After Surgery
On Discharge
You will be discharged from hospital when Dr Werner-Gibbings or his trusted team are absolutely confident that you will be safe at home and there is no reason for you to be in hospital any longer.
Having someone to pick you up, or a well organised plan for getting home is important. Hospitals are busy places and they cannot usually organise this for you.
Sometimes, while medically fit to leave hospital, you may not yet feel 100% and a further period of convalescence at home may be required. This may include taking time off work. Dr Werner-Gibbings will discuss this at your appointment and on your discharge from hospital.
It is important that you eat and drink appropriately and spend the majority of time out of bed.
You will be supplied pain relieving medication if required, however having simple analgaesia at home - paracetamol and ibuprofen - and using it appropriately is important.
Days After Surgery
Being active on discharge is important. Continue with any physiotherapy that has been suggested.
Pain should resolve after 2-3 weeks, pain relieving medication should be taken as required and as directed.
Dressings usually stay in place for 5-7 days. After this time you should go to your GP to review the wound and see if further dressings are required. If there are any issues or concerns, Dr Werner-Gibbings is more than happy for your GP to contact him.
It is important that any medications that were started while in hospital are continued as directed to ensure the best possible outcomes of the procedure.
Weeks After Surgery
Dr Werner-Gibbings will follow up most patients 6 weeks after their initial surgery to review wounds, medications and general health.
At this time he may also require surveillance imaging - ultrasound or CT scan - to assess how any intervention is progressing. This needs to be undertaken before the consultation.
Depending on what surgery has been performed and how you are going, Dr Werner-Gibbings may need to see you regularly after your surgery. This is because some treatments require ongoing surveillance. Any ongoing follow up will be discussed at this time.
How long you need to take any new medications will also be discussed. You should continue regular exercise and cease smoking to make sure any treatments have the best chance of success.