6 Tips for When You Have No One to Help After Surgery

Although many surgeries don't require a rehabilitation facility for recovery, having no one to help after surgery can be a challenging situation.

Even for minor surgeries, any procedure in which an incision and anesthesia are involved carries a risk of complications so being prepared at home is important.

These tips can help you prepare for taking care of yourself after surgery when no one is available to help you.

Doctors pushing patient in hospital bed
Frank and Helena / Getty Images 

Tip #1: Prepare Before Surgery

Preparing your living environment and arranging for a ride to and from the surgery facility will help set you up for recovery.

At Home

Make sure everything you need is easy to get to and on the same floor where you'll be resting and recovering. Examples include:

  • Set up your bed in an area where you don't have to climb stairs.
  • Choose a place to sleep and rest where you have a close bathroom.
  • Make sure you have essentials beforehand like toilet paper, tissue, hand sanitizer, soap, shampoo, and other personal items.
  • Have plenty of water and other fluids on hand.
  • Keep your phone and any charging devices within reach.
  • If you will be using a walker, consider using a basket or bag to hold your phone and other essentials, or wear a fanny pack to keep essentials close by.

Transportation

Arrange in advance for a friend or family member to drive you home following surgery, or use a taxi or rideshare service if your surgery center allows that. It's also a good idea to arrange transportation in advance for follow-up appointments after surgery if you won't be ready to or can't drive yourself.

Tip #2: Stock Up on Medications

Along with stocking up on personal items, make sure you have a full supply of any prescription and over-the-counter medications you take regularly.

Your healthcare provider may prescribe pain medication to take in addition to your regular medications. It's important to have good pain control post-surgery to help you move around better and recover faster.

Tip #3: Improve Accessibility

After many procedures, you will be asked to limit lifting, pushing, or pulling objects, so making sure items are accessible will be key. For example:

  • Put medications in a drawer that is between your waist and shoulder level to avoid reaching too high or having to bend too low.
  • Consider leaving clean dishes and glasses out on the counter so they're easy to access.
  • Keep a cane, crutches, or a walker nearby for getting out of bed, using the bathroom, and walking around your home.

Even laparoscopic ("keyhole") surgeries take at least five to ten days to heal adequately, while larger abdominal ones can take two months or more.

Excessive straining of any sort may cause wounds to open, and it can invite infection into the areas of broken or disrupted skin. Make sure to take all the rest you need and then some.

Tip #4: Meal Preparation

If possible, make meals in advance and store them in single-serving containers in the freezer to easily reheat later. If advance meal preparation isn't possible, stock up on:

  • Canned fruits, vegetables, soups, and beans
  • Frozen vegetables that can be easily microwaved
  • Frozen single-serving meals to quickly heat up
  • Dry goods, such as cereals, crackers, and snack bars

You can also consider ordering in advance from a meal delivery service to receive meals once you arrive home. Talk with your healthcare provider in advance about whether you will have any dietary restrictions right after surgery. That way, you'll know what types of foods to have on hand once you're home.

Tip #5: Practice Healthy Habits

Healthy habits before and after surgery can help with recovery time.

Avoid Constipation

If you are taking prescription pain relievers post-surgery, you are at an increased risk of constipation. Things you can do at home to help prevent constipation include:

  • Increase your water intake while cutting back on caffeine
  • Add fiber to your diet, which increases the weight of your stools and helps them move through the intestines
  • Include fresh fruits and vegetables as well as whole-grain bread and cereals each day

Avoid Smoking

Smoking hurts healing in several ways. Smoking has been shown to reduce the amount of oxygen able to reach a wound and also interferes with inflammatory cells meant to speed healing. Smoking impairs the immune system, delays healing, and increases the risk of infection at the wound site.

Stay Occupied

Along with getting plenty of rest after surgery, keep yourself entertained with activities, such as:

  • Reading books, magazines, or online articles
  • Watching movies
  • Listening to music or talk radio
  • Doing puzzles or word games
  • Playing video games

Tip #6: Get Support

Even if there is no one to help after surgery in your home, try to get support from a neighbor, family, and friends with phone calls and brief check-ins. They may be able to assist with medication reminders, re-supplying food or medications, and checking in on how you're feeling and recovering.

When to Call a Healthcare Provider

There are a few situations that could require a call to your healthcare provider.

Infection

Contact your healthcare provider if you have any signs of an infection, such as:

  • Pus coming from the incision site
  • Excessive bleeding from the wound
  • Fever
  • Persistent or excessive pain
  • Increasing swelling or redness
  • Any changes in odor coming from the wound

These are often signs of a developing infection that needs immediate attention.

Difficulty Caring for Yourself

If at any time, you cannot adequately take care of yourself post-surgery, call your healthcare provider. They can help you find the right type of assistive care needed until you fully recover.

6 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
  1. National Library of Medicine Medline Plus. Getting your home ready - after the hospital.

  2. Garmpis N, Dimitroulis D, Garmpi A, et al. Enhanced recovery after surgery: Is it time to change our strategy regarding laparoscopic colectomy?. In Vivo. 2019;33(3):669-674. doi:10.21873/invivo.11525

  3. Portalatin M, Winstead N. Medical management of constipation. Clin Colon Rectal Surg. 2012;25(1):12-9. doi:10.1055/s-0032-1301754

  4. Sørensen LT. Wound healing and infection in surgery: the pathophysiological impact of smoking, smoking cessation, and nicotine replacement therapy: a systematic review. Ann Surg. 2012;255(6):1069-79. doi:10.1097/SLA.0b013e31824f632d

  5. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Preventing blood clots after orthopaedic surgery.

  6. Johns Hopkins Medicine. Surgical site infections.

Additional Reading
  • Krieger B, Davis D, Sanchez J, et al. The Use of Silver Nylon in Preventing Surgical Site Infections Following Colon and Rectal Surgery. Dis Col Rect. 2011;54(8):1014-9. doi:10.1097/DCR.0b013e31821c495d

  • Sorenson L. Wound Healing and Infection in Surgery: the Pathophysiological Impact of Smoking, Smoking Cessation, and Nicotine Replacement Therapy: A Systematic Review. Ann Surg. 2012;255(6):1069-79. doi:10.1097/SLA.0b013e31824f632d

By Jennifer Whitlock, RN, MSN, FN
Jennifer Whitlock, RN, MSN, FNP-C, is a board-certified family nurse practitioner. She has experience in primary care and hospital medicine.