To maximize the success of the extensive pelvic surgery that you have undergone, we encourage you to follow the recommendations listed below.  Tissues after surgery may require approximately 12 weeks to reach 80% of their final strength, 6 months to achieve 90%, and possibly 2 years to attain full strength.

ALLOWED ACTIVITY:

Walking-Walking is encouraged.  Pace yourself as your energy allows.
Climbing-You may climb stairs.
Showering-You may shower and wash you hair. 
Traveling-You may ride in a car, but may not drive until your first follow-up visit after surgery.
Housekeeping/Cooking-You may perform light housekeeping activites.

RESTRICTED ACTIVITY:

Lifting-You should not lift anything heavier than 8 pounds (a gallon of milk).
Carrying-You should not carry groceries or a laundry basket or push a vacuum cleaner.
Bending-You should limit bending over at the waist
Straining-You should avoid forcing a bowel movement
Vaginal Care-You should avoid douching, placing a tampon, or having intercourse.

WOUND CARE:

Avoid wetting the incision until 5 to 7 days after surgery.  After showering, dry the incision as thoroughly as possible.  A hair dryer on the "cool" setting works well.  Small adhesive strips, called steri-strips, may be allowed to fall off or may be peeled off after10 days.

MEDICATIONS:

You should restart all of your prior medications unless instructed otherwise.  In addition, you will be given pain medication, stool softener, and possibly vaginal hormone replacement.

CONSTIPATION:

Constipation may occur during the 1 to 2 months after surgery.  Because straining to pass a bowel movement can weaken your surgical repair, several habits should be used to avoid constipation.  You should take stool softeners prescribed by your doctor; drink 6 to 8 glasses of water daily; and increase your dietary fiber, either with fruits or with over-the-counter fiber supplements. 

CLICK HERE for more information about normal bowel function.

POSTOPERATIVE FOLLOW-UP APPOINTMENTS:

1 month appointment:  You will be allowed to increase your activities, ie, driving, sexual intercourse.
4 month appointment and 10 month appointment:  These visits will be used to assess the continued success of your postoperative recovery.

NORMAL EXPECTATIONS:

Fatigue-Most women feel more fatigued after surgery than before.  Some days will be better than others, and your energy level will improve during the 4 to 6 weeks following surgery.
Vaginal spotting-Spotting or a reddish discharge is normal.  Both will gradually change to a brown color,  then should disappear completely.
Incision pain-A tugging sensation or a feeling of numbness around the incision commonly occurs and generally resolves with time.

YOU SHOULD CALL YOUR SURGEON:

If your temperature reaches 101°.
If vaginal bleeding becomes as heavy and as bright as a normal period.
If you develop worsening incisional pain or if your incision develops redness, tenderness, warmth to the touch, or pus.
If you develop burning with urination or frequency and suspect a bladder infection.

CONTACT NUMBERS:

Patients receiving care at Parkland Hospital may call:   214-590-6547

Patients receiving care at Zale-Lipshy Hospital, St. Paul Hospital, or James W. Aston Clinic may call:   214-648-2784 (After hours answering service will page physician)

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