Major Surgery Postoperative Instructions

Unless your physician tells you otherwise, upon your arrival home, call Lifestages (277-8988) for an appointment approximately 4 weeks from the day of your surgery.

Activity

• No stairs the first week after surgery. If necessary, you may use the steps once in the morning and once in the evening for going to the bathroom and your bed.
• Wait 10 days after you are discharged from the hospital before riding in the car or walking outside. Avoid extended trips and shopping.
• After 2 weeks of leisure, gradually resume household activities. A daily nap is important.
• No straining, pulling or lifting anything weighing more than 5 pounds.
• No driving before your 2- to 4-week check-up. You may drive yourself to Lifestages for that check-up. DO NOT DRIVE WHILE TAKING PAIN MEDICATION.
• When considering postoperative activities, use common sense.

• No sexual intercourse, douching or tampons until after your postoperative check-up.
• No tub baths until after your postoperative appointment; however, you may shower or kneel in a tub of water.
• If you are constipated, please wait a few days after you get home and have resumed your normal diet, some activity and are drinking several glasses of water daily, before notifying the physician. You may take 2 to 4 tablets or 2 tablespoons of Milk of Magnesia followed by several glasses of water for relief.

• If you go home with sutures, please call Lifestages (277-8988) upon your arrival home to make an appointment to have them removed within 1 week.
• If you go home with steri-strips on your incision, remove them 6 days from the day of application.
• Gently wash your incision with soap and water. Pat dry.
• Hysterectomy patients often pass sutures vaginally during the first month.
• Vaginal discharge and spotting are normal.

• A temperature of 101° or higher
• Constant, severe pain not relieved by rest
• Bleeding (saturating a sanitary napkin every hour or passing large clots)
• Difficult or painful urination
• A persistent, foul-smelling discharge
• Severe constipation unrelieved by a suppository or laxatives