 by heynowkc

[Kindle 8,667]

Wow. You are like the poster child for instant recovery!

@@CheleLynn45 Hey, were surgery time buddies (lol). That is good to know! Thank you. Guess I was worrying for nothing!

Actually, all five of us that had surgery that day were feeling about the same. We even went on a group shopping excursion the next day. I chalk it up to an outstanding surgical team... They were 5 for 5 that day!

[WL WARRIOR 690]

I was scheduled to have surgery at noon and it didn't happen until 4:30. There were a few things that weren't going right and I ended up getting pushed to the end of the list. I actually wanted to stay an extra night because I was going home alone. I just wasn't ready to take on at home responsibilities so soon. They wait on you hand and foot at the hospital, it really isn't that bad. I was in the hospital for three and half weeks when I had my son. There is a big screen TV with internet and nurses come quickly when you are in any type of pain. I fell the first day I got home and it was quite painful because there was nobody to help me out. I loosened some staples, but it wasn't that big of a deal.

A hospital stay is nothing compared to going somewhere like a lower standard 30 day drug rehab. That was over 10 years ago and I still have nightmares. Also, some hospitals are better than others. I just got lucky and was able to stay in a newly state-of-the-art one. And there were nurses that would take less than 30 seconds to come when you hit the call button. I hope you have a good experience.