What Are Some Common Complications After Surgery?

After putting your body through a surgical procedure, it is likely you are going to experience some symptoms afterward that are all a part of the healing process. The fact is, no matter how minimal the procedure might appear to be, you can expect your body to react to it as though it went through a procedure that was more invasive. Now, although it is common to experience multiple symptoms following surgery, there are times when you should visit your doctor who can re-evaluate your condition to determine if something more is wrong or if what your feeling is just a part of the recovery process.

Below we highlight what some common complications after surgery are and when you might consider scheduling a visit with your physician to be sure you aren’t experiencing any serious issues [Source: WebMD]. But remember, every individual handles surgery differently and regardless of what WebMD highlights are common complications you might experience, if you feel uncertain or uneasy about how you feel, get yourself checked out.

1. Pain. Nearly every individual who undergoes surgery will feel some level of pain following the procedure. The more invasive the procedure was, the more pain you will likely feel. Now, your physician should have explained what symptoms you might experience during the recovery phase as well as provide you with some form of medication to manage the pain you might feel, although not all do. Therefore, if you are feeling an abnormal amount of pain or you feel something just isn’t right, contact your physician right away.

1. You may experience a short-term reaction to the anesthesia. WebMD says that after you awake from your procedure you may feel one or more of the following symptoms:

• Feeling queasy
• Confused
• Chills
• Itching
• A sore throat

WebMD says that you may also suffer from a severe reaction to the anesthesia, although this is rare. However, those who do suffer from this might feel confused or suffer from memory loss, both of which can last as long as a week. However, the source states that “certain people are at greater risk of long-term memory loss” if they already suffer from:

• Heart disease
• Alzheimer’s
• Parkinson’s
• Lung disease
• A past stroke

1. Issues with Breathing

WebMD states that “anesthesia hampers your normal breathing and stifles your urge to cough.” After surgery, you might find it difficult to breathe in deeply and mucus could build up in your lungs. However, if you begin to experience the following symptoms and they seem to last, it could indicate that a large part of your lung collapsed or stopped inflating:

• Shortness of breath
• Rapid breathing and heart rate
• Blue lips or skin

If you experience any of these, it would be in your best interest to seek medical attention right away.

To find out what some other common complications are that might arise after surgery, visit WebMD.com to read about them.

Now, although there are many different symptoms you might feel following surgery that are normal, there are times when you might experience something that indicates something more is wrong. Sometimes, physicians nick something inside your body during the procedure that could lead to internal bleeding or other rare symptoms which is why you must monitor your condition closely. Other times, surgeons make mistakes and it is only after the fact that you begin to notice complications you shouldn’t be experiencing.

In the event a doctor did make a medical error which has led to you suffering an injury or from a different medical condition, you may be entitled to recover compensation for the pain and suffering they have caused you to experience. To find out if your situation permits you to take legal action, it would be best to speak with one of our Iowa medical malpractice attorneys. We will take the time to assess your case, determine if your treating physician was negligent or failed to provide you with treatment that falls under the standard level of care, and what forms of actions would be best to take.

To schedule a consultation so that we can better understand the situation, contact our office today at 319-393-4000.
You can reach Eells & Tronvold Law Offices, P.L.C. at:
1921 51^st Street NE
Cedar Rapids, IA 52402
Phone: (319) 393-1020
Fax: (319) 393-4000