Your written discharge plan comes first. These instructions must be tailored to your treatment and medical history. For combined procedures, ask the team for one coordinated plan; do not choose between conflicting instructions yourself.
What to expect.
Abdominal tightness, soreness with position changes, swelling, and lower abdominal numbness are common. Drains may be used.
Your care plan.
- Use a comfortable, slightly flexed position as shown to avoid pulling the incision. Gradually straighten as instructed rather than forcing your posture.
- Wear the binder snugly, without restricting breathing or creating deep folds. Call if it causes pain, skin discoloration, or new numbness.
- Record each drain output separately. Follow the discharge plan for bathing; the existing uncomplicated protocol allows a shower the next day.
- Do not use a heating pad. Keep dressings clean and leave tape or glue in place.
Activity & recovery.
- Take brief walks about every hour while awake, with help if needed. Avoid prolonged bed rest. Use prescribed leg compression and clot-prevention medicines exactly as directed.
- Avoid lifting more than 10 pounds, abdominal exercise, straining, and twisting chores until cleared. The existing protocol restricts rotational activities for six weeks; confirm your own clearance date.
Follow your team’s specific instructions for medicines, wound care, and safe movement. Do not drive while taking sedating medicines or until you can safely operate a vehicle and your surgeon clears you.
When to call.
Chest pain, trouble breathing, collapse, stroke symptoms, or sudden loss of vision need immediate emergency care. Do not wait for an office reply or use an online form.
Contact your care team promptly
- Call urgently for increasing abdominal swelling, a tight painful bulge, new wound separation, or heavy bleeding.
- A newly swollen or painful calf needs urgent medical evaluation; do not massage it.
- Report fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, spreading redness, pus, worsening pain, persistent vomiting, or inability to keep fluids down. Call sooner if you feel seriously unwell, even without a fever.
- New one-sided calf pain or swelling needs urgent medical assessment. If you also have chest pain or shortness of breath, call 911.
Call 615.730.7500. After hours, follow the urgent-contact directions on your discharge paperwork. If you cannot reach the team and symptoms are urgent, seek immediate medical care.
Stay connected.
Keep your scheduled follow-up and ask the team when to send an update or return sooner. Confirm any dressing, stitch, or drain removal with the office. Return to exercise, work, travel, and skin-care products should follow your individual clearance plan.
Before leaving your appointment, make sure you know your next visit date, medication plan, and after-hours contact instructions.
Sources & References
External references open in a new tab. Your care guide will stay open here.
These references provide general information. Follow your care team’s procedure-specific instructions and personal discharge plan.