How well should a post op patient be before going home?

[FinnyStory]

Me again, sorry!

DH had a kidney and large tumour removed on Weds. Conventional surgery, not key hole.

It took them two days to get his pain under control and he's now on a self administered Morpine drip. Still very sore but more comfortable. He still has a catheter in.

They've told him the catheter and morphine will be removed today, switching to intravenous paracetamol and that they hope to send him home tomorrow or Monday because the hospital is very busy. He was originally told he'd be in 7-10 days.

So far he has managed to move from the bed to the chair, which seemed like great progress to me, but he hasn't opened his bowels, eaten any solid food, had to walk to the toilet, had a shower. He's feeling nauseous and he can't reach his phone where it's charging and has to ask for help.

Obviously we'd like him home but he sounded like he wanted to cry at the prospect. There's no way he could get up the stairs, we have no downstairs bathroom (do have a tiny downstairs loo) or bedroom, or anywhere to put a bed downstairs.

No visitors so I can't see what state he's really in but after being surprisingly chipper yesterday he sounds awful today.

Is this the doctor just wishfully thinking he can free up a bed or will they really send him home in this state?

What do I need to do?

So glad your DH is coming home today. His recovery will be so much better once he's home.

My DP has been wearing surgical stockings and had 4 blood thinning injections to do. When I said lie down I meant...rest. He's walking to the toilet and into the living room. He's also been downstairs a few times.

The doctors told him to not do anything for a week and to rest as much as possible. I had the exact same advice for my hysterectomy.

Your body actually tells you what to do, pain makes you slow down.

Advice from just a bog standard Midlands hospital. They have been amazing and I'm so grateful for the care my DP has received.

My 16 year old son has just had his second major, complex spine surgery in a year....he had this surgery on Tuesday, discharged Friday. He is so much better at home in his own bed, sleeping properly and able to relax.
The part of the hospital we were in had no stairs for him to practice on but he's managing our stairs at home perfectly well. He hadn't opened his bowels when they discharged him but has since.
Once they start turning corners, there is no stopping them. He had a rough day on Thursday but even though that was awful in the morning he improved hour by hour.
And also, at home it is easier to regulate medication timings as you don't have to wait for the nurse doing rounds and being late.
My 18 year old daughter had pacemaker surgery (twice! there were issues) two weeks ago and she is already going out for dog walks everyday!
It seems hopeless, never ending and soul destroying in the first few days after surgery, but you'll be surprised how fast the recovery is.

When I had a big op I had to open my bowels and be safe on my feet transferring and getting to the loo. I kept fainting when upright so was kept in for an extra day.

Is he home OP?

Hope you are all ok.