This is not a substitute for direct care by YOUR doctor. Confirm with your doctor before doing any of the following.
Activity
• Rest when you feel tired. Getting enough sleep will help you recover.
• Try to walk each day. Start by walking a little more than you did the day before. Bit by bit, increase the amount you walk. Walking boosts blood flow and helps prevent pneumonia and constipation.
• Shower as usual. Pat the area around your incision dry with a towel when you are done. Avoid baths until the wound is completely healed. Keep the area dry and clean.
• If your wound is closed (sutured), then be very careful while bending, sitting or going to the bathroom
• Avoid sitting for a long time or sitting on hard surfaces until your incision has healed.
• Avoid putting any pressure on the incision site as possible
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.
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.
MEDICATION INSTRUCTIONS - over the counter medications that you should purchase:
• Ibuprofen (Motrin) 600 mg: 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. DO NOT TAKE IF YOU TAKE A BLOOD THINNER, TAKE ASPIRIN DAILY, OR HAVE HEARTBURN. DO NOT TAKE THIS WITH CELEBREX (CELEBREX REPLACES THIS MEDICATION).
• Tylenol 500 mg: Take 2 tablets every 8 hours for 2 weeks. After 2 weeks, take 1-2 tablets as needed for pain every 8 hours.
• Colace 100 mg: Take 2 tablets twice a day to prevent constipation. If you have loose stools take 1 tablet daily. If you still have loose stools then stop this medication.
• 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.
MEDICATION INSTRUCTIONS - prescription medications (you may not be prescribed all of these medications):
• Celecoxib (Celebrex) 100 - 200 mg: Take 1 tablet or capsule 1-2 times per day (your prescription bottle will provide full instructions). This is INSTEAD OF IBUPROFEN if you have a history of heartburn. DO NOT TAKE IF YOU TAKE A BLOOD THINNER OR TAKE ASPIRIN DAILY
• Oxycodone 5 mg: Take 1-2 tablets every 4-6 hours for pain not controlled by Tylenol or Motrin.
• Baclofen 5 - 10 mg: Take 1 tablet 1-3 times daily for muscle spasm pain. This medication can you make you sleepy so start this medication at night.
• Gabapentin 100 - 300 mg: Take 1 tablet or capsule at night. You can increase this up to 3 times a day. This medication can cause you to be sleepy or dizzy. If this happens, stop taking the medication.
Incisions
• If your incision was closed with stitches:
o Wash the area daily with warm, soapy water and pat it dry. DO NOT use hydrogen peroxide, which can slow healing.
o You may cover the area with a gauze bandage if it weeps or rubs against clothing. Change the bandage every day.
o Keep the area clean and dry.
• If your incision was left open to heal, change the bandage, called a dressing, as instructed by your doctor.
o Dressing changes may hurt at first. Taking pain medicine about half an hour before you change the dressing can help.
o If your dressing sticks to your wound, try soaking the dressing in warm water for about 10 minutes before you remove it. You can do this in the shower or by placing a wet face cloth over the dressing.
o Some wound drainage is normal. If the drainage increases with time or is foul smelling, then call your doctor.
Diet
• Eat a regular diet but make sure to get plenty of water. Avoid foods that bother your stomach
• 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.
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
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