The following instructions are provided to help your quick recovery. Please note that these are meant to be basic/general guidelines. Everyone recovers differently. If you have any questions or concerns about your recovery, please contact your physician.

Things To Do

• Do not lift any heavy objects above 6.8kg or as directed by your physician.
• Have someone around to help you with chores or errands at all times.
• Understand your body and rest when you need to.
• Do not drive a motor bike; operate machinery or power tools for 24 hours or while taking pain medications.
• You may resume your pre-operative level of activity 24 hours after surgery.
• You may use the stairs if you do not feel drowsy.

Pain Medication

• Please follow strictly the instructions on the drug label.
• You will be given a prescription for a pain reliever after surgery.
• Do not take pain medication on an empty stomach. This may get you nauseated.
• Use gentle laxative (prescribed by the physician) as constipation is very much common with some pain medication.
• If you must drive after taking pain medications, please consult your physician for guidance. Please visit the hospital or contact your physician when your medication is exhausted or if the pain persists or worsens. Do not use over-the-counter medications without express instructions and directions by your physician.

Diet

• Avoid the use of alcohol or cigarette while you are on medication
• Your diet may be advanced slowly over the next day or two as directed by your physician.

Wound Care

• If you have a clear see-through plastic bandage over the incision, you may take a shower. These is no cause for alarm The bandage is waterproof and it is not unusual for some reddish fluid to accumulate under the plastic bandage. The plastic bandage may be removed after 3 days. It is ok to leave it on until follow up with your physician.
• If you have a gauze bandage over the incision, you may remove it in 48 hours and may then shower.
• If you have narrow white tape strips over the incision (steri-strips), keep them dry for 48 hours. Do not remove them unless they are curling up at the side and almost falling off (if you remove them sooner, you risk pulling the incision apart). You may then shower.
• Staples or sutures are generally removed in 7-14 days.
• Many incisions will have buried absorbable sutures, which do not need to be removed.

Bathing

• Bath should not be longer than 5 minutes.
• Do not soak in the bathtub unless instructed by your physician.

Contact your physician If you observe the following:

• Severe bleeding occurs.
• Your temperature is 38.3°C or higher. It is not uncommon to have a low-grade fever after surgery.
• You have new redness around the incision or if pus drains from the incision.
• Severe abdominal pain, vomiting, or jaundice occurs (yellow tint to eyes or skin).
• If you cannot get in touch with your physician, call the Emergency Dept of Molly Specialist Hospital on +234 818 886 6559, +234 818 776 6559.

Follow-Up:

• Most appointments are scheduled for 7-14 days after discharge from the hospital. But if you have any worries, please call our emergency lines: +234 818 886 6559, +234 818 776 6559.