Post - Operative Instructions for Patients

Diet

It is normal to have less of an appetite after surgery. Drink lots of fluids and include fibre in your diet, such as fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grain cereals or breads. Eating these foods and drinking lots of fluids will help prevent constipation.

Every patient is provided with A DIET PLAN at the Time of Discharge tailored to his / her post- operative needs.

Constipation

Constipation is the most common problem after the procedure

We encourage very aggressive prevention of constipation for all patients. The following is a list of regimens, all over-the-counter, which may be combined as needed to prevent constipation and straining after hernia surgery:

• Drinking 8 glasses of fluid per day
• High fiber diet (high fiber cereals, vegetables, beans, fruits).
• Fiber supplementation (Miralax, Benefiber, fiber tablets, fiber powders, fiber crackers). Mineral oil.
• Take a tablespoon 2-3 times a day.
• Stool softeners ( Dulcolax) do usually work. Take as directed on bottle

Pain Control

Pain is expected after surgery. Every patient may experience a different level of pain sensation. In general, most patients have acute pain that requires pain control for 1-3 days after surgery. Some require pain control for 1-2 weeks after surgery.

In Discharge summary Proper Pain Medication is prescribed to you.

Activity

For the first 3 weeks after surgery

• Be active. Walking, non-extreme exercises, and normal daily activities are highly encouraged. These may include shopping, stairs , sexual activity, and house work. This will speed up the healing process, decrease the chance of lung problems and prevent complications such as blood clots in the legs.

After the first 3 weeks after surgery

• You may resume all activities, without restriction.
• For gym-type exercises, make sure you work your core muscles (stomach, mid-to-lower back, and hips).
• If your job involves routine heavy lifting, ask your surgeon for further instruction. You may be encouraged to delay lifting heavy objects until 6 weeks after surgery

Driving

Check with your doctor about when you will be able to drive. Usually, you will not be able to drive for 1 week after surgery. However, this can vary depending on the type of surgery that you have had. Never drive while taking narcotic pain medications.

When To Call Doctor After Surgery

• Pain that is not relieved by medication.
• Nausea for longer than 1 hour
• Vomiting
• Fever greater than 101°F
• Redness, warmth, and worsening pain at the incisions
• Purulent (pus) drainage from any incision
• Difficulty urinating or burning when you urinate
• Watery diarrhea, more than 3 times a day

Post-Operative Exercises

Pelvic strengthening exercises will prevent constipation and recurrence of piles.

You should ideally start doing these exercises from 4 weeks onwards.

Sharing you the link of exercises below – SHARE EXERCISES YOUTUBE LINK

Pristyn Care wishes you a smooth treatment journey