Major Surgery Post Operative Instructions
SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS
Call our office the first week you are home and let us know how you are doing. Schedule your first postoperative checkup for two weeks from the date of your surgery.
DIET
You may have the diet of your choice unless a specific diet has been given to you. Avoid spicy or gas forming foods (such as beans, cabbage, etc.) the first few weeks. Avoid alcohol during your recovery period.
ACTIVITY
Walking is fine. No lifting or exercises until your six week checkup. You should not drive an automobile until your two to three week checkup and the doctor has given you approval. Climbing stairs is OK…be careful, do not get lightheaded and fall down the stairs. No sexual intercourse, douching or tampons until specifically instructed by your doctor.
MEDICATIONS
Resume your regular medications. Take postoperative medications as directed. For constipation increase your fluid intake. Metamucil® (2 tablespoons) in juice each morning is helpful. A mild laxative such as Milk of Magnesia® is fine. Colace® may also be helpful if the mild laxative does not work to keep your stool soft.
BATHING
Showers or tub baths are fine unless you have specific instructions not to take a tub bath. A warm sitz bath in the tub twice a day may be helpful for those patients who have had vaginal surgery. You may wash your hair.
INCISION CARE
After a bath or shower, dry your incision well (pat or blow dry). If you have small Steri-Strips on your incision, they may be removed as they start to come loose.
TRAVEL
We recommend that you not travel outside of the immediate Kansas City area until after your six week postoperative checkup.
RETURN TO WORK
The usual disability period after major surgery is six weeks. Discuss this with the doctor at your two week checkup.
NORMAL FINDINGS
- A certain amount of red or brown vaginal discharge is to be expected and may have an unpleasant odor. However, do notify the office if the discharge becomes excessive, pus-like in appearance or foul smelling.
- Tenderness and numbness around the incision are normal.
- Fatigue and decreased tolerance are common.
- Hot flashes, mood swings and irritability are common if your ovaries have been removed.
- Decrease in appetite is common but it is important to maintain good nutrition for healing.
ABNORMAL FINDINGS
- Redness, drainage or severe pain in your incision
- Burning with urination
- Tenderness, redness or swelling in your legs
- Acute pain in your chest or shortness of breath
- Take your temperature twice a day for five days and if it is consistently over 100.4 degrees F, notify our office.
24 HOUR AVAILABILITY
If you have a problem requiring physician attention, call our office at (816) 468-7800. After hours and weekends, the telephones are answered by our answering service. You may leave a message with the answering service and a physician will return your call.