If you have had tension sutures placed by the wound, these are removed usually a few days after the stitches in your skin. The tension stitches are clipped on one side and pulled through on the other side.
Once the sutures are removed, you are usually ready to go home. After some operations, it is possible to return home before the stitches are removed. Ask the attending surgeon what activities you are allowed to do at home and when it is safe to resume normal activities. For some operations the patient is given a written list of instructions to follow.
While you are in the hospital there are a number of milestones that help you gauge your rate of recovery the first time you walk to the bathroom unaided, the first walk outside your room, or the first time you can cough without pain. Many patients find that once they arrive home and are in familiar surroundings, they realize they have a long way before they are completely back to normal. A patient may feel weak after walking up a few steps, and many people suffer from depression during the first days at home. It is important to realize your limitations. If you have any worries about your rate of progress, the best person to talk to is your family physician or surgeon. Remember to always get your surgeon’s permission before returning to work.
