POST OPERATIVE INSTRUCTIONS

Recovery after surgery varies from patient to patient. These instructions are designed to help you  resume your normal activities as quickly as possible. Please make every effort to follow these instructions; but do not expect to be pain-free immediately. There will be some soreness – this is normal.

ACTIVITY

• You may start showering the morning after surgery, the dressing are water resistant, NOT water proof, so NO swimming, baths, hot tubs or Jacuzzi until seen in follow up.
• Walk a lot, go up/down stairs and stay active starting the day of surgery, (the more you walk, the quicker you will recover)
• DO NOT engage in sports, heavy lifting or strenuous activity/exercises until seen in follow up.
  o   (avoid lawn work, hiking, shoveling snow, working out, Pilates, yoga etc.).
• Lift no more than a gallon of milk until seen in follow up
• Sleep in a bed, not a lounge chair/Lazy boy
• DO NOT drive while taking narcotic pain medication (Percocet, Dilaudid etc.)
• WORK:  you may return to work when you feel physically able (approx. 1-2 weeks on average)

WOUND CARE

• A small amount of blood on your dressing is to be expected. DO NOT BE ALARMED. If you feel the amount is in excess, please call our office.
• You MAY place an ice pack on the affected area for 48 hours. Then place a WARM compress or heating pad thereafter.

MEDICATIONS:

• Take the prescribed pain medication as needed. To avoid constipation try an over-the-counter stool softener.
• You may take Motrin, Advil, Tylenol or similar instead of the prescribed narcotics.
• Resume all your pre-operative medications tomorrow.
• WEIGHT LOSS PATIENTS: Start taking all your medications the day after surgery
  CAUTION: -Take 1 medication at a time over 10 -15 minutes to avoid blockage
  -Monitor your blood sugar and blood pressure as these may drop as you lose weight

CALL THE OFFICE IF

You experience

• Fever of 101.5 or greater, chills,
• Increased pain, redness, swelling or discharge from the incision sites
• Abdominal pain that does not go away with pain medication or if the pain becomes severe.
• Abdominal distention, discomfort, nausea or vomiting.
• Excessive/persistent bleeding from your incision sites.
• Any concerns not already addressed

CALL 911 IF: If you experience chest pain and/or suddenly have difficulty breathing.

FOLLOW UP IN OUR OFFICE IN 1-2 WEEKS

PLEASE CALL TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT (203) 327 4444