Directives For After Your Procedure

• 1 Call Your Doctor If Show More

  • Your temperature is 101°F or higher. It is not uncommon to have a low-grade fever after surgery.
  • You have new redness around the incision or if pus drains from the incision.
  • Severe bleeding occurs. Apply direct pressure to the area.
  • Severe abdominal pain, vomiting, or jaundice occurs (yellow tint to eyes or skin).
  • If you cannot get in touch with your doctor, call or go to the East Jefferson General Hospital Emergency Room at (504) 503-4377.
  • Call 911 in an emergency.

• 2 Pain Medication Show More

  • You will be given a prescription for a pain medicine after surgery, usually a pill called Vicodin or Percocet.
  • Please follow the direction on the label.
  • Do not drive while taking pain medication.
  • Do not take pain medication on an empty stomach. This may make you nauseated.
  • Use a stool softener or gentle laxative (such as Dulcolax suppository, or pill), as constipation is not uncommon with some pain medication.
  • If you no longer need your prescribed pain medication, you may take over the counter pain medication such as Tylenol (acetaminophen) or Advil (ibuprofen) for pain.
  • Refer to the medication instructions on the form titled “Medication Reconciliation” provided by the hospital.

• 3 Activity Show More

  • If at all possible, have someone with you to help you at all times.
  • You may resume your pre-operative level of activity 24 hours after surgery.
  • Going up stairs is not a problem.
  • Listen to your body and rest when you are tired.
  • Do not lift anything heavy (over 15 pounds) or as directed by your physician.
  • Do not drive a motor vehicle; operate machinery or power tools for 24 hours or while taking pain medications.

• 4 Diet Show More

  • Advance to your diet as directed by your physician slowly over the next day or two.
  • Do not drink alcohol in the immediate postoperative period while taking pain medication.

• 5 Wound Care Show More

  • If you have a clear see-through bandage over the incision, you may take a shower. The bandage is waterproof.
    • It is not uncommon for some reddish fluid to accumulate under the plastic bandage. This is no cause for alarm.
    • The clear see-through bandage may be removed after 3 days. It is ok to leave it on until follow up with your physician.

  • If you have a gauze bandage over the incision, you may remove it in 48 hours. At that time you may shower.
  • If you have narrow white tape strips over the incision (steri-strips), keep them dry for 48 hours. Do not remove them unless they are curling up at the side and almost falling off (if you remove them sooner, you risk pulling the incision apart). You may then shower.
  • Staples or sutures are generally removed in 7-14 days.
  • Many incisions will have buried absorbable sutures, which do not need to be removed.

• 6 Showering Show More

  • Showers should be quick (5 minutes long).
  • Do not soak in the bathtub until instructed by your doctor.

• 7 Drain Care Show More

  If you have a drain, record the time and amount of drainage on a piece of paper. Empty the drain every few hours or as needed. The nurse will explain how the drain works before you are discharged from the hospital.

• 8 Follow-Up Show More

  Please make your follow-up appointment by calling the office or as instructed by your physician. Most appointments are for 7-14 days following your surgery. If you have any problems before then, do not hesitate to call.