| Cancer
Care For Women
Post
Operative Instructions
Discharge Instructions: Abdominal
Hysterectomy
This guide will help
you in your recovery at home.
When you get home, call your
doctor or nurse at 761-0125
to discuss removal of staples
and/or stitches. Make an appointment
for a checkup in 2 weeks.
At this 2 week check up you
will learn the results of
the tissue samples (biopsies)
and your follow up plan of
care.
When to Call the Doctor
You should call your doctor
if you have any of the following:
- Fever more than 101 F
by mouth
- Shaking chills
- Trouble breathing
- Upset stomach or vomiting
- Loose stools or diarrhea
- Pain or foul odor when
passing urine
- Foul odor from vaginal
drainage
- Warmth, drainage, hardness,
or bleeding from your suture
line
- Opening of your suture
line
- Inability to have a bowel
movement 5 to 7 days after
your surgery
Call (207) 761-0125 or toll-free
1-877-277-4331.
Bathing -You may shower.
You may also take tub baths
if your feet are first washed
and are clean (using other
water and a washcloth). Do
not tub bathe if you have
had any vaginal surgery until
your doctor says it is OK.
Suture Line Care -
Look at your suture line at
least once a day to see how
it is healing. Clean the suture
line with soap and water during
your shower or bath. The steri
strips will fall off on their
own. If you have staples,
your doctor or nurse will
remove them at your checkup.
Binder Care -
If you had a binder on in
the hospital, you may leave
it off when you get home or
wear it if you like the way
it feels. The binder may be
washed.
Ostomy Care -If you
have an ostomy, a special
nurse with stoma care skills
(Enterostomal Therapy Nurse)
will work with you, your family
and your home health nurse
to help you to learn the care
you need to do.
Activities
Every woman recovers
from a hysterectomy at
her own speed. During the
first week or two, just plan
to rest and relax. You can
be up and around the house,
but don't expect too much
from yourself. Limit your
activities to prevent stress
to your suture line so it
does not open.
- Stairs - Plan to
climb as tolerated.
- Driving - Do not
drive a car for at least
2 weeks. If you ride in
the car, plan to stop and
stretch at least every 2
hours. When your doctor
feels you may start to drive,
try to practice in the driveway
first. You need to know
if your abdomen and leg
muscles can react well.
Have someone with you until
you feel you have healed
and you can drive safely.
- Lifting
- Do not lift heavy objects
which would make you strain.
Lift no more than 10 pounds
(such as a 10-pound bag
of sugar). Lift slowly and
use good body posture to
prevent strain.
- Sex - Do not put anything
in your vagina for 6 weeks.
When you do have sex, be
slow and gentle and use
a lubricant (such as Replens,
Astroglide or KY jelly).
Stop when you feel pain
or see blood. Call your
doctor if you have extreme
pain or bleeding.
- Exercise - Gentle
stretching and walking as
tolerated are encouraged
and are acceptable.
If you have any questions
about your recovery, talk
to your doctor or nurse practitioner.
Your provider can help you
with:
- "Change of life" or menopause
symptoms (hot flashes, mood
changes, trouble with sleep,
or vaginal dryness)
- Feeling
depressed for more than
2 weeks
- Relaxation techniques
- Pelvic
muscle exercises
- Sexuality and sexual questions
- Treatment
education
- Wig prescriptions (if
you have chemotherapy which
may cause hair loss)
- Return to work plans and
forms
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