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How can you care for yourself at home?
Activity
- Ask your doctor when you can drive again.
- Rest when you feel tired. It is normal to want to sleep during the day. It is a good idea to plan to take a nap every day. Getting enough sleep will help you recover.
- Try to walk each day. Start by walking a little more than you did the day before. Bit by bit, increase the amount you walk. Walking boosts blood flow and helps prevent pneumonia and constipation.
- For 1 to 2 weeks, avoid lifting anything that would make you strain. This may include a child, heavy grocery bags and milk containers, a heavy briefcase or backpack, cat litter or dog food bags, or a vacuum cleaner.
- Avoid strenuous activities, such as bicycle riding, jogging, weightlifting, and aerobic exercise, for 1 to 2 weeks.
- If you had surgery through your skull:
- Try not to lie flat when you rest or sleep for the first 1 to 2 weeks after surgery. You can use a wedge pillow, or you can put a rolled towel or foam padding under your pillow. You can also raise the head of your bed by putting bricks or wooden blocks under the bed legs.
- After lying down, bring your head up slowly. This can prevent headaches or dizziness.
- You can wash your hair 2 to 3 days after your surgery. But do not soak your head or swim for 2 to 3 weeks.
- Do not dye or color your hair for 4 weeks after your surgery.
- Ask your doctor if it is safe for you to travel by plane.
- If you had surgery under your lip or through your nose:
- Do not blow or pick your nose or cough hard for 4 weeks after surgery. Do not use any medicines that you need to inhale through your nose.
- If you had surgery under your lip:
- Do not brush your teeth for up to 2 weeks after your surgery. Your doctor will give you swabs to use instead of a toothbrush. You will also get a special mouthwash to rinse with after eating and drinking. The mouthwash helps your incision heal.
- Do not wear dentures for 2 weeks after surgery.
- You will probably need to take a few weeks off from work. This depends on the type of work you do and how you feel.
Diet
- You can eat your normal diet. If your stomach is upset, try bland, low-fat foods like plain rice, broiled chicken, toast, and yogurt.
- Follow your doctor's orders about how much fluid you should drink after surgery.
- Ask your doctor when it is okay to drink alcohol.
- You may notice that your bowel movements are not regular right after your surgery. This is common. Try to avoid constipation and straining with bowel movements. You may want to take a fiber supplement every day. If you have not had a bowel movement after a couple of days, ask your doctor about taking a mild laxative.
Medicines
- Your doctor will tell you if and when you can restart your medicines. He or she will also give you instructions about taking any new medicines.
- If you stopped taking aspirin or some other blood thinner, your doctor will tell you when to start taking it again.
- Take any new medicines as directed.
- You may need to take hormone medicines.
- Your doctor may recommend a decongestant medicine.
- Take pain medicines exactly as directed.
- If the doctor gave you a prescription medicine for pain, take it as prescribed.
- If you are not taking a prescription pain medicine, ask your doctor if you can take an over-the-counter medicine.
- If you think your pain medicine is making you sick to your stomach:
- Take your medicine with meals (unless your doctor has told you not to).
- Ask your doctor for a different pain medicine.
- If your doctor prescribed antibiotics, take them as directed. Do not stop taking them just because you feel better. You need to take the full course of antibiotics.
Incision care
- If you have an incision on your belly, thigh, or head:
- Leave the tape on for a week or until it falls off.
- Keep the area clean and dry. Change the bandage every 2 days, or if it gets wet or soiled.
- Do not take a bath or soak the incision in water for 2 weeks.
- After your doctor says it is okay to shower or bathe, gently wash the surgery area with warm, soapy water and pat it dry.
When should you call for help?
Call 911 anytime you think you may need emergency care. For example, call if:
- You passed out (lost consciousness).
- You have sudden chest pain and shortness of breath, or you cough up blood.
- You have severe trouble breathing.
- It is hard to think, move, speak, or see.
- Your body is jerking or shaking.
Call your doctor now or seek immediate medical care if:
- You have trouble thinking clearly.
- You have a fever with a stiff neck or a severe headache.
- Your incision comes open, or you have pus or other fluid leaking from your incision.
- You have any sudden vision changes.
- You have new or worse headaches.
- You fall and hit your head.
- You are sleeping more than you are awake.
- You have pain that does not get better after you take pain medicine.
- You have a fever over 100°F.
- You have a headache and you throw up.
- You have a lot of watery fluid leaking from your nose (more than a slight runny nose).
- You are urinating more than a pint of clear or light yellow urine every hour for at least 3 hours and you are more thirsty than usual.
Watch closely for changes in your health, and be sure to contact your doctor if you have any problems.
Current as of: April 30, 2024
Author: Ignite Healthwise, LLC Staff
Clinical Review Board
All Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.
