Physical concerns
As you recover at home, call your family doctor right away if you have any of the following concerns:
Infection
- Your temperature is over 38.5°C (101.3°F), you feel sick, or your muscles ache.
- Your incisions are warm to touch, burn, smell bad, are red, swollen, tender, or the drainage changes in amount or colour.
Chest and breathing
- You have angina and your symptoms come back.
- Your heartbeat doesn't feel regular.
- Your chest hurts or hurts more, especially when you take a deep breath.
- You're short of breath or have trouble breathing.
- You're coughing up mucous or more mucous, and it changes from clear to green or yellow.
Swelling and weakness
- You gain 3 pounds (1.5 kg) in 3 days.
- Your ankles are swelling.
- Your arms or legs feel numb or weak.
Vision and bleeding
- Your eyesight gets blurry.
- You have bleeding or bruising you can't explain. This includes blood in your stool.
Mental health
Depression after surgery can happen to anyone.
Many people find it helps to get counselling for emotional support, take an anti-depressant medicine, or both. If you think you need any mental health support after surgery, don't be embarrassed or afraid to ask for it.
Talk to your family doctor about what is right for you.
