Post Op Instructions
DIET:
Resume your normal diet after surgery. You may have nausea from the anesthesia and/or the pain pills. Your first meal should be light (jello/soup) and then advance your diet to normal as tolerated.
MEDICATION:
- Take your medications as directed
- Pain medication and as needed
- Antibiotics if Dr. Kaplan prescribed them
- You may take pain medicine until your pain subsides. After 2-3 days, you should begin decreasing the number of pills and lengthening the time between taking the pills.
*Narcotics can be constipating – use senekot/stool softener/laxative as needed
- You may add ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) or Aleve to help with the pain and swelling as long as you do not have any allergies to these medicines.
- Take all the medicines with food as they can upset your stomach.
- Do not resume any medicine for Diabetes until you are back on your regular diet. Increase the number of times you check your blood sugar following surgery until your glucose measurements return to normal.
Exercise
- This will depend on the type of surgery you had. Dr. Kaplan will give you instructions.
ACTIVITY and EXERCISE:
- Dr. Kaplan will give you instructions depending on the type of surgery performed.
DRESSINGS and BATHING:
- Dr. Kaplan will give you instructions regarding dressings postoperatively
DO NOT PUT ANYTHING ON THE WOUNDS – DO NOT PUT NEOSPORIN/BACITRACIN/OR ANY OTHER OINTMENTS ON THE WOUND. DRY DRESSINGS ONLY (BANDAIDS)
INCISION:
- The incisions may be sore and develop bruising; the bruising will eventually disappear and does not require special care.
RETURN VISIT:
- A postoperative visit has been scheduled for you. If you do not have an appointment call the office at 346-3465.
PRECAUTIONS:
- If you develop a fever (101 or above), increasing pain not relieved by medication, increasing redness or swelling around the incision, thick yellow or foul smelling drainage, please call our office at 346-3465. If you have difficulty breathing, persistent nausea/vomiting please go to the closest emergency room.