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• You will be discharged the 2^nd or 3^rd day after surgery. Plan to have someone drive you home.
• A prescription for pain medication will be given for you to go home with. If you need a refill, please call your pharmacy or our office.
• It will be determined at your follow-up visits when you are allowed to resume driving. Driving is allowed if you have not taken any pain medication within the past 24 hours. You may ride in a car, but do not ride for more than one-hour continuously without getting out and walking for the first two months. If you need a temporary handicap parking permit one can be arranged for you. 
• You will have a corset to wear after surgery. Wear whenever there is a risk for falls or while in the car.
• Change dressing every other day. KEEP WOUND DRY AND COVERED. All your stitches are underneath the skin, you will have glue on top of the skin. Do not apply any ointments or lotions. While showering keep incision covered with a water-tight dressing. If you are unable to keep your incision dry while showering, we recommend towel baths. 
• Do not submerge your incision in water such as hot tubs, bathtubs, pools, or other bodies of water for 6 weeks.
• Do lift anything greater than 10 lbs., no excessive bending/twisting at the waist.
• Be sure to get up and take short walks 4 times per day to help avoid developing a blood clot in your legs.
• Be sure to maintain a healthy bowel regimen while on pain medications. Opioids tend to cause constipation. Use over-the-counter stool softeners and gentle laxatives to maintain regular bowel habits.
• Call the office to report any fever greater than 101.5, progressively worsening pain that is not controlled with oral pain medications, drainage from your incision site, new bowel/bladder incontinence. 
• IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS, please call the office for further instructions: 757-827-2480 from 8am until 5pm Monday through Friday you’ll reach out operator. For after hours and weekends you can reach our answering service with the same phone number.