Home Instructions after Same Day Surgery
Activity
After anesthesia, limit activity for 24 hours. Make sure a
responsible person stays with you tonight. Ambulate several
times a day to promote good circulation. You may climb
stairs. Do not drive a car or operate hazardous machinery
while taking narcotic pain medication.
Diet
Begin with liquids and light food. Progress to a normal
diet if not nauseated. Drink plenty of liquids. (Medications
may cause constipation.) Do not drink alcohol while taking
narcotic pain medication or within 24 hours of anesthesia.
Dressing and Wound Care
If you have a plastic dressing, remove it in 3 days, but leave
the steri-strips (small bandage strips) in place. If there is
Dermabond (glue) on the wound, simply shower to keep it
clean. Do not try to remove it. You may shower. A small
amount of bleeding or bruising is not unusual. Call the office
for excessive bleeding or drainage. A bra may be worn for
comfort after breast surgery.
Medications
Resume regular medications which were taken before the
operation. Do not restart blood-thinning medications unless
instructed to do so. Take Tylenol or Advil for mild pain. Take
prescription pain medications for more severe pain. Over-the
-counter medications may be used for constipation or indigestion.
Follow-Up Care
If a biopsy was done, we will call with the results in 2-3 days. If
you haven’t heard in 3 days, call the office. Call for excessive pain,
fever > 102, prolonged nausea, difficulty breathing, wound
drainage, or other questions. Call and schedule a return appoint-
ent to see your doctor in 7–10 days (782-8210, then press 1) if this
has not already been done. Call the nurses line for all medical
questions during office hours (782-8210 x 234). After hours, call
the physician on call for all urgent medical questions (782-8210).