Post op

Clear Liquid Diet initially, like water, broth, apple juice, Jello, juices and popsicles

Advance to a soft, bland, low fat, non spicy diet.

Remember frequent small meals are better than large ones to prevent nausea.

Resume a  more regular diet in about a month or two.

Drink lots of fluid to stay hydrated.

Must include adequate calories and proteins to promote healing, may supplement with Boost or Ensure.

 We encourage activity to promote healthy breathing and lung expansion, improve gut function, and prevent deep venous thrombosis - DVT's (blood clots)

Get up slowly, with assistance if necessary. Please delay this if you are feeling dizzy or weak, 

be safe.

You may do stairs sparingly, No power walking or walking fo exercise.

No driving while on narcotics, or immediately after anesthesia > 24 hours.

No driving if experiencing dizziness or weakness or nausea or severe discomfort with the seatbelt 

Non Narcotic Medications  Try these first like; 

Tylenol ES 500mg 1-2 tabs/caps every 6 hrs as needed. Do not exceed 1 g in 4 hrs or 4 g per day.

NSAIDs  Take with food

Ibuprofen (Motrin) 200 mg 1 to 2 tabs/caps every 4-6 hrs as needed Max 6 caps /24 hrs. 

Naproxen (Alleve) 1 Tab/cap every 8-12 hrs as needed

Do not take if you have a history of ulcers

Narcotic Medications  For more severe pain, use cautiously

Percocet   1 tablet every 4 hrs for pain less than 5/10 or 2 tab every 6 hrs for pain greater than 5/10

Norco; use as directed.

If you have chronic pain or if you are treated at a pain clinic or if you are taking Suboxone. Please inform the Surgeon. 

Please dispose of unused narcotics responsibly.  

Laparoscopic wounds 

Keep Wounds Clean and Dry

Remove the outer portion of the dressing in 2-3 days and leave it open to the air.

Keep the Steri-strips on until seen in the office

Open Surgery

Keep wounds clean and dry, leave it open to air or 

Light dressing if desired but change daily.

Wound packing 

Wound packing as directed in the Hospital or done by Home Visiting Nurse 

Showers are allowed for laparoscopic wounds on the day after surgery, but promptly pat wounds dry, cover with Glad press and seal after bio-occlusive dressing removed.

Do not take baths or submerge the wounds for at least 1 week.

No showers  if wound is being packed.

Drains You should keep a dressing around the tubing at the insertion site. Change it every 2-3 days or if it becomes soiled. Please monitor the output and consistency.

Monitor wounds for redness, warmth, drainage and notify the doctor if present.

R Shoulder Tip Pain

Normally goes away, it is due to gas used in surgery

Deep Breathing Exercises, use Incentive Spirometer as instructed.

Constipation

Do not take laxatives, you may have stool softeners like Colace 100mg twice a day or suppositories

Limit narcotics if possible

Avoid constipating foods like dairy or processed foods.

Diarrhea

Stay hydrated

Avoid dairy or spicy foods or fatty foods

Do not take Imodium unless instructed.

Notify doctor if diarrhea last more than 1 week.

Bruising around the wounds may occur.

It usually appears within first week after surgery 

It will go away within 3 weeks.

Restrictions

No strenuous activity or heavy lifting.

Less than 20 pounds for 4-6 weeks for females, 25 pounds for males- after laparoscopic surgery.

Less than 25 pounds for 3 months for open surgery.

Fever Temperature greater than 38.5 or 101.3 

Chills

Persistent nausea or recurrent vomiting, inability to eat or keep fluids down.

Worsening pain 

Redness or warmth or tenderness or drainage of pus from wounds.

Shortness of breath

Productive cough

Urinary symptoms.