Going Home After Anesthesia 

____ Monitored anesthesia: mild to heavy sedation without a breathing tube.

____ General anesthesia: unconscious with a breathing tube.

For your safety, someone (age 16 or older) should stay with you today and tonight. You may feel sleepy for the next 12 to 24 hours from the medicines you got during and after surgery. Rest and relax for the next 12 hours. If you had a breathing tube, you may have a mild sore throat for the next 24 hours. Call if the sore throat is severe or does not go away.

For 24 Hours After Anesthesia

• Don’t drive, operate machinery or power tools.

• Don’t drink alcohol.

• Only take approved medicine.

• Don’t make any important decisions or sign important papers. Follow your doctor’s advice about activity. Be careful when you sit or stand up after being in bed for a long time. You may become dizzy if you sit or stand too quickly. 

Eating and Drinking

Start slowly today. Drink clear liquids such as water, apple juice, and soft drinks. If you feel okay, you can try soup, soda crackers, and other foods that are easy to digest. Avoid milk products, spicy, or fatty foods. Drink several glasses of clear liquids to avoid dehydration. You can return to your normal diet the next day. 

When to Call

• A fever above 100°F (by mouth) or 99° F (under the arm) for 2 readings taken 4 hours apart.

• Trouble breathing or a “wet sounding” cough that won’t go away.

• If you vomit more than twice after getting settled at home. 

• Trouble urinating by late tonight (or have a painful, full bladder).

Who to Call

Your anesthesiologist was Dr. __________.  

Your surgeon/radiologist was Dr. ________.

Call 608-262-0486 or 1-800-323-8942. Give your name and phone number with the area code. The doctor will call you back.

We will try to call you at home or work within the next few days. We will ask a few questions about your recovery and the care you received. Let us know if this  may be a problem. 

We wish you a quick recovery.