--- title: "What to Expect After Surgery: A Recovery Guide" date: 2026-08-26T08:02:00-05:00 author: Hannah Keller canonical_url: "https://www.schneckmed.org/blog/what-to-expect-after-surgery-a-recovery-guide" section: Blog --- [« View All Blogs](https://www.schneckmed.org/blog) # What to Expect After Surgery: A Recovery Guide August 26, 2026 | Patient Education ![](https://d188lfxfyq6i9j.cloudfront.net/general-uploads/Blog/_50x16_crop_center-center_none/26_Schneck-WhatToExpectAfterSurgery_Blog_Hero_1280x600.jpg) Recovering from surgery starts the moment you wake up from the anesthesia. Your Schneck General Surgery team will take you to a dedicated recovery room where they can monitor your vitals, watch for complications, and keep you comfortable. There, they may have you do a series of physical and breathing exercises, such as coughing to remove any fluid buildup in the lungs or moving your legs to encourage blood flow. Once your team determines you are recovering well, they will guide you on at-home practices to ensure a full recovery. They will also tell you what symptoms to watch for. After all is said and done, you will know what to expect after surgery before you are discharged from the hospital. Following our surgery recovery tips will help you get on your way to healing fully. ## Tips for Recovering from Surgery at Home The best thing you can do for surgery is to be mindful - in your resting, movement, and activities that your body can handle post-operation. It's important to move post-operation, but don't push yourself too hard at first. Your doctor will give you a list of light exercises. Focus on those first and take all the time you need to rest in between. This means avoiding tougher exercises like lifting heavy weights, running, or playing sports. It's important to be gentle with yourself and your body as you balance movement and rest. Depending on your surgery, you may not be able to return to normal lifestyle activities right away. This includes driving, exercise routines, or working. Talk with your doctor about your unique recovery plan, and they will guide you on when it's safe to return to your normal activities. ![](https://d188lfxfyq6i9j.cloudfront.net/general-uploads/Blog/_40x50_fit_center-center_none/AdobeStock_2008057580.jpeg) ## Common Post-Op Symptoms: What's Normal Vs. What's Not Mindfulness in recovery extends to your bodily sensations. This means staying mindful of how you're feeling and any symptoms you are experiencing. ### Normal Post-Operation Symptoms Here's what you may experience as symptoms after your procedure: - Nausea/throwing up from the after-effects of anesthesia - Soreness around the incision, IV site, and/or in your throat from the breathing tube - Thirst - Gas and/or constipation - Trouble sleeping None of these symptoms are direct causes for concern. Of course, continue to monitor your symptoms and tell your doctor if you notice anything changing or getting more intense. ### Not Normal Post-operation Symptoms - **Blood clots:** A mass of blood can get stuck in a vein, leading to pain, redness, or swelling in the affected area. In some cases, the blood clot can travel to the lungs, causing a pulmonary embolism. Symptoms of a pulmonary embolism are chest pain, lightheadedness and fainting, trouble breathing, coughing up blood, fast heartbeat, or low blood pressure. - **Excessive bleeding:** If you are noticing blood coming from the surgery site, return to the hospital immediately. Blood loss can cause your body to go into shock (a drastic decrease in blood pressure, which slows blood flow throughout the body). - **Infection:** If the surgical incision site is not properly cleaned and bandaged afterward, it can lead to infection. Signs of infection include redness, pain, fever, swelling, or a bad smell and pus coming from the wound. An untreated infection can also lead to shock. ## When to Call Your Doctor After your surgery, if you experience any of the *not* normal symptoms listed above, call your doctor for guidance. If your symptoms are severe, go to the ER immediately or call 911 if you are unable to drive there yourself. If your sensations are not severe and fall under the list of normal symptoms, feel free to still contact your doctor with questions or concerns. They may be able to give you tips for relieving any discomfort. ### Follow-Up Care For the first few weeks after your surgery, you will have follow-up care visit with your doctor. This is so they can monitor your healing, check for any signs of concern, and make modifications to your pain medications and/or recovery plan. These check-ins are important for your healing and will ensure you can return to your normal lifestyle smoothly. ## Schneck Can Answer All Your Questions Schneck General Surgery is here for you. Whether you're simply looking for surgery recovery tips or have a concern over a lingering symptom, we can answer all your procedure-related questions. Our expert team is here to help you understand what to expect after surgery so you can recover and get back to your life. Explore surgical care at Schneck and reach out to our team today. [See Surgical Care](https://www.schneckmed.org/medical-services/surgery) ![Doctor Maurer](https://d188lfxfyq6i9j.cloudfront.net/general-uploads/Doctors/_20x20_crop_center-center_none/Maurer_22-crop-pic.jpg) About the Author **Susan Maurer MD** Dr. Maurer is a board-certified general surgeon fellowship trained in minimally invasive surgery and advanced endoscopy, including ERCP. ERCP is a state-of-the-art technique used to diagnose and treat problems in the liver, gallbladder and pancreas. Dr. Maurer is joining the team at Schneck Surgical Associates. ## Related Blog Posts When seeking support, rely on your nearby professionals at Schneck. We provide assistance to empower you in taking control of your well-being at all life stages. Explore valuable expertise in connected blogs. ![Surgeons get ready to place an anesthesia mask over a patient in an operating room](https://d188lfxfyq6i9j.cloudfront.net/general-uploads/Blog/_30x19_crop_center-center_none/22_Schneck_AnesthesiaSurgery_Blog_1280x600.jpg) Patient Education### Why you can’t eat before surgery [Read Post »](https://www.schneckmed.org/blog/why-you-cant-eat-before-surgery) ![Dr Williams sits in an operating room with the Mako SmartRobotics technology for joint surgery.](https://d188lfxfyq6i9j.cloudfront.net/general-uploads/Blog/_30x19_crop_center-center_none/KR1_1240-copy-1.jpg) Patient Education### Mako SmartRobotics™ Is Transforming Joint Replacement Surgery [Read Post »](https://www.schneckmed.org/blog/mako-smartrobotics-is-transforming-joint-replacement-surgery) [Previous Blog](https://www.schneckmed.org/blog/how-to-train-your-bladder-tips-to-stop-sudden-leaks) Next Blog [## Ready to Serve Find a Doctor ](https://www.schneckmed.org/doctors) [## Comprehensive Care Medical Services ](https://www.schneckmed.org/medical-services) [## Locations Near You View Locations ](https://www.schneckmed.org/locations) ## Let's Keep in Touch Sign up to receive Schneck news and health & wellness updates in your inbox.