When to Call Your Surgeon After Surgery
By Dr. Rashna Ginwalla, Clearwater Advanced Surgical Associates, LLC
After surgery, it can be hard to know what's normal and what needs attention. This page is meant to give you a clear framework — so you can recover confidently at home, know when to call the office, and know when to go straight to the emergency room.
The short version: when in doubt, call. My team would always rather hear from you than have you manage something at home that needs attention.
What's normal after surgery
These symptoms are common and expected in the first few days. They don't usually require a call:
Pain that is mild to moderate, centered around the surgical site, and gradually improving each day. Shoulder pain after laparoscopic surgery (from carbon dioxide gas) is also normal and resolves within two to five days.
Wound appearance: mild redness directly at the incision edges, slight swelling and bruising, a small amount of clear or light pink drainage in the first day or two, itching as the wound heals, a firm ridge forming under the incision.
Digestion: reduced appetite for two to three days, mild nausea in the first twenty-four hours, bloating, and irregular bowel movements.
Energy: fatigue, needing more sleep, feeling emotionally "off" — all normal effects of anesthesia and surgery.
Fever: a low-grade temperature up to 100.4°F in the first forty-eight hours is common.
call 911 or Go to the e. r.
Heavy, uncontrolled bleeding from the surgical site
Sudden shortness of breath or chest pain
Sudden severe pain and swelling in one leg (possible blood clot)
High fever — 103°F or higher — with chills, confusion, or rapid heart rate
Severe, sudden abdominal pain with a rigid, board-like abdomen
Fainting, confusion, or loss of consciousness
Swelling of the face, lips, or throat, or difficulty breathing (allergic reaction)
Call immediately — including after hours
Fever of 102°F or higher
Sudden severe pain different from your surgical baseline
Active bleeding that doesn't stop with fifteen minutes of steady pressure
Red streaks spreading outward from the incision
Inability to urinate for more than eight hours
Call the office during business hours
Fever of 101°F or higher, or a low-grade fever that persists beyond forty-eight hours
Pain not controlled by prescribed medication, or pain that is getting worse instead of better after the first two to three days
Incision redness that is spreading beyond the wound edges, or drainage that is cloudy, yellow/green, foul-smelling, or increasing
Incision edges that are separating or opening
No bowel movement for three to four days after surgery
Nausea or vomiting lasting more than twenty-four hours, or inability to keep liquids down
Difficulty urinating, or inability to urinate for six to eight hours
One leg that is more swollen than the other
Any new or unexpected symptom that concerns you
Before you call — helpful to have ready
Your name and surgery date, the procedure you had, your current temperature, a description of the symptom and when it started, what medications you've taken, and your pharmacy information.
The office number is (208) 985-6179. Save it in your phone before you leave the hospital.
This page covers general post-surgical guidance. Your procedure-specific instructions will include any additional warning signs relevant to your operation.
