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4501 Birch Street, Newport Beach, CA 92660 OFFICE: 949.221.0136 FAX: 949.387.1136
[email protected] www.californiaherniaspecialists.com
POST-OPERATIVEHERNIAINSTRUCTIONS
1. Takeyourusualmedications(bloodpressure,diabetes,bloodthinners,etc.)the
eveningofyoursurgerydayunlessotherwisedirected.2. Youshouldfollowalightdietsuchassoupandcrackersforthefirst12-24hours
aftersurgery.Youcanresumeanormaldietbutonehighinfiberthedayaftersurgery.Besuretoincludealotoffluidsdaily.
3. Applyingicetoyourhernialocationandincisionsfor20minutesonand20minutesoffisstronglyrecommendedforatleast48hours.Ziplocbagswithcrushediceorfrozenpeasarecommonlyusedalongwithatowelbetweenthebagandyourskin.Icingmorefrequentlyandforalongerdurationisfine.
4. Havingicebagsinasmallcoolernexttoyourbedwhilesleepingcanallowyoutochangeicepackswhenwakingduringthefirst1-2nights.
5. Thepatientswhoicethemosthavetheleastamountofpainandswellingaftertheirsurgery.Manypatientswhohaveelevatedpainlevelsoruncomfortableswellingandbruisingdidnotuseiceregularlyaftersurgery.
6. Manypatientswillexperienceasignificantamountofswellingandbruisingaftersurgery(especiallygroinherniasurgery,bothopenandlaparoscopic).Sometimesthiscantakeseveraldaysbeforeappearing.Theamountofswelling(ofteninthescrotum/testiclearea)canbethesizeofasoftballorlarger.Thebruisingcanbethecolorofdarkpurpleorblack.Again,thisiscompletelynormalandexpected.Icing,scrotalsupportandrecliningwillhelp.Theswellingandbruisingfrequentlyresolvesasquicklyasitappearsbutcanalsolastseveralweeks.Thisisexpected.
7. Manypatientswillfeelafirmlumpandhardnessaroundthesurgerysite.Thismaymakeitfeelasifyourherniaisstillthere.Thisisnormal.
8. Medicalglue(Dermabond)willbeappliedoveryourincisions.Youmayshowerin24hours.However,donotsubmergeyourincision(bathtub,pool,jacuzzi,ocean)for2weeks.Donotscrubtheskinglue;itwillflakeoffover2-3weeks.
9. Approximately7%ofpatientswillnotbeabletourinatebytheeveningaftertheirsurgery.Thiscanhappenevenifyouareabletourinateimmediatelyaftersurgery.Ifyouareunabletourinateafterabout6hours,orwhenyoufeelincreasinglyuncomfortable,youshouldgotoyournearestEmergencyRoomtohaveyourbladdercatheterized.EmergencyRoomsareusedtothisandwilleasilytakecareofyou.
10. Mostpatientswillhavethisbladdercatheterinplacefor48hoursandthenremoveitathome.Often,ifrequested,theEmergencyRoomwillgiveyouasmallsyringeandshowyouhowtoremovethecatheteryourselfathome.Itisextremelyeasyandcanbedonebymostpatientswithoutanydifficulty.
11. Pleasefollowtherecoverychartthatwasprovidedtoyouforinstructionsonpost-surgeryactivities.However,asaquickreminder:
a. Walkingandclimbingstairsimmediatelyafteryoursurgerytogetintoyourhomeortoyoursecond-floorbedroomisfine.
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4501 Birch Street, Newport Beach, CA 92660 OFFICE: 949.221.0136 FAX: 949.387.1136
[email protected] www.californiaherniaspecialists.com
b. Youmayresumelightdailyactivitiesbeginningthedayaftersurgerygraduallyincreasingastolerated.
c. Refrainfromheavylifting(>20#’s)until3weeksaftersurgery.d. Youmaydriveifyouarenottakingprescriptionpainmedications,you
cancomfortablywearaseatbelt,andyoucansafelymaneuveryourcarandapplybrakes.
e. Ifyourjobdoesnotrequirestrenuousactivity,youmayreturntoworkassoonasyoufeelcomfortable,usually3-4days.
f. Youmayresumesexualactivitywhenitiscomfortable.12. Itiscommontoexperienceconstipationwhiletakingopioidpainmedications
aftersurgery.Increasedfluidintakeandtakingastoolsoftener(suchasSenokotS)willusuallyhelporpreventthisfromoccurring.Amildlaxative(MilkofMagnesiaorMiraLAX)shouldbetakenaccordingtopackagedirectionsiftherearenobowelmovementsafter48hours.
13. Youwillhavereceivedintravenousopioidpainmedicationsduringyoursurgery.Thisalonecancausepatientstoexperienceconstipation.
14. Somepatientscomplainthatconstipationwastheirworstpost-surgeryissue.Pleasetakepreventingitseriously.
15. Wewouldlikeafollowupwithyouapproximately3weeksafteryoursurgery.Thiscaneitherbeinourofficeoroverthephone,whicheverismoreconvenientforyou.Patientswhoaredoingwelloftenfindthataphonefollowupisallthatisneeded.Ifyouprefertoseeusinperson,pleasebesurethatyoucallussoonafteryoursurgerytoensureaconvenientappointmenttime.
16. Ifyouhavedisabilityorfamilyleaveforms,youmustbringthemtotheofficeforprocessingbeforeorafteryoursurgery.Pleasedonotgivethemtoyourdoctor.
WHENTOCALLYOURDOCTOR:
1. Continuedbleedingfromanincision2. Persistentnauseaandvomiting(afterthefirst24hours)3. Feverover101.5(F)(afterthefirst48hours)4. Increasedpain,redness,ordrainagefromanincision(after3-4days)
Ourstaffisavailabletoansweryourquestionsduringregularbusinesshours.Pleasedon’thesitatetocalltospeaktooneofourmedicalassistantsornursesforclinicalconcerns.Ifyouhaveamedicalemergencygotothenearestemergencyroomorcall911.Asurgeonfromourofficeisalwaysoncall.
