At a glance

What to remember

  • Read the entire plan before the first dose, meal, shower, or dressing change.
  • Keep a simple log of medicines, fluids, temperature when instructed, drains, and questions.
  • Call the surgical team for worsening or unexpected symptoms rather than changing treatment on your own.
  • Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department for emergency symptoms; do not wait for a portal response.

01 · Before you leave

Make sure the discharge packet answers seven practical questions.

Discharge can feel fast, especially after anesthesia. Ask the nurse to review the plan with you and the adult helping at home. If the instructions from the office and facility appear different, ask which applies before leaving.

Write down the name of the procedure and date. Know whether dressings, glue, strips, staples, drains, a binder, or special diet are part of your plan. Confirm the first follow-up and the daytime and after-hours contact method.

  • What may I eat and how much should I drink?
  • Which medicines do I take, stop, restart, or use only as needed?
  • How do I care for the incision, dressing, drain, or device?
  • When may I shower, drive, work, lift, and exercise?
  • Which symptoms should prompt a routine call, an urgent call, or emergency care?
  • When and where is follow-up?
  • Who should help me during the first night or days?

02 · Medicines

Build a schedule that prevents missed and duplicate doses.

Compare the discharge list with the medicines you used before surgery. Confirm when blood thinners, diabetes medicines, blood-pressure medicines, supplements, and other held products should restart. Do not assume that every medicine resumes immediately.

Record the time of each pain or nausea dose, especially when more than one person is helping. Check whether combination products contain acetaminophen or another ingredient also used separately. Avoid alcohol and driving with sedating medicines. Call before taking an unapproved over-the-counter medicine.

03 · Wound care

Follow the closure, not a generic internet routine.

Surgical glue, adhesive strips, staples, sutures, open packing, and drains require different care. Follow instructions for bathing, dressing changes, drain measurements, support garments, and when the area can be submerged. Do not remove closure material early.

A daily look under good light can help you notice change. Mild tenderness or bruising may be expected, while increasing redness, warmth, swelling, separation, persistent bleeding, foul odor, or thick drainage should be reported.

04 · Diet & hydration

Use the progression written for your operation.

General surgery, foregut surgery, intestinal surgery, endoscopy, and bariatric procedures can have very different eating plans. Follow texture, volume, protein, and fluid targets when provided. Do not advance a staged diet simply because you feel hungry.

Repeated vomiting, inability to keep liquids down, worsening abdominal swelling, very low urine output, or new swallowing difficulty can signal dehydration or another problem and should be discussed promptly. Bariatric patients should use their dedicated NuSelf bariatric plan and long-term program resources.

05 · Activity

Separate helpful movement from stress on the repair.

Walking is commonly encouraged, but lifting, pushing, pulling, core strain, swimming, driving, and vigorous exercise may be restricted. Increase activity in stages. Ask how stairs, pets, childcare, sexual activity, and job duties fit your plan rather than guessing.

Do not use incision size as a measure of internal healing. A small robotic or laparoscopic incision can accompany a substantial internal repair.

06 · Keep it simple

A one-page recovery log can make calls more useful.

Record the date and time of medicines, fluid intake when important, bowel movement, temperature when instructed, drain output, and a short description of any changing symptom. Photographs can help document an incision change if the team asks for one through an approved secure method.

When calling, state the procedure and date, the symptom, when it began, whether it is worsening, what you have tried, and your ability to drink, urinate, walk, or breathe. This is more useful than saying only that you do not feel right.

07 · When to contact NuSelf

Call when recovery is moving away from the plan.

  • Pain, nausea, or vomiting that is worsening or not controlled by the plan
  • Increasing incision redness, warmth, swelling, bleeding, opening, odor, or drainage
  • Difficulty drinking, progressive swallowing trouble, or signs of dehydration
  • New abdominal distention, persistent bowel symptoms, or inability to pass gas with worsening pain
  • A fever at or above the threshold in your discharge instructions
  • A medication question that could affect the next dose
  • Any symptom your discharge instructions identify as urgent

08 · Need another copy?

Ask for the instructions attached to your actual procedure.

Generic instructions on this website are intentionally broad. If your discharge packet is lost, incomplete, or hard to understand, call NuSelf or the facility for the correct document. Do not substitute another patient’s instructions, even if the procedure names sound similar.

Frequently asked questions

Clear answers to common concerns.

Which instructions should I follow if two documents differ?

Call the surgical team or facility and ask which instruction applies to your procedure. Do not choose based on convenience when the difference involves medicine, fasting, diet, wounds, or activity.

Can I send an incision photo by ordinary email?

Use only a secure method approved by the practice. Ordinary email and public forms may not be appropriate for patient-specific health information.

Should I remove surgical glue or adhesive strips?

Not unless your instructions tell you to do so. Closure materials have different timelines and removing them early can disrupt the wound.

When should I restart my regular medicines?

Use the written medication-reconciliation plan. Some medicines resume immediately and others require specific timing. Call before guessing, especially for blood thinners and diabetes medicines.

What if I cannot keep fluids down?

Contact the surgical team promptly. Repeated vomiting or inability to hydrate can become urgent, particularly after foregut, intestinal, or bariatric procedures.

Is the portal appropriate for an urgent concern?

No. Follow the urgent-call instructions and call the practice. For an emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.

This guide provides general education. Your physician, surgical facility, and discharge instructions determine what applies to your health and procedure.