General Surgical Discharge Information

• Increase your activity slowly.  Start by walking 5-10 minutes 4 times a day.
• Avoid lifting anything heavier than 10 pounds until your follow up appointment.
• It is normal for you to feel tired.  Plan rest periods throughout the day.
• You may climb stairs when you get home.
• Talk to your doctor about starting your previous activities such as driving, returning to work and sex.

• You may shower 48 hours after your surgery.  you have steri-strips (small pieces of tape) over your incision.  Pat these dry after your shower.   You may clip the ends of these if they roll up.  After seven days, you may gently peel them off.
• Do not take a tub bath until approved by your doctor.
• After steri-strips have been removed; you may wash your incision as you would any part of your body.

• Unless you have been told otherwise, continue on the same diet you wer on before you came into the hospital.
• Drink at least 8 glasses ofliquid (water is best) a day.
• Avoid drinking any alcohol until your doctor says it is acceptable.

• A prescription will be given to you.  You may take this to the pharmacy of your choice.  Take your pain medication as needed and directted.
• Pain medication causes constipation, take a mild laxative if approved by your doctor.
• Check with your doctor about taking ibuprofen along with your pain medicaiton.
• If your pain is not too bad, try plain Tylenol.  You can substitute Tylenol for your prescribed pain medication.
• Your pain will gradually go away.

Call Nurse Triage Line at (434)924-9548 between 8:00 AM and 4:30 PM, Monday-Friday.  After hours call (434)924-0000 and ask for the Urology resident on-call.

• Temperature higher than 101.
• More redness around your incision.
• Drainage from your incision.
• Increased pain not relieved by your pain medication.
• Nausea and / or vomiting lasting more than 12 hours.
• Diarrhea lasting more than 2 days or no bowel movement for 3 days.