Flexible tubes in your chest drain air, blood, and fluid. Monitors record your heartbeat and the amount of oxygen in your blood. You may spend one or more days in this special monitoring unit before you're moved to a regular hospital room. Managing Your Pain As soon as possible, you'll begin to move around to improve your muscle strength and blood flow. Your nurse or a physical therapist will help you as you start to sit up and walk.
Pain medications help make activity more comfortable.
These medications may be given to you by a nurse, or a special pump may allow you to give yourself medication as you need it. If you received an epidural before surgery, it may remain in place for a few days to continue to relieve the pain of your incision. Soon after your surgery, a nurse or therapist will teach you exercises to keep your lungs clear, strengthen your breathing muscles, and help prevent complications. The exercises include incentive spirometry, where you put your mouth around a plastic device and inhale as much air as you can. You will also be taught coughing and deep-breathing techniques and be asked to perform them regularly on your own.