POSTOPERATIVE  INSTRUCTIONS FOR INGUINAL HERNIA REPAIR:

MEDICATIONS:

  •  PAIN MEDICATION WILL BE PRESCRIBED BY YOUR DOCTOR
  •  SWITCH TO TYLENOL WHEN SEVERE DISCOMFORTS SUBSIDES
  •  A STOOL SOFTENER OR LAXATIVE SHOULD BE TAKEN FOR 5 DYAS
  •  TONIGHT YOU MAY RESUME ANY MEDICATIONS YOU ROUTINELY TAKE HOWEVER, IF YOU ARE TAKING COUMADIN OR PLAVIX CHECK   WITH YOUR INTERNIST BEFORE RESTARTING
  •  DO NOT TAKE ANY OVER THE COUNTER DRUGS WITHOUT FIRST CHECKING WITH YOUR PHYSICIAN. THIS INCLUDES ASPIRIN   CONTAINING DRUGS SUCH AS ADVIL, MOTRIN.

DIET:

  •  AVOID HEAVY AND GREASY FOODS TODAY. YOU MAY RESUME YOUR NORMAL DIET TOMORROW. DRINK AT LEAST 8 GLASSES OF WATER OR JUICE DAILY FOR THE NEXT WEEK TO HELP PREVENT CONSTIPATION

ACTIVITIES:

  •  DO NOT DRIVE OR WORK FOR THE NEXT 5-7 DAYS UNTIL PAIN FREE OR LIFT OBJECTS HEAVIER THAN 10 LBS FOR 2 WKS
  •  SHORT WALKS ARE ENCOURAGED DURING THIS TIME. YOU MAY GO UP AND DOWN STAIRS
  •  ABSTAIN FROM SEXUAL INTERCOURSE UNTIL SEEN BY YOUR PHYSICIAN AT YOUR FOLLOW UP APPOINTMENT IN THE OFFICE

INSTRUCTIONS:

  •  REMOVE CLEAR PLASTIC AND GAUZE IN 4 DAYS, LEAVE TAPES UNTIL SEEN BY YOUR DOCTOR
  •  AN ICE PACK APPLIED TO THE AREA FOR 30 MINUTES EACH HOUR MAY DECREASE DISCOMFORT AT INCISION SITE
  •  KEEP YOUR DRESSING DRY EXCEPT FOR SHOWERS. DO NOT TAKE A TUB BATH
  •  A SHOWER IS ALLOWED THE FIRST DAY POST OP
  •  SOME BLOODY OOZING AT THE SITE MAY APPEAR. THIS IS NORMAL
  •  THE INCISION MAY FEEL HARD AND LOOK SLIGHTLY REDDENED. THIS IS NORMAL
  •  SLIGHT BRUISING AND SWELLING OF THE SCROTUM MAY APPEAR.THIS IS NORMAL

PLEASE NOTIFY THE OFFICE IF ANY OF THE FOLLOWING SIGNS OR SYMPTOMS OCCUR:

  •  SHAKING CHILLS OR A TEMPERATURE OF 100.5 DEGREES
  •  NAUSEA OR VOMITING
  •  DRESSING BECOMES SATURATED WITH BLOODY DISCHARGE
  •  INCREASED REDNESS OR A RED STREAK AROUND THE WOUND
  •  INCREASED SWELLING OF INCISION AREA OR SCROTAL PAIN
  •  INCREASED PAIN WHICH IS NOT RELIEVED BY PAIN MEDICATION
  •  INABILITY TO URINATE

FEEL FREE TO CALL OUR OFFICE WITH ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS

POSTOPERATIVE INSTRUCTIONS FOR ABDOMINAL WALL HERNIA SURGERY:

MEDICATIONS:

  •  VICODIN 1-2 TABS EVERY 6 HOURS AS NEEDED FOR PAIN OR DISCOMFORT, OR TYLENOL (REGULAR OR EXTRA-STRENGTH), 1-2 TABS EVERY 6 HOURS AS NEEDED

DIET:

  •  LOW FAT, AVOID SPICY, GREASY, GASEOUS FOODS
  •  ENCOURAGE FLUIDS, 8-10 GLASSES DAILY

ACTIVITY:

  •  UP AS TOLERATED, TAKE REST PERIODS AS NECESSARY
  •  ENCOURAGE WALKING, AND TAKE STAIRS SLOWLY
  •  NO HEAVY LIFTING (5-10 LBS MAX) FOR 2 WEEKS
  •  AVOID BENDING, STRAINING, VIGOROUS ACTIVITIES
  •  NO DRIVING UNTIL APPROVED BY YOUR PHYSICIAN

INSTRUCTIONS:

  •  REMOVE CLEAR PLASTIC AND GAUZE IN 4 DAYS, LEAVE TAPES UNTIL SEEN IN THE OFFICE
  •  KEEP WOUND CLEAN AND DRY
  •  MAY SHOWER, NO BATHS
  • MAY RETURN TO WORK AFTER FOLLOW UP APPOINTMENT

NOTIFY OUR OFFICE IF:

  •  REDNESS
  •  TENDERNESS
  •  WARMTH
  •  SWELLING OR DRAINAGE
  •  ABDOMINAL BLOATING
  •  NAUSEA
  •  INCREASED DIARRHEA, CONSTIPATION GREATER THAN 5 DAYS
  •  SWEATS, CHILLS, FEVER ABOVE 100.5 DEGREES

AS ALWAYS, FEEL FREE TO CONTACT US WITH ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS