Q I'm recovering at home after surgery. What symptoms mean I should go straight to the hospital?
A A high fever, redness/discharge/opening at the surgical site, severe abdominal pain, severe bloating accompanied by vomiting, or blood in the stool are signs you should not delay and should return to the hospital where you had surgery. These may indicate complications such as infection or bowel obstruction.
Detailed Answer
Most recoveries go smoothly, but a few warning signs always require immediate attention. A persistent fever of 38°C or higher, and redness, discharge, worsening pain, or opening of the surgical wound may signal infection. Severe abdominal bloating with vomiting and no gas or stool passing may indicate a bowel obstruction, while severe abdominal pain or blood in the stool may suggest other complications. If you experience any of these symptoms, don't try to manage them yourself — seek re-evaluation at the hospital where you had surgery.
Our Korean Medicine Clinic's Perspective
At Dongjedang, we also check for these warning signs first at your initial visit, and if any are present, we recommend hospital care with the surgical team as the priority. Providing treatment to replenish qi and blood comes only once complication risk has been ruled out and recovery is judged stable — this order ensures the treatment is both safe and genuinely helpful for recovery.
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