Discharge Information

Diagnostic Laparoscopy

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Medication:

  • Resume your preoperative routine medications.
  • Take your pain medications and/or antibiotic as explained to you by our nurses.

Constipation:

  • Some changes in your bowels are normal following any surgery. Constipation may last for a few days after the procedure.
  • To prevent constipation, drink 6-8 glasses of fluids per day, eat high fibre foods, prunes, etc. Metamucil or Coloxyl & Senna are okay. Call during office hours if these methods are ineffective.

Wound Care:

  • Keep your dressings for 48 hours, and then it is ok to peel them off while you are having your shower.
  • It will take up to 6 months for your incision to mature into its final form. Ridges and raised red scars will diminish in time and smooth out.
  • Notify your local doctor or call our rooms if the wound becomes red, irritated, or purulent discharge develops. A small amount of blood or clear discharge is normal initially.
  • Some mild abdominal distention and/or cramping are normal. Occasionally, patients report right shoulder pain. A warm heating pad and walking should relieve the discomfort.
  • Sutures will dissolve and fall out in 2 to 3 weeks, you don’t have to remove them, just keep them clean and dry.

Activity:

  • After surgery, take it easy for a couple of days before resuming your normal routine.
  • No driving at the day of your surgery.
  • There are no restrictions with regards to heavy lifting.
  • It is important to be up and out of bed, walking, but you may fatigue easily and it is important to get enough rest.
  • There is no limit to stair climbing.

Normal Post-Op Changes:

  • You may feel bloated for a few days following your surgery. This will improve with activity.
  • Some abdominal bruising is normal, as is drainage and small bleeding from your incisions.
  • Vaginal bleeding and discharge are normal for up to 6 weeks if you had any uterine manipulation during your procedure.

Follow-up:

  • If not already scheduled, please call our office at your earliest convenience to make an appointment for 1 week after your surgery.
  • Reports from biopsies and final histopathology specimens will be received by Dr. Walker within 5 to 7 working days. Dr. Walker will contact you with the results or discuss them with you on your follow-up visit.

Contact Dr. Walker at any time if you experience:

  • Bleeding heavier than a period.
  • Severe abdominal or back/flank pain, severe nausea or vomiting, or shaking chills.
  • Fever over 38°C.
  • Burning on urination or inability to urinate.

Examination & Biopsies

Download: Discharge Information (PDF)

  • Rest at home today and gradually increase your activity as tolerated. Do not drive a car or sign any legal documents today. Have someone to drive you home.
  • Please refrain from sexual intercourse for the next 7 days.
  • You may shower using plain soap and water as desired but avoid baths for 7 days after your procedure.
  • Use a pad if any bleeding. You can use tampons if you wish. You may have some light bleeding or spotting for as long as two weeks. If, at any time, the bleeding becomes abnormally heavy (saturating one pad repeatedly every 15 minutes) please call Dr. Walker.
  • Occasionally, there is a yellow to bloody water discharge, or a dark brown dirt-like discharge. This is normal and should be controlled with a pad.
  • Pain management at home: take Panadol 1g every 6 hours as required.
  • Disturbed menstrual pattern is common. If you are taking the oral contraceptive pill you should continue to take it as usual.
  • Please refrain from heavy lifting or vigorous exercising (aerobics, calisthenics, weight lifting) for 7 days.

Contact Dr. Walker at any time if you experience:

  • Bleeding heavier than a period.
  • Severe abdominal or back/flank pain, severe nausea or vomiting, or shaking chills.
  • Fever over 38°C.
  • Burning on urination or inability to urinate.
  • Foul-smelling discharge that persists for more than 3 days.

Hysteroscopy and D&C

Download: Discharge Information (PDF)

  • Rest at home today and gradually increase your activity as tolerated. Do not drive a car or sign any legal documents today. Have someone drive you home. You may bathe or shower as desired with plain soap and water.
  • You can use a pad or tampons for vaginal bleeding. You may have some light bleeding or spotting for 7-10 days. If vaginal bleeding becomes abnormally heavy (saturating one pad repeatedly every 15 minutes) please contact Dr. Walker.
  • Intercourse should be avoided for 48 hours following your procedure.
  • Pain management at home: take Panadol 1g every 6 hours as required.
  • Disturbed menstrual pattern is common. If you are taking oral contraceptive pill you should continue to take it as usual.

