​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​How long you stay in the hospital depends on your surgery and other things related to your health. In most cases, you are ready to go home from the hospital when you can:

• get out of bed
• eat food and drink enough fluids
• control your pain with medicine
• pass gas and urinate (“pee”)
• manage your new care needs such as getting injections or having a catheter or ostomy

Before you go home:

• get written instructions for your discharge from the hospital
• get prescriptions for all of the medicines you need
• ask your healthcare team questions about what to watch out for and what activities you can do at home
• have your support team ready to help you (if you have one set up)
• talk to your healthcare team if you have concerns about coping at home​