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Your surgeon or any
member of the staff are always happy to answer any questions you might
have. Some of our most frequently asked medical questions are answered
below.
Is there anything
special I need to do before my surgery?
Your surgeon and
staff will instruct each patient individually regarding their
preparation for surgery. The most important thing you can do is relax
and try to get a good night's sleep before your surgery. If you have
been told to fast from food and water after a certain time, it is
vitally important to follow those instructions precisely. Eating or
drinking before a surgery performed under general anesthesia can make
you feel nauseated when you wake up, and may actually be dangerous in
certain circumstances.
What do I do after my surgery?
On the day of your discharge, your surgeon will ask you to call his
office that day and schedule a postoperative visit within the next 1 - 2
weeks. This is very important so that the doctor can make sure your
incision is healing properly, and you are recovering as expected. There
is no charge for postoperative visits.
May I take a bath after surgery?
Bathing recommendations depend on the type of dressing and sutures
that were used to close your surgical incision. In general, you
may shower 48 hours following your surgery washing your incision lightly
with mild soap and water. However specific instructions may be
given regarding wound care. Please do not soak your incision in a
bath, swimming pool, hot tub, etc. for a prolonged period of time.
Surgical Dressing
If you leave the hospital with a surgical dressing over your wound,
we ask that you please remove it approximately 48 hours following your
surgery. You may bathe once the dressing is removed, either in the
shower or tub, according to your personal preference.
Steri-Strips
If your incision is covered with a "steri-strip" that looks like
see-through plastic tape, they typically begin to peel from the edges
5-7 days after surgery and you may remove them at that time. You may
wash the entire area daily with a mild soap such as Ivory or Dove
unscented. Do not use deodorant soaps, or any other harsh soap. If you
feel uncomfortable removing your own steri-strips, your surgeon can
remove them for you during your postoperative checkup.
Staples or Sutures
If you have staples or sutures, wash the incision site as well as
any drainage wounds daily, with a mild soap such as Ivory or Dove
unscented.
What should I do if my incision seems red or inflamed?
A certain amount of redness and swelling around the incision is
perfectly normal after surgery, particularly during the first four to
six days following the operation. During this period, it is normal for
the surgical wound to be red, swollen and tender. As the wound starts to
heal, the redness and swelling should gradually diminish over the two to
three weeks following surgery. If your surgical wound is still giving
you noticeable discomfort after three weeks, seems to be infected or
does not appear to be healing properly, call the office to schedule an
appointment with your surgeon. But remember, the area around the
incision may be numb or feel "strange' for many weeks after your
surgery. This will slowly diminish as the incision heals.
What if I develop a fever or start to feel bad?
Any time you develop a fever postoperatively, a large amount of
bleeding from your sutures, or start feeling generally worse instead of
better, you should call the office immediately.
When can I resume
my normal activities?
With today's
modern, less-invasive surgical techniques, it is often possible for
patients to return to normal activities very quickly. But each case is
individual. Unless your surgeon places specific restrictions upon you at
your discharge, you may resume normal home activities as usual, paying
good attention to your energy level and making sure not to push yourself
too hard. If you feel very tired or begin to have pain, this is Nature's
way of telling you to rest. You may wish to enlist the help of your
family members or some friends to see you through this initial
post-operative stage.
Why does your surgeon recommend walking for most patients?
Walking is a very beneficial, low stress exercise that can help post
surgical patients with many problems. Regular walking boosts poor
appetites, helps patients sleep more soundly, reduces the need for pain
medication, and improves intestinal regularity. Walking to your mailbox,
up the stairs, or around your house or backyard DOES NOT COUNT. When
your surgeon tells you to walk, this is what it means: Every morning,
starting the day after you go home, walk 1/2 mile. Every evening, walk
another 1/2 mile. Within four weeks following your surgery, you should
be able to increase this to 1 mile each morning and 1 mile each evening.
I feel a hard ridge of tissue in my surgical scar. Is this normal?
A hard, ridge-like area under the skin around your surgical incision
is normal and will fade with time.
I have bruising and discoloration near my incision. Is this okay?
Purple or yellow discoloration on or near the site of the surgical
incision is perfectly normal and not a cause for alarm. This bruising
will fade with time.
I have soreness or swelling at the site of my incision. What can I
do?
Soreness and swelling are both improved by the same prescription.
They will both get better daily if you follow your surgeon's
recommendations for post-surgical walking.
Standard Post Operative Instructions
Florida Hospital Flagler
61 Memorial Medical Parkway, Suite 2815
Palm Coast, Florida 32164
Office (386) 586-1850 · Fax
(386) 586-1851
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