Galesburg, Illinois

Discharge

Your doctor will decide when you will be discharged. Ask a friend or family member to help you during recovery. Both of you should listen to your post-op instructions because it may be hard for you to remember all the instructions once you have anesthesia. Be sure you both understand the instructions and your questions are answered. Make arrangements to have someone drive you home.

The Nurses in Phase II Post- Anesthesia Unit will:

• Make your follow-up doctor’s appointment for you.
• May give you a prescription to take to a pharmacy upon discharge.
• Give you something to drink before leaving.
• Escort you to your car when you are discharged.

Your family can be with you in Phase II post-anesthesia. You will go there after Phase I recovery if you had a general anesthetic. Families cannot be in Phase I with you.

You may come to the hospital as an outpatient (23 hour admission), but may still spend overnight in the hospital if your surgeon feels it is necessary.

The day after surgery, the post-anesthesia care unit nurses will call you to see how you are feeling. If your surgery is on Friday, they will call you on Monday.

*If you will need crutches after surgery, please coordinate this with your surgeon.

CALL YOUR SURGEON IF:

• You have a fever over 101°F (38°C)

• Your incision becomes more swollen, red or painful or has a foul discharge.

• Your incision bleeds a lot.
• Your incision opens. Lightly press a clean cloth to the incision to control bleeding.
• You feel too, sleepy, dizzy, or groggy (the medication may be too strong)
• You have pain an hour after taking pain medication (it may bot be strong enough).
• You have side effects from your medication such as nausea, vomiting, redness, a rash or itching. 

Transportation

After your surgery you will need a ride home. If a friend or family member is not available to give you a ride home here are some services for you to choose from. Please check with each service about additional costs that may incur for their services.