Make an appointment to be seen in the office for 7 – 10 days after your surgery.
Do not drive a car while taking Percocet.
If having pain while taking Percocet, you can supplement with Ibuprofen (Advil/ Motrin/ Aleve). Do not take extra Tylenol (acetaminophen) as it is already added to Percocet. If taking Toradol, do not take any Ibuprofen.
You can resume your normal diet once you are discharged from the hospital.
Please wait 24 hours to shower and but be sure to pat Steri-strips dry. Do not use any hot tubs for at least a month.
Ice to area of incision 3x/ day for 15 minutes, for three days will help with swelling.
Wound Care
Remove Tegaderm and gauze in 24 hours.
Leave Steri-strips intact, they will be removed at the follow up appointment. Do not worry if they should fall off prior to your appointment.
Use ice to the incision 3x/ day for 15 minutes for three days to reduce swelling.
It is normal to have swelling, bruising, and minor bleeding from the wound.
Bowel Movement
The intra-operative anesthesia and the pain medication prescribed may make you constipated. Do not take any laxatives, unless instructed to do so. You can use Colace 100 mg 2 – 3 times per day, along with supplemental fiber (Metamucil, etc) and 8 – 10 glasses of H2O per day.
Activity
You should not lift anything > 20 lbs for six weeks, as this can cause breakdown of the healing wound, and formation of another hernia.
Walking up and down the stairs is fine. Be active, as it prevents blood clot formation.
Reasons to Contact the Doctor Prior to Follow Up
Fever of > 100.4F, pain that is not controlled by pain medication, inability to urinate, nausea, vomiting, inability to tolerate foods, redness and/ or heat around the incision, and copious bleeding from the wound (a small amount of blood is normal).
