When to Call the Doctor With Concerns after Surgery

Help Preventing Comon Complications at Home after Surgery

Comon complication after surgery that require a call to the doctor

When recovering at home, it is important to know when to notify the doctor of any complications that arise after surgery or a medical procedure. 

The following signs and symptoms are warnings of possible complications and should be reported immediately:

• Difficulty breathing
• Fever over 100 degrees
• Black, tar-like stools
• Pain that sharply increases, or becomes uncontrollable
• Wound drainage problems; redness, bleeding or opening at the incision site
• A decrease in ability to function (ex: cannot walk to the bathroom)
• A change in level of consciousness or ability to wake
• Persistent diarrhea, constipation, nausea and/or vomiting
• Inability to tolerate food or drink
• Unexplained leg pain in one or both legs  

If you are having surgery, you may be interested in how you can heal faster, return to work faster, maybe even get back to the gym faster.  Recovering at home from surgery is a straightforward process of following the discharge instructions, which can be challenging for some individuals.  For most surgery patients it is important to have a transitional care plan in place at home.  For many, healing quickly requires diligence and effort in caring for their incision, and their body as a whole, after surgery and getting the help necessary to rest.

BrightStar Care of Boulder can help reduce undesirable outcomes like re-hospitalization, medication errors, falls, and worsening of health conditions by supporting a patient during their recovery.  . BrightStar's Nurse-Led Care offers the services and  expertise to help you make a safe and healthy recovery at home and lower the likelihood of a return trip to the hospital.   CLICK HERE to learn more about our transitional care services for recovering post-op at home.