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General "After Surgery" Instructions
Activity
You might feel a little sleepy for the next
24 hours. This is due to the medicine you received to relax you.
For the next 24 hours you should NOT:
- Drive a car or operate machinery or power tools.
- Engage in any strenuous activity.
- Drink any alcoholic beverages, including beer.
- Make any important decisions or sign important
papers.
You should have a responsible adult with you
for the rest of the day and during the night. This is for your own
safety and protection. You may be up and about according to doctor's
instructions. After spinal anesthesia you should lie flat as much
as possible for the next 24 hours. After spinal/epidural anesthesia,
it is best to have assistance with walking for 24 hours.
Medications
You may have some pain. Your doctor may give
you a prescription for pain medication. This should be taken as
directed. If it does not help the pain, contact your doctor. If
your doctor does not prescribe anything for pain, then you may take
a nonprescription, non-aspirin pain medication such as Tylenol or
Advil. Please be sure to follow directions on the label. Take all
pain medication with some food to prevent upset stomach. Continue
with your regular medications unless instructed otherwise by your
doctor or nurse. Do not restart blood thinners or aspirin until
after checking with your doctor.
Diet
Progress slowly to a regular diet unless
otherwise instructed by your doctor. Start by taking liquids such
as soft drinks. If you have no nausea, try soup and crackers and,
finally, solid foods. After spinal/epidural anesthesia, you should
drink fluids frequently for 24 hours.
When to Call the
Doctor
If you develop:
- Persistent nausea and vomiting.
- A fever over 101 degrees Fahrenheit orally.
- Pain not relieved by pain medication.
- Any bleeding or unexpected drainage from the
wound.
- Extreme redness or swelling around the incision.
- After spinal/epidural, a headache not relieved
by Tylenol or similar non-aspirin medications.
Where to call
with questions
Call your doctor with questions. (At night
and on weekends, phone the doctor's office and the answering service
will have your doctor return your call.) Should an emergency arise
and you are unable to contact your doctor, you may call your nearest
emergency room department or 911.
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