It is quite common to feel fatigued after surgery, regardless of whether it was a minor or major procedure. This is because your body expends a lot of energy afterward trying to heal. There is an immune response that kicks in, which can be physically draining as well.
Tiredness, exhaustion, or severe and prolonged fatigue are common after surgery – even minor surgery. This is, in part, due to the effects of anesthesia, which often wear off more slowly in older people.
It is common for people to have some symptoms after surgery. Mild or moderate pain and swelling at the incision site are common. These symptoms usually peak 2 to 3 days after surgery and then get better. Many people also feel a little dizzy, sleepy, or drowsy.
The effects of general anaesthesia may appear to linger for days after surgery for many reasons. Tiredness after a procedure is commonly attributed to anaesthetics.
How long does post-surgical fatigue last? There is no set time limit on how long post-surgical fatigue lasts. This is because different procedures have varying effects on your body. The more intensive the surgical procedure is, the longer your recovery time will be, including the exhaustion you're feeling.
Fatigue is normal following surgery and it should improve day after day as your body begins to heal itself. In general, it takes one week per day in the hospital to feel back to normal.
General anaesthetics can affect your memory, concentration and reflexes for a day or two, so it's important for a responsible adult to stay with you for at least 24 hours after your operation, if you're allowed to go home.
Get Plenty of Rest. With any major surgery, it's important to stay in bed as much as possible for at least 24–48 hours after the procedure. Some surgeries may require even more patient bed rest. Sleep if you feel tired and be sure to move slower than your usual pace.
In order to recover, the body triggers a fatigue response so that the person will be encouraged to rest. This is a normal stress-recovery cycle. Undergoing surgery where the body is given medications and traumatized by procedures can cause fatigue as the body enters into the repairing and healing mode.
You should feel pretty good the morning following your surgery. Most women, though not “back to normal” report some fatigue but generally are not experiencing any significant pain or soreness. Your bleeding should be improved compared to the previous day.
Aim to walk every 1 or 2 hours during the day. Work with your care team to set goals for walking.
It is common to experience a mild fever during the first few days after surgery along with nausea, light-headedness and dizziness from anesthesia or narcotic medications. Drinking fluids, deep breathing exercises and getting up and moving around should help. These symptoms should typically improve in 2-5 days.
Sleep is very important
The importance of rest after surgery is stressed by doctors because your body is going to do a lot of healing while sleeping. After all, your body does the majority of its healing while you're asleep. It's important that you're able to take a nap whenever you need to.
Stay in Bed
As soon as you're cleared to move around, do it. People are often worried or scared about it, "but one of the most important things after an operation is to get mobile," Whiteson says.
Staying in bed too long
This can be just as dangerous because it increases the risk of blood clots, muscle wasting, pulmonary embolisms, pressure ulcers, and constipation. After an adequate period of rest after surgery, movement is an essential aspect of recovery.
Don't drive too soon.
A patient should never drive immediately after surgery. The anesthesia, pain medications, muscle relaxants, and other medicines may make the patient drowsy and slow their reflexes.
The room is prepared by the OR staff. All instruments are opened and arranged, the surgical table requested is brought into the room, all equipment is checked to be in good working order, and all emergency supplies are verified. The surgical first assist oversees all of this, representing their surgeon.
When it's cleared by the doctor or dentist who performed the procedure, drinking plenty of water is a good way to increase elimination (read: urination), which helps flush waste out of the body. However, there is not an evidence-based way to flush anesthesia out of your system.
If you're having general anesthesia, an anesthesiologist will give you medications that make you lose consciousness. After the surgery is complete, he or she will reverse the medication so that you regain consciousness — but you won't be wide awake right away.
These include drowsiness, slowed reaction times, and difficulty concentrating, remembering new information and finishing complex tasks. Thankfully, these unwanted effects usually wear off by the next day, but sometimes they last for a few more days or even weeks.
There are three types of fatigue: transient, cumulative, and circadian: Transient fatigue is acute fatigue brought on by extreme sleep restriction or extended hours awake within 1 or 2 days.
Problems after Surgery
Anesthesia Side Effects: Anesthesia (medicine used to put you asleep during surgery) causes side effects in many people. Common side effects are dizziness, drowsiness, nausea, and vomiting.