What to expect at home

The following things are normal: While you are healing: Incision • Do NOT

• Redness right around the incision put anything in your until your • Small amount of drainage around the incision • healthcareDo NOT team says it is okay. Vaginal bleeding have sex until your healthcare team • Do NOT • Small amount of bleeding or spotting any time says it is okay. use hydrogen peroxide or alcohol on • Doyour NOT incision. during the first 3 weeks after surgery. It should not be enough to soak a pad in 1 hour. soak in a bath or get in a pool until at • Doleast NOT 2 weeks after surgery. •Energy Increased level bleeding with increased activity • Feeling more tired than normal put ointments, creams, or oils on your incision for 6 weeks. Who and when to call for problems Some women go home with a urinary catheter Call your surgeon’s office for: that is removed at a follow-up visit. Swelling after surgery can make it hard to urinate (pee). Incision care • Pain that is not getting better or gets worse • Fever over 100.4° F • Incision opens up or is bleeding • Wash the area gently with warm, soapy water every day in the shower. • Incision becomes redder, hard, or has pus in it • Passing blood clots that are larger than 2 inches • Pat the area dry with a clean towel. • Vaginal discharge that smells very bad

• If your incision is draining,® cover it with a dry gauze pad and medical tape or with an adhesive • Urine (pee) is cloudy or smells very bad bandage (e.g. Band-aid ) – leave your incision • Difficulty urinating (pee’ing) uncovered if it is not draining. • Not able to have a bowel movement for 3 days For more information please go to: Gynecological • If you have strips of tape on your incision, • Nausea or vomiting that does not stop BSWHealth.com/specialties/surgical-services leave the tape on until it falls off. • Not getting better as expected surgery guide • If you have staples at your incision, they will Call 911 for: be removed at your follow-up visit 7 to 14 days after surgery. • Passing out • If you have clear surgical glue on your incision, • Sudden chest pain it will fall off in 10 to 14 days.

• Shortness of breath that is getting worse

The information provided herein is considered educational and should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. ©2019 Baylor Scott & White Health. Female Reproductive System Prepare: Getting ready for Morning of surgery Recover: What to expect as Resume: What to expect your surgery □ you start your recovery when going home Today Bathe with antiseptic skin cleanser (chlorhexidine gluconate). Wash your Surgery day Pain management □ entire body except your face, hair, and □ □ □ Drink 6 to 8 glasses of fluids, genital area with the antiseptic skin cleanser. Start managing pain with medicine It is normal to have some pain while you are especially water, every day before Stop eating all solid food 8 hours before □ taken by mouth. □ healing. □ surgery. □ surgery. □ Drink liquids. Be active for at least 15 to 20 minutes Drink only clear liquids up to 2 hours Follow medicine instructions given to you by □ Eat if able. □ □ each day. □ before surgery. your healthcare team. Activity

Use incentive spirometer every hour □ Vagina Limit alcohol like beer, wine, and The special pre-surgery drink should be Use ice packs, deep breathing, walking, Finish it at ______□ while awake. liquor — stop drinking alcohol 24 the last drink you have if it was given to you. and distractions like music to help Increase what you do each day to get back □ ______□ □ hours (1 day) before surgery. Cough and deep breathe. with pain management. □ to your regular activities. □ Arrive at the hospital at Spend time out of bed. □ What is gynecological surgery? □ Stop smoking. • Do NOT Drinking Sit up for all meals. Gynecological surgery is surgery of the female Start walking. If you have diabetes, work with your healthcare • Do NOT use lotions □ Spend at least 6 to 8 hours out shave □ □ Visitteam BSWHealth.com/specialties/surgical-services to get blood sugar well controlled. • Do NOT Day AFTER surgery and beyond of bed each day. Drink at least 6 to 8 glasses of water reproductive system. This includes the vagina, put on make-up or perfumes □ Walk for 15 minutes 4 to 6 times □ every day to stay hydrated. □ fallopian tubes, , and uterus. Did you know? during the day. What are the most common Didfor youmore know? information. □ Manage pain with medicine taken by mouth. Watch for signs of dehydration, including □ surgeries? □ Rest when you feel tired. Drink 6 to 8 glasses of liquids. being overly tired, having a dry mouth, feeling Drinking clear liquids up to 2 hours before □ Do NOT lift more than 10 pounds until your Drinking fluids, especially water, and eating Eat solid food. dizzy, having nausea, having dark-colored □ surgery is safe and good for your body. This healthcare team says you can. • - removal of the uterus ® □ urine (pee), or urinating less than normal. healthy foods before surgery will help your □ Sit up for all meals. includes® water, sports drinks, clear juice, coffee Ask your healthcare team when you can • - removal of the ovaries body heal after surgery. Drink water if you have any signs of Day before surgery and tea without milk or cream, Popsicles, Use incentive spirometer every hour start activities like jogging, cycling,

• - removal of the fallopian tubes □ while awake. dehydration. If you do not get better after □ Jell-O, and the special pre-surgery drink. and lifting weights. drinking water, call your healthcare team. • Myomectomy - removal of fibroids in or □ Cough and deep breathe. □ around the uterus (uterus is not removed) Do not drink alcohol. Driving How is surgery done? □ Spend at least 4 hours out of bed. Eating Take off all jewelry including rings and piercings □ Walk in the halls at least 4 times. □ □ — leave valuables at home. □ Do NOT drive if you are taking opioid medicine. There are 3 main ways gynecological surgery is Before going home, you will need to: Bathe with antiseptic skin cleanser Eat healthy foods like cooked vegetables, performed. Your surgeon will talk with you about □ You must be able to wear a seatbelt and turn low-fat dairy products, and proteins like lean □ what is best for you. (chlorhexidine gluconate). Wash your your body to see for safe driving. □ entire body except your face, hair, and Walk safely in the halls. meats and chicken. • Minimally invasive surgery Ask your healthcare team when it is safe for genital area with the antiseptic skin cleanser. □ • Do NOT Eat and drink without nausea or vomiting. you to drive. – small incisions are made on the abdomen • Do NOT use lotions □ • Open surgery shave Manage pain with medicine taken by mouth. Returning to work (belly) • Do NOT □ Be able to urinate (pee) without problems. □ Did you know?put on make-up or perfumes □ Show signs your bowels are working. • Vaginal– a large surgery incision (cut) is made in the abdomen Talk with your healthcare team to decide what □ Know about new prescriptions. is best for you. Going back to work depends on □ the type of work you do. – surgery is performed mostly through Following instructions for bathing before Know when your follow-up visit is the vagina surgery helps prevent infection after surgery. scheduled. Slowly increase hours you work.