Recovery

Your doctor will determine when you are able to go home. Discharge time for patients is at 11:00 am each day.
You will receive written instructions (discharge instructions) from your nurse before you go home. Please feel free to ask your doctor, resident, fellow or nurse for help or information.
To help the area heal without infection or leaking urine, you may be sent home with a Foley catheter. It will be kept in place for 7 to 10 days and may be removed at your first follow up visit. The nurses will teach you how to care for your catheter and how to change between the leg bag and the bedside drainage bag before you are discharged. They are happy to answer any questions you have about home care.
A prescription for pain medicine will be given to you when you leave. You may also be instructed to take iron supplements to rebuild your red blood cell count and you may also be instructed to take a stool softener.
You will be given a prescription for an antibiotic to take the night before and the morning you return to clinic for your follow up appointment. Two pills will remain for that night after your clinic visit and the following morning.
The day and time of your first follow-up visit may be set at this time or you will be given instructions when to call to schedule the appointment.
You will be given a Foley leg bag, bedside drainage bag and an incentive spirometer to take home.

Each day following your surgery, you will feel better. Here’s is a guide to some general instructions for you to follow to aid in your recovery.

Activities

You may take a shower. Do not take a tub bath until after the removal of your Foley catheter.
If you have no dressing on your incision, clean it daily with soap and water.
Increase your activity each day. You may walk outdoors and use the stairs.
When sitting, prop your feet up on a stool or sit on a recliner to keep your feet elevated to prevent swelling in your lower legs. If swelling occurs, lie in bed and raise your feet on pillows higher than your head.
Your doctor will determined when you can resume driving at your first post op visit depending on how much pain medications you are taking.
Do not lift anything heavier than 5 lbs (i.e., six pack of soda).
Do your Kegel exercises hourly while you are awake.
Do your incentive spirometer hourly while you are awake.
Attach your Foley catheter to the leg bag when you are up or the large bedside drainage bag when lying down. Keep both bags below the level of your stomach. The catheter securing device should remain in place at all times.

Diet

Return to your usual diet. Eat foods high in fiber like bread and cereal from whole grains, raw fruit and vegetables with the skin on to prevent constipation.
Drink five to six glasses of water or juice every day to keep your urine pale yellow.

Medicine to Take at Home

Maximum combined total of acetaminophen (Tylenol) and/or hydrocodone/acetaminohphen (Lortab) is eight tablets per day.
Never use an enema or rectal suppository.
Take only medicine ordered or approved by your doctor.
Prescription medications may include Lortab®, Ditropan® and Cipro®.
Over-the-counter medications may include aspirin, Tylenol®, Colace®, Milk of Magnesia® and iron.

Call Your Doctor If:

Your temperature is above 101°F or you have shaking chills.
You have unusual pain in your belly or kidney areas (mid back) or scrotum that is not helped by pain medication.
Your incision becomes red, swollen, painful, feels hot to touch, has pus or foul smelling drainage from it.
Your urine is bloody with large blood clots in it (larger than 1/4 inch) or is cloudy or foul smelling.
Your Foley catheter falls out or is not draining well.
You have an increase in nausea, vomiting or diarrhea (loose stools 3x a day).
You have a new onset of swelling in your legs.

Seek Help Immediately (call 911) If:

You suddenly have trouble breathing or start having chest pain. You could have a blood clot in your lung or an allergy to one of your medicines.
You develop severe pain in your abdomen or chest.
You have a change in your level of consciousness, vision or strength.