7 Stages of Having and Recovering from Surgery

  • Living almost in a state of complete unconscious – basically unaware of surroundings and having a memory of about one second and basically dependent on others for everything
  • Finding everyone and everything irritating and frustrating
  • Being just well enough that the pain really begins
  • Trying to think or remember something and being completely unable
  • Worrying about everything and being constantly scared of everything
  • Having ups-and-downs in mood and energy by the hour and then by the day
  • Basically being okay but adjusting to a new normal

These are based on my experiences. Some of the stages overlap, naturally, and have occurred in slightly different orders.

Dr. Andrew Joseph Pegoda