Contact Dr. Walker at any time if you experience:

  • Bleeding heavier than a period.
  • Severe abdominal or back/flank pain, severe nausea or vomiting, or shaking chills.
  • Fever over 38°C.
  • Burning on urination or inability to urinate.
  • Foul-smelling discharge that persists for more than 3 days.

Laparoscopic Surgery

Download: Discharge Information (PDF)

Medication:

  • Resume your preoperative routine medications.
  • Take your pain medications and/or antibiotic as explained to you by our nurses.

Constipation:

  • Some changes in your bowels are normal following any surgery. Constipation may last for a couple of weeks after the procedure.
  • To prevent constipation, drink 6-8 glasses of fluids per day, eat high fibre foods, prunes, etc. Metamucil or Coloxyl & Senna are okay. Call during office hours if these methods are ineffective.

Wound Care:

  • Keep your dressings for 48 hours, and then it is ok to peel them off while you are having your shower.
  • No baths or swimming pool exposure for 4 weeks if you had a total laparoscopic hysterectomy (TLH), or for 1 week for any other procedures e.g. removal of cysts, ovary(s).
  • It will take up to 6 months for your incision to mature into its final form. Ridges and raised red scars will diminish in time and smooth out.
  • Notify your local doctor or call the rooms if the wound becomes red, irritated, or purulent discharge develops. A small amount of blood or clear discharge is normal initially.
  • Some mild abdominal distention and/or cramping are normal. Occasionally, patients report right shoulder pain. A warm heating pad and walking should relieve the discomfort.
  • Sutures will dissolve and fall out in 2 to 3 weeks, you don’t have to remove them, just keep them clean and dry.

Activity:

  • After surgery, take it easy for a 4 or 5 days before resuming your routine.
  • No driving for a week after surgery or while you are on prescription pain medications. Please make sure your health insurance company is going to cover you when you start driving.
  • It is important to be up and out of bed, walking, but you may fatigue easily. It is important to get enough rest.
  • There is no limit to stair climbing.
  • Limit yourself to light housework (i.e., dusting) for 1 week.
  • No intercourse for 6 weeks if you had a Total Laparoscopic Hysterectomy and for 2 weeks if you had any other laparoscopic procedure. Gradually increase your level of activity; and remember to listen to your body – IF IT HURTSDON’T DO IT!

Normal Post-Op Changes:

  • You will be bloated for 1-2 weeks following your surgery. This will improve with activity.
  • Some abdominal bruising is normal, as is drainage and small bleeding from your incisions.
  • Vaginal bleeding and discharge are normal for up to 6 weeks.

Follow-up:

  • If not already scheduled, please call our office at your earliest convenience to make an appointment for 2 weeks after your surgery.
  • If you have questions or concerns before this appointment, please call the rooms for assistance.
  • Reports from biopsies and final histopathology specimens will be received by Dr. Walker within 5 to 7 working days. Dr. Walker will contact you with the results or discuss them with you on your follow-up visit.

Contact Dr. Walker at any time if you experience:

  • Bleeding heavier than a period.
  • Severe abdominal or back/flank pain, severe nausea or vomiting, or shaking chills.
  • Fever over 38°C.
  • Burning on urination or inability to urinate.

Laparotomy

Download: Discharge Information (PDF)

Medication:

  • Resume your preoperative routine medications.
  • Take your pain medications and/or antibiotic as explained to you by our nurses.
  • Constipation:
  • Some changes in your bowels are normal following any surgery. Constipation may last for a couple of weeks after the procedure.
  • To prevent constipation, drink 6-8 glasses of fluids per day, eat high fibre foods, prunes, etc. Metamucil or Coloxyl & Senna are okay. Call during office hours if these methods are ineffective.

