Knowing what to expect when you get to the hospital for surgery helps lessen anxiety and makes you feel more comfortable.
In the operating room
Once you’re in the operating room, you’ll see different types of equipment. This equipment is used to closely watch your condition during surgery. This includes a machine to monitor your heart, a cuff to monitor your blood pressure, and a sensor that’s attached to your finger to monitor your oxygen level.
You’ll get a type of anesthesia before your surgery starts.
Spinal anesthesia
With this type of anesthesia, you won’t have any feeling in the lower part of your body. You’ll also get another medicine to make you sleepy during surgery. The feeling in the lower part of your body will come back slowly after surgery.
General anesthesia
This type of anesthesia makes you sleep during surgery. You’ll have a tube placed into your windpipe to help you breathe during surgery.
After your surgery, the tube is taken out once you’re awake and breathing on your own.
In your hospital room
Your healthcare team will ask you to stand and take some steps on the day you have surgery.
Your nurse or physical therapist will help you to safely change your position in bed, get out of bed, sit at the edge of the bed, sit in a chair, and begin walking the first few times after surgery. Don’t try to change your position or get out of bed until it’s safe for you to do it on your own.
You’ll be able to have visitors once you’re settled into your hospital room.
More information
For more information about what to expect, go to Day of your surgery.
