This is not a substitute for direct care by YOUR doctor. Confirm with your doctor before doing any of the following.
Activity
- You will likely feel tired for at least 1 week after your surgery. Take your pain medicine as needed in order to stay active, but rest as needed for recovery. Take short walks 2-3 times a day. This will help reduce the risk of blood clots following surgery. You may use the stairs as needed as long as you are not dizzy or weak. Make sure someone is around the first few times you use the stairs or exercise. Do not lift anything greater than 10-15lbs for 6 weeks.
Driving
- You may drive when you can react safely in an emergency situation. You must not be taking pain medicines at the time you are driving, nor should you have a great deal of pain, as this will affect your ability to react quickly.
Lifting/Coughing
- Practice 10 deep breaths every hour and 2 coughs every hour, (for at least 12 hours a day), for the first week after surgery. This will decrease your risk of lung problems or pneumonia. Do not lift heavy objects (more than 10-15 pounds) for the first 6 weeks. Also avoid pushing, pulling or abdominal pressure for these first 4 weeks. When coughing, be sure to place a pillow over the incision and gently press inward to reduce the pressure (from coughing) on your incision.
Medications
- Use your pain medicine as prescribed. Pain medications may cause nausea on an empty stomach so we recommend you take with it food. Take the stool softener as prescribed to avoid constipation. If you have loose stools half the dose of the stool softener. If you still have loose stools with a half dose, then stop the stool softener. If you are feeling constipated and have not had a bowel movement by the 3rd day after surgery, you may take 1 ounce of Milk of Magnesia in the morning or start taking MiraLax. You can take up to 1 capful of MiraLax three times a day and 200 mg (two capsules) of docusate (Colace) twice daily. Pour one capful of MiraLax in 8 ounces of liquid and let it sit for 10 minutes; this will help it taste much better.
- Do not take Vicodin (Norco) or Percocet (Roxicet) and Tylenol at the same time as Tylenol is in both of them.
Incisions
- Your incisions have been closed with dissolvable suture on the inside and a special skin glue or Steri-Strips over the incision. The skin glue will dissolve on its own. If you have Steri-Strips, they will fall off on their own after approximately 2 weeks. Do not try to remove it from your skin. You may shower on the day of surgery and allow clean, soapy water to run over your incision but do not soak your incisions in water (no hot tub, bathtub or swimming pools) for the first 3 weeks after surgery. Do not put any ointment or creams over the incisions for the first 6 weeks after surgery or while the incision is open, draining or scabbed.
- If you have a bandage over the Steri-Strips and/or skin glue, the bandage can come off after 48 hours. If the bandage is saturated with liquid then remove it (before 48 hours). You can shower with the bandage in place.
- You can place an icepack over the area for 20 minutes, 3 times a day for the first 5 days to control pain and decrease inflammation. Use a think cloth between the incision area and the ice pack.
Diet
- Eat a regular diet but make sure to get plenty of water. Avoid foods that bother your stomach.
- Fiber can help regulate your stools. See the fiber section for more information (button at the bottom of this page).
When Should I call the Physician?
- Diarrhea: Occasional loose bowel movements are not uncommon. However, constant watery diarrhea, especially with fever, can mean there is an infection of the bowels.
- Inability to drink liquids due to nausea
- Fever with or without cough (temperature of at least 101.4F): This could be a sign of lung, wound or stomach infection. Elevated heart rate: If your heart rate is more than 100 beats per minute, this could be a sign of infection.
- Sudden shortness of breath and/or chest pain: This could be related to a heart problem, such as a heart attack, or could be related to a blood clot to the lung (pulmonary embolus) or a lung infection.
- Leg swelling and pain: Blood clot formation in the leg, particularly if it is on one side, could cause swelling with pain in the calf.
- Passing out: This could be a sign of low blood pressure, which could be caused by blood loss, low blood sugar or other causes.
- Wound drainage: Gold colored drainage is normal. If you develop drainage from your wound that is thick, greenish-brown color, has a foul odor, redness, and/or tenderness, it may be a sign that your wound is infected. Call your doctor or seek medical attention.
- UNABLE TO URINATE WITHIN 8 HOURS AFTER YOUR SURGERY
- If you are concerned, then call. It is better to catch any problem earlier rather than later.
MEDICATIONS that you MAY be recommended to take (please check with your doctor before taking them):
Ibuprofen: Take 1 tablet every 8 hours with food or milk for 1 week. After 1 week take 1 tablet every 8 hours with food or milk as needed for pain.
Tylenol 500mg: Take 2 tablets every 8 hours for 1 week. After 1 week, take 1-2 tablets as needed for pain every 6 hours.
Colace (Docusate) 100mg: Take 2 tablets twice a day to prevent constipation. If you have loose stools take 1 tablet
Oxycodone 5mg: Take 1-2 tablets every 4-6 hours for pain not controlled by tylenol or motrin.
Miralax: take 1-3 capfuls daily with liquid for constipation. Put the powder in a liquid and mix it. Wait 10 minutes for it to fully dissolve; this will significantly help the taste. Then drink the liquid.