Most people get discharged from the hospital and think that they’ve done the hardest work yet. They’ve gone through the surgery, spoken to doctors, heard discharge instructions. But what they really aren’t prepared for, and what the medical community doesn’t effectively prepare them for, is that first week at home, which may be harder than anyone anticipates.

Things are not like they used to be, and people can thank insurance companies and a lack of available hospital beds for these early discharges. Hospitals send people home sooner than they used to, and older adults find themselves back in their private residences before they’ve actually healed. Yet they’re still in pain and operating their bodies as they used to when just days prior it was all a much easier feat. \

Those First 48 Hours Are the Hardest

Most people find that first 48 hours of being home to be the most challenging. The body has to get out the anesthesia, which causes drowsiness, confusion, and nausea that lasts longer than anyone expects (seniors take even longer).

Medications prevent pain from getting out of control. Yet the first 48 hours feels like a full-time job just managing when to take what. It’s all too easy to forget to take one dose or another. Missing a dosage results in unbearable pain; an extra dosage creates a new problem. Many older adults have difficulty with such management when their minds are still foggy from the surgery.

On top of this is mobility. Getting up to use the bathroom becomes a project. Walking from one side of the kitchen to another feels like a marathon. Bending over to pick something up may not even be allowed given surgical protocols. These are not bad things or minor inconveniences; these are challenges that can lead to falls or dehydration and reduced medication intake.

When It Comes to Simple Living – It’s No Longer Simple

By day three or four, some of the immediate fog from surgery may subside, but physical limitations still exist by this point where people get discouraged.

Showering is an elaborate process. Keeping the site dry, potentially losing balance, not wanting to tread in and out of a tub too quickly are all movements that people struggle with after surgery – and sometimes for weeks after. Some people go days before taking their first shower just out of fear, when in reality they need help getting clean – let alone maintaining proper hygiene after recovery begins.

Food becomes a burden worth neglecting. Standing at a stovetop for any prolonged period of time is exhausting. Lifting pots or reaching into cabinets can be impossible depending on what’s been operated on. Many older adults eat poorly during recovery because making proper meals isn’t safe.

This is when non-medical after surgery support at home in Philadelphia is crucial; someone who can help with daily operations – the cooking, the cleaning, the medication reminders – can ease massive burdens on both the recovering adult and concerned family members.

Sleeping Gets Complicated

People don’t talk enough about sleep and how surgeries change sleeping patterns. Pain wakes someone up every hour, certain positions are impossible, it becomes frustrating to figure out how to sleep correctly.

Medication can encourage insomnia or vivid dreams that complicate sleeping further. But a good sleep cycle is one of the best ways for the body to heal itself from surgery – so without appropriate rest in addition to seeking it out after major trauma, recovery takes longer; people struggle for days without energy; diminished mental capabilities linger more than needed.

Older adults already struggle with fragmented sleeping patterns; add surgery recovery on top of that and it’s no wonder that first week feels like an eternity.

The Emotional Aspect No One Talks About

The physical recovery is worse, but no one talks about how mental recovery during that first week is just as bad if not worse, especially for those seniors who have never experienced depression or anxiety before.

First off, they’ve lost independence; someone has been making their sandwich or zipping up their pants after decades of self-reliant care and it’s taken a toll on them. Second, they’re scared; scared they’re going to fall; scared they’re going to do something to jeopardize recovery; scared they’re not recovering how they should be and they’re uncertain without medical supervision offering reassurance.

And third, and this is often not talked about but needs to be, family and friends go home. Everyone comes to visit in those first few days but by day five/six, everyone has gotten back to their usual lives and the person is still at home, still medicated and limited with no one else but themselves, and maybe one or two caregivers, to help them figure things out moving forward.

Red Flags That Signal Things Are Not Going Right

Most recovery after surgery goes according to plan; however, it can develop complications quickly if there’s something wrong. The problem? Senior adults don’t always react appropriately and there’s a fine line between what’s normal discomforts and what’s emergency need for medical attention.

Increased redness, warmth, or drainage from surgical sites could signal infection; fever that develops a few days post-op isn’t something to wait out; sudden sharp pains or swelling in the legs needs emergency evaluation. However, seniors do not spike fevers like other individuals; seniors will chalk confusion or weakness to natural recovery instead of realizing it’s something far worse.

Having someone around who can monitor these changes is beneficial; someone who lives alone might not see the gradual symptoms intensifying until it’s too late.

What Makes Recovery Easier

It’s not necessarily the healthiest individuals who thrive during this first week after surgery; it’s the ones who have strong support networks at home, family members who can be there consistently, friends who make efforts to coordinate meal deliveries and then professionals who step in where others cannot help, it’s safer and less emotionally burdensome when help is provided around every corner.

It’s also easier when people are proactive before surgery takes place; setting the home before individuals go under, the frequently used items accessible, the sleeping quarters set up on one floor if stairs are an issue, and medications pre-labeled, helps navigate those complicated first few days.

But even with straightened out plans, unexpected hurdles emerge every time: surgical drains might be more painful than anticipated; appetite might go right out the window; energy levels might plummet more than what any surgeon anticipated, which is why flexibility is key with backup plans solidified ahead of time.

The first week after surgery isn’t a test of will; it’s a test of body and mind that approaches courage with little patience, realistic expectations and usually more help than anyone anticipated needing or receiving. Knowing what’s coming – what’s actually expected – allows for less planned stress when hard moments inevitably occur along the way.