Post-surgical care is attentive and compassionate.
Our team will be right by your side after surgery. The effects of anesthesia wear off slowly, so give yourself time. Your health care team will check on you regularly and monitor your immediate recovery.
See the stories of unique individuals, who all received expert care from ECU Health SurgiCenter.
Here’s What You Can Expect Right After Surgery
Seeing Your Loved Ones
Your family and friends will receive text messages while you’re here, so they are notified as soon as your doctor is ready to give an update. You may also have visitors (a maximum of two) once you’re fully awake.
Getting Ready to Go Home
Your health care team will keep track of your recovery progress and decide when you’re ready to be discharged. Before you leave, your nurse will talk with your caregiver about how to take care of you at home. If, for some reason, your doctor feels it’s not safe to discharge you right from the SurgiCenter, we’ll make a plan to admit you to the Recovery Care Center on-site at the SurgiCenter for additional care and recovery time, or at ECU Health Medical Center if necessary.
What to Know About Pain Medication
- When prescribed under the care of a doctor, pain medications are safe, effective and rarely lead to addiction
- Common side effects of pain medications are constipation, itching, nausea and drowsiness
- We advise that you take your pain medication before walking, exercising, or doing physical and occupational therapy
- Call your doctor right away if you have concerns, have side effects, or if your pain is not controlled even while taking medication
Controlling Your Pain
We’ll do everything we can to manage your pain. The best way you can help is to keep us informed. After surgery, your nurse will ask you often to rate your pain on a scale of 0 to 10. If pain medication isn’t helping, or if you experience side effects, let us know right away. We’ll also talk about alternative ways to control pain, such as relaxation techniques, elevation, and heat or cold.