1. General Condition

Any surgical intervention contributes to surgical stress. Be prepared to accept a decreased level of physical activity and for being dependent on other people. This is not a reason to become frustrated, but an opportunity to take time for recovery and ultimately for improving your general condition.

2. Dress

Wear loose clothing to feel comfortable and to avoid pressure to the site of the operation.

3. Walking

The more active you are the faster your recovery will occur. Be reasonable when increasing your walking distance and reintroducing your daily routine. Overzealous activity is contraindicated. Essentially, the level of pain will keep you aware about your ability to progress. Walking promotes normal gastrointestinal function and prevents deep vein thrombosis (blood clot).

4. Medication

You can resume your pre-operative home medication in the majority of cases. Your primary care physician can give you advice if needed. Make sure that medication prescribed in the hospital is taken according to written instructions , if you have any questions, check with the pharmacist or call our office at 407-647-3460.

5. Pain

Pain medication is always prescribed after an operation. Please take it as ordered or at least when you start having increased sensation of pain. It is good to take it before going to bed so you can have a more restful sleep. Please remember that the majority of pain medication has adverse reactions. Please do not drive or be involved in any kind of hazardous activities as long as you are taking prescribed pain medication. This medication can frequently cause constipation, nausea, and dizziness.

6. Constipation

Constipation is a common problem among surgical patients. Please take mild laxatives (unless contraindicated) in the form of Milk of Magnesia, prune juice or stool softeners, especially when you are on pain medication. If the situation becomes worse, please call the physician.

7. Dressing

You may have a dressing over the surgical wound. Please change it daily. Each time, clean the area of the wound with hydrogen peroxide and alcohol. Keep changing the sterile dressing daily after discharge till the first post-operative visit. The drain dressing needs to be changed with the same technique. Some patients undergoing minimally invasive procedures will have a dressing like a film of glue. This type of dressing does not require any additional care.

8. Drains

One or more drainage tubes, called "Jackson Pratt" or "JP's", are inserted with a bulb attached to collect serum and blood. The redness around the tubing will go away a few days after the tube is removed. The redness is a normal bodily response to a foreign object. The drainage in the bulb will decrease gradually day by day. Keep a record of the amounts you empty 3 to 4 times a day and take this with you to the doctor for your next office visit. Record the amounts on the special sheet you will be given. Cleanse around the tubing once daily using an alcohol wipe. Apply dressing using 4X4 gauze patches. Your nurse will demonstrate how to empty the bulb and milk the tubing before you are discharged. A drain is usually removed within the first 3-5 days after the operation.

9. Bathing

You may shower 48 hours after an operation in a majority of the cases.

10. Pulmonary Toilette

Deep breathing, coughing and using incentive spirometry is essential to prevent atelectasis, the most common postoperative condition that causes fever.

11. Sore Throat

Patients after general anesthesia might experience a sore throat. This condition improves over a few days without any special treatment.

12. Shoulder Pain

After a laparoscopic operation the shoulder pain you experience is related to irritation of the diaphragm. This type of pain improves gradually over a few days and requires only mild pain medication or anti-inflammatory medication.

13. Diet

Post-operative nausea is common. Please stay on a light diet for at least 24 hours after ambulatory surgery (soups, jelly, pudding) and avoid "heavy" meals containing large quantities of fat (fried food, etc.). Then advance to the pre-hospitalization diet as tolerated. Sometimes special instructions will be given to you, as in the case of patients after Nissen Fundoplication.

14. Post-Operative Follow-Up

An office visit is usually scheduled within 3-10 days after your operation, depending on the nature of the disease. Please call my office to confirm the appointment or to request an earlier visit if needed. In case of an emergency situation always try to call my office first for instructions. If for any reason you need urgent attention do not hesitate to visit the emergency room or call 911 for help.

15. What to Watch For

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS TO PROBLEMS AFTER AN OPERATION INCLUDE:

• Fever over 101 F degree
• Weakness, fatigue, changes in the level of consciousness
• Excessive vomiting or bloody vomiting, rectal bleeding
• Progressive redness, purulent or bloody drainage from the postoperative wound
• Foul smelling drainage from your wound
• Wound edges that are no longer together
• Unilateral swelling of the extremity
• Numbness of the extremity
• Difficulty breathing

If you have any above mentioned symptoms call my office for advice (407-647-3460)