General post op instructions

General Surgery Postoperative Instructions

The following instructions will guide you through your post-operative care. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call the office or reach the covering physician via the answering service

Wound Care:
Your incisions are closed with absorbable suture. Glue is applied over the incision that will fall off on its own.

Hygeine:
Avoid scrubbing your surgical sites or immersing them (baths/pools etc) for the next few weeks. Simply let soapy water run over the area, rinse well and pat dry. Okay to shower starting tomorrow.

Activity:
You will gradually build up your endurance with normal day-to day activities around the home. However, avoid excessive straining (lifting >10 lbs), cadio exercise or deep stretching activities like yoga. You are safe to drive when you no longer need narcotic pain meds

Medications and Pain Control:
You may be sent home with pain medication to help alleviate pain after surgery.  These medications should only be taken if needed and as prescribed. Pain is usually the most severe for the first 24-48 hours after surgery and should improve over the next 1-2 weeks. Most of your surgical site pain will be controlled with over-the-counter Tylenol or Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin). Alternate Tylenol and Ibuprofen every 3 hours for the first 1-2 days. Narcotic medications should be reserved for severe breakthrough pain and should always be taken with a stool softener to avoid constipation. Prescriptions are already be sent to your pharmacy. Only restart blood-thinning medications as discussed with your doctors.

Diet:
After anesthesia and some surgeries it may take several days for your appetite to fully return and before you can finish a regular portion size, but you may resume a normal healthy diet as tolerated with any restrictions discussed with your doctor. Avoid carbonated beverages which cause bloating pain and hydrate with plenty of water as your body recovers. If you had your gallbladder removed, you may better tolerate a low fat diet for 1-2 weeks and can expect some loose stools which typically resolve after a week. If you were treated for diverticulitis, you will be advised to continue a low fiber diet.

Follow Up Instructions:
Call the office as soon as possible to schedule a follow-up appointment in 2-3 weeks. You will be provided with work notes/disability forms

If at any point in time you are unable to speak quickly with a physician and experience severe pain not alleviated with medication, high fevers (>102.5F), excessive bleeding, chest pain, difficulty breathing, or dizziness, call 9-1-1 or go to the emergency room for further evaluation

We hope you had a good experience! Once again, do not hesitate to call the office if you have any questions or concerns and we will be more than happy to help out as you recover from surgery.

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Author: Garrett Skinner

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