Getting home after surgery can feel like a strange transition.
A few hours earlier, nurses were checking on you, medications were being managed for you, and someone was there if you needed help. Then you arrive home with discharge instructions, prescriptions, a tired body—and suddenly you and your caregiver are responsible for what happens next.
So what is the first night home after surgery actually like?
It varies depending on your procedure, anesthesia and health, but the first night is usually less about “getting back to normal” and more about getting settled, following your discharge instructions and making it safely through the transition home.
Don't expect the moment you walk through the door to feel like the start of a normal evening.
Depending on your procedure and the medications you received, you may be tired or drowsy. You may also have some discomfort, nausea or difficulty concentrating.
Your first job is usually simply to get safely settled.
That might mean changing into comfortable clothes, getting into the resting position recommended for you, checking when your next medication is due, and putting the things you'll need within easy reach.
This is also a good time for whoever is helping you to look over your written discharge instructions.
You may not remember everything you were told before leaving the facility—and that's exactly why the written instructions matter.
Be sure to understand Who Do I Call After Surgery If My Surgeon’s Office Is Closed? before going home.
Possibly, and for many same-day procedures the surgical facility will specifically require or recommend it.
Many outpatient surgery programs recommend or require having a responsible adult stay with you for at least the first night after surgery, particularly if you received anesthesia or sedation.
But requirements can vary based on your procedure, anesthesia and facility.
Follow the instructions your own surgical team gives you rather than assuming you can be alone.
If you don't have someone available to stay with you, ask about that before surgery, not when you're ready to be discharged.
The person helping you may not need to provide complicated medical care. Often, the practical help matters too: listening to instructions, helping you get settled, keeping track of what you need and being available if you don't feel steady or something concerns you.
You don't need to turn your bedroom or living room into a hospital room.
You do want to avoid repeatedly getting up to search the house for things you need.
Consider keeping your:
within convenient reach.
If you were sent home with crutches, a walker, brace or another piece of equipment, use it according to the instructions you received.
The goal is simple: make the first evening easier to navigate while you're tired.
Your discharge instructions should explain how to use the medications recommended or prescribed for you.
Before you settle in for the evening, make sure you understand:
Don't create your own medication schedule based on general surgery advice online.
Your medication plan may depend on your procedure, medical history and other medications you take.
If the written instructions don't match what you remember being told, What If My Surgery Instructions Conflict? Which Instructions Should I Follow? can help you work through the discrepancy.
If you are having trouble getting your prescription filled, read What If I Can't Get My Prescription After Surgery?
That depends on your surgery and the instructions you received.
Some people are able to begin eating and drinking fairly normally. Others may have procedure-specific diet restrictions or may not feel much like eating at first.
Anesthesia and other medications can also leave some patients with an upset stomach after outpatient surgery.
Rather than forcing yourself back into your normal routine, follow the food and fluid instructions your team provided.
If you were given specific restrictions, those instructions take priority over general recovery advice.
Again, this is where your own discharge instructions matter.
Your procedure may come with specific directions about walking, weight-bearing, stairs, lifting, bending or other activity.
The first night is not the time to test how much you can do simply because you're feeling better than expected.
If your instructions say you can increase activity as tolerated, that doesn't mean every activity you can physically manage is appropriate. What Does “Activity as Tolerated” Mean After Surgery? explains how to interpret that phrase alongside your surgical restrictions.
And if you're unsure whether you're pushing too hard, Am I Doing Too Much After Surgery? can help you think through the pattern.
Surgery day can involve anesthesia, pain medication, disrupted sleep, fasting, stress and the physical effects of the procedure itself.
So you may arrive home feeling different from your normal baseline.
For example, you might feel unusually sleepy or have trouble concentrating.
That is one reason postoperative instructions commonly restrict activities such as driving and making important decisions for a period after anesthesia or sedation, often at least 24 hours. Follow the specific restrictions your surgical team provides.
Follow the restrictions you were given even if you feel surprisingly good.
This may be the most important navigation step of the evening.
Before everyone settles down, make sure you know:
Before you leave the hospital or surgery center, you should receive instructions about caring for yourself at home, including who to contact if you have questions or concerns after discharge.
If you weren't given a clear contact plan, it's worth asking about it before you leave the facility.
Use the warning signs and contact instructions your surgical team gave you.
Different procedures have different expected symptoms and different reasons to contact the surgical team, so a universal list cannot replace your own discharge instructions.
If you're uncertain about a non-emergency concern, use the postoperative contact number you were given.
For a medical emergency, seek emergency care.
One of the best things you can do before leaving the hospital or surgery center is ask:
“If I have a problem tonight, who should I call?”
Knowing that answer before you need it can make the first night much less confusing.
Recovery doesn't always happen in a straight line. Download the free SurgiNav Surgery Recovery Roadmap to understand the stages of healing and know what to expect after surgery.
The first night home after surgery doesn't need to look like a perfect recovery routine.
Your job is much smaller than that.
Get home safely. Get settled. Follow your discharge instructions. Accept help. Know what you're supposed to do next—and know who to contact if you're not sure.
By the next morning, you may still have plenty of recovery ahead of you.
But you've already navigated one of the biggest transitions of the surgery journey: from being cared for at the facility to recovering at home.
Recovery doesn't always happen in a straight line. The free SurgiNav Surgery Recovery Roadmap walks you through the stages of healing so you know what to expect and when to reach out to your care team.
Download the Free Surgery Recovery RoadmapThis article provides general educational information and is not a substitute for medical advice. Always follow the instructions provided by your healthcare team.
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Educational information only. Always follow your surgeon's instructions.