Wound Care:

  • Keep your dressing(s) for 5 days; then it is ok to peel them off while you are having your shower.
  • No baths or swimming pool exposure for 4 weeks if you had a total hysterectomy, or for 1 week for any other procedures e.g. removal of cysts, ovary(s).
  • It will take up to 6 months for your incision to mature into its final form. Ridges and raised red scars will diminish in time and smooth out.
  • Notify your local doctor or call our rooms if the wound becomes red, irritated, or purulent discharge develops. A small amount of blood or clear discharge is normal initially.
  • Some mild abdominal distention and/or cramping are normal. A warm heating pad and walking should relieve the discomfort.
  • Sutures will dissolve and fall out in 2 to 3 weeks, you don’t have to remove them, just keep them clean and dry.

Activity:

  • After surgery, take it easy for 4 weeks before resuming your normal routine.
  • No driving for 4 weeks after surgery. You may ride in a car as a passenger as long as you wear a seatbelt. You should avoid long trips. Please make sure your health insurance company is going to cover you when you start driving.
  • No heavy lifting greater than 1Kg for 4 weeks since the day of your operation.
  • It is important to be up and out of bed, walking. You may fatigue easily; enough rest is important.
  • Limit yourself to light housework (i.e., dusting) for 4 weeks.
  • No intercourse for 6 weeks if you had a Total Abdominal Hysterectomy and for 3 weeks if you had any other open surgery (cut through surgery). Gradually increase level of activity; and remember to listen to your body – IF IT HURTSDON’T DO IT!
  • Most women are able to return to work five weeks after surgery. If you desire to return to work earlier, call Dr. Walker’s rooms to discuss the situation before returning to work.

Normal Post-Op Changes:

  • You will be bloated for 1-2 weeks following your surgery. This will improve with activity.
  • Some abdominal bruising is normal, especially around your incision, as is drainage and small bleeding.
  • Vaginal bleeding and discharge are normal for up to 6 weeks.

Follow-up:

  • If not already scheduled, please call the office at your earliest convenience to make an appointment for 2 weeks after your surgery.
  • If you have questions or concerns before this appointment, please call the rooms for assistance.
  • Reports from biopsies and final histopathology specimens will be received by Dr. Walker within 5 to 7 working days. Dr. Walker will contact you with the results or discuss them with you on your follow-up visit.

Contact Dr. Walker at any time if you experience:

  • Vaginal bleeding heavier than a period.
  • Severe abdominal or back/flank pain, severe nausea or vomiting, or shaking chills.
  • Fever over 38°C.
  • Burning on urination or inability to urinate.

LLETZ Procedure

Download: Discharge Information (PDF)

  • Rest at home today and gradually increase your activity as tolerated. Do not drive a car or sign any legal documents today. Have someone drive you home.
  • Please refrain from sexual intercourse for 6 weeks.
  • You may shower using plain soap and water as desired but avoid baths for 4 weeks after your procedure.
  • Use a pad for bleeding. Do not use tampons or douches. You may have some light bleeding or spotting for as long as two weeks. One of the most likely times to experience bleeding complications after this procedure is from 8 to 14 days after your surgery. If, at any time, the bleeding becomes abnormally heavy (saturating one pad repeatedly every 15 minutes) please call Dr. Walker.
  • Occasionally, there is a yellow to bloody water discharge, or a dark brown dirt-like discharge. This is normal and should be controlled with a pad.
  • Pain management at home: take Panadol 1g every 6 hours as required.
  • Disturbed menstrual pattern is common. If you are taking the oral contraceptive pill you should continue to take it as usual.
  • Please refrain from heavy lifting or vigorous exercising (aerobics, calisthenics, weight lifting) for 2 weeks.
  • You may notice a small piece of absorbable knitted fabric coming out of the vagina. This is normal; it is used to prevent vaginal bleeding.

Contact Dr. Walker at any time if you experience:

  • Bleeding heavier than a period.
  • Severe abdominal or back/flank pain, severe nausea or vomiting, or shaking chills.
  • Fever over 38°C.
  • Burning on urination or inability to urinate.
  • Foul-smelling discharge that persists for more than 3 days.

About Dr Graeme Walker


Dr Walker strives to ensure a gold standard of evidence-based care for all his patients and strongly believes patient care is a 24 hour concern and is therefore contactable at all times in the event of an emergency or complications.