A. If you are having
difficulty urinating.
If you are unable to pass urine, sit in a bathtub full of
warm water or run the water in the bathroom to stimulate the
flow of urine. If unable to pass urine, proceed to the emergency
room, where a catheter will be placed to drain the bladder
B. If your pain is not
controlled:
Please call our office before 9:00 p.m. If pain not
controlled after 9:00 p.m. please proceed to the
emergency room
If you are able to use ibuprofen, please take 600 mg with a
snack and a full glass of water to supplement your pain
medication. This can be repeated until every 6 hours as needed
Apply ice to sore area for 20 minutes, repeat as needed
C. If you are see redness
around your incision site:
In the first 48 hours the redness you may note is usually the
start of a normal bruising process and not an infection
We are happy to evaluate you on next business day. Please
contact the office after 7:00 a.m. if concerned about color
changes around the incision(s).
D. If you have a fever
(Temperature greater than 98.6):
Take slow deep breaths through your nose and blow out through
the mouth ten times in a row, slowly. Repeat every hour while
awake. If you have had abdominal surgery, hold a pillow over
your abdomen to support as you may cough. Deep breathing and
coughing usually brings a fever down as most fevers in the first
48 hours are secondary to not taking deep breaths
If persistent fever (greater than 101) call office the
following morning after 7:00 a.m.
E. If nausea occurs:
Try taking sips of 7-up or other lemon-lime drink with
saltine crackers
Take all pain medication with food, never on an empty stomach
If persistent nausea, call office the following morning after
7:00 a.m.
If uncontrolled vomiting please proceed to emergency room
Diet is patient controlled meaning if it sounds good to you,
it’s OK to eat it
F. If you become constipated
Use Milk of Magnesia:
Take the tablets or capsules with a full
glass of water. Chew the chewable tablets thoroughly
before swallowing them.
Shake the suspension well before measuring a dose (follow
instructions on bottle)
If still unable to pass a bowel movement, purchase over the
counter Magnesium Citrate and consume ½ to 1 bottle. This should
stimulate a bowel movement and expect diarrhea
If still unable to pass a bowel movement, call office the
following day after 7:00 a.m.
G. If you note numbness in
area of surgery
Numbness is completely normal sensation at incision(s) and
surrounding area
For some the numbness resolves in the first six months, for
others is permanent
H. If your IV (intravenous)
site is sore, red or firm
Apply a moist warm pack to site for 20 minutes and repeat as
needed
If persistent concerns, please contact the office the following
morning after 7:00 a.m.
I. If you have oozing/bleeding
at your incision
Hold pressure over incision for 15 minutes
If uncontrolled bleeding proceed to the emergency room
If minor oozing, call office the following morning after 7:00
a.m.
