• You will be discharged 2-3 hours after surgery.  Plan to have someone drive you home.
• A prescription for pain medications 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 not allowed if you have taken a pain medication within 24 hrs. 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. 
• Change dressing every other day. KEEP WOUND DRY AND COVERED. There will be stitches above and below the skin. Showering is allowed as long as wound is covered with water-tight dressing. Do not apply any lotions or ointments to wound.
• Do not submerge your incision in water such as hot tubs, bathtubs, pools, etc... for 6 weeks.
• Do not lift anything greater than 10 lbs.
• 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.  Opiods 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:

757-827-2317 from 8am-5pm Monday through Friday.  After hours or on weekends for emergency call: 757-220-4493.