What your family needs to know before your neurosurgery

The person driving you to hospital should know the admission time, the ward, and how long the operation is expected to take. My rooms will call the nominated contact person as soon as surgery is finished.

For brain surgery, most patients spend one night in high care or ICU for close monitoring, then move to a normal ward. Visiting hours vary by hospital — check on the day.

Warn family that a patient waking up from brain surgery may look worse before they look better: swollen eyelids, tiredness, mild confusion for a day or two. This is expected. It is the neurological function underneath — moving, speaking, understanding — that matters, not the outward appearance.

At home, your support person should know what to watch for: worsening headache, new weakness, seizures, high fever, wound drainage, or a marked change in alertness. These warrant an immediate call.

Recovery is easier when there is help with cooking, driving, and managing medications for the first week or two. Line this up before admission — it is much harder to organise once you are home and tired.