The following information gives you important information regarding what to expect after urogynecologic surgery and what activities to avoid altogether.

What to Expect After Urogynecologic Surgery

• You may have mild to moderate pain for several weeks after surgery.
• Episodes of nausea and lightheadedness are common in the first few days after surgery.
• You may leave the hospital with bandages over your incision(s) -- these can be removed within one week of surgery. If you have staples, they should be removed within one week. Any sutures used to close incisions will dissolve on their own and will not need to be removed.
• You may walk, ride in a car, and climb stairs after your surgery. You may drive when you can control the car fully and are not taking any pain medication.
• You may return to a normal diet as quickly as you are comfortable doing so.
• You may return to work when you are released to do so by your surgeon, usually by six weeks.

What to Avoid After Urogynecologic Surgery

• Don't lift over 20 pounds for three months after surgery.
• Avoid becoming constipated.
• Avoid intercourse or tampon use until you see your doctor for your six week postoperative visit. You may use vaginal creams prescribed by your doctor.
• No tub baths or swimming until you see your doctor for your six week postoperative visit. Showers are okay.

Reasons to Call Your Doctor

• You have a temperature of 100.4° or higher.
• You experience severe abdominal pain even after taking the pain medication prescribed.
• If you experience vomiting and are unable to keep down fluids or food. If you experience diarrhea for more than 24-48 hours. If you have not had a bowel movement within three days of your surgery.
• If an incision has a foul odor, is red and warm, has opened up, or is draining more than it was when you left the hospital.
• If you have any signs of a urinary tract infection: painful or frequent urination, urgency, foul odor, low back pain, or if you are unable to urinate or do not feel that your bladder is empty after urination.
• If an extremity becomes red and warm, swollen, and painful.

Weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., call the nurse line at 919-401-1000 ext. 6.

Nights and weekends call 919-684-8111 and ask for the urogynecologist on call.

Avoiding Blood Clots

Blood clots can happen after surgery. The greatest period of risk is the first few days after surgery, although there is still a risk of developing a blood clot for approximately six weeks following surgery. You may hear the doctors and nurses talk about deep vein thrombosis or DVT’s. These are medical terms for a blood clot.

Blood clots can cause problems in two ways:

• Blocking the flow where they occur, causing swelling and local damage
• Breaking off and traveling to the lungs or brain, causing serious damage or death

The most important way to prevent a blood clot is to keep the blood flowing by walking after surgery. Keep the vessels from being compressed by not crossing your legs at the ankles or knees. Avoid wearing knee-highs, thigh-highs, or socks that leave a line on your legs.

Preventing and Treating Constipation

• Include fiber in your diet (fresh fruits and vegetables or fiber supplements)
• Drink at least eight glasses (eight ounces each) of liquids (preferably water) every day
• Avoid foods that cause you to have gas or upset stomach
• Increase activity as tolerated; activity helps bowel function return to normal
• Take stool softeners as prescribed

If you have not had a bowel movement within two to three days following your surgery, you may take over-the-counter milk of magnesia as directed on the packaging.

Preventing and Treating Gas Pains

• Increase activity as tolerated; activity helps bowel function return to normal
• Avoid gas-forming foods, such as broccoli, cabbage, beans, salads, sweet potatoes
• If gas pain persists, you may take over-the-counter simethicone (Mylicon, Gas-X, Maalox-Gas, Mylanta-Gas)

Preventing and Treating Nausea

• Stop eating most solid foods for 24-48 hours
• Eat small, frequent meals of liquids and bland foods such as crackers, toast, dry cereal, and oatmeal

Preventing and Treating Diarrhea

If you are having more than four loose stools per day:

• Stop eating most solid foods for 24-48 hours
• Drink plenty of clear liquids to prevent dehydration, especially water
• Eat small, frequent meals of liquids and bland foods such as crackers, toast, dry cereal, and oatmeal