Your care after gynecologic surgery
As you recover from gynecologic surgery you probably will have questions or
concerns. This brochure addresses some of the most common concerns and provides
important information about caring for yourself after surgery. If you have further
questions, please call your surgeon.
Nutrition
You may eat whatever you want. Drink plenty of water. Good nutrition, with a
balanced diet, promotes healing.
Bowel function and constipation
For the first several days after the surgery, the bowel is usually less active. This means
bowel movements may not occur, or may be less frequent than usual. This can be
because of anesthesia or because of the surgery itself. Walking and a hot water bottle
can help to relieve the discomfort of gas pains. It may take a month or two for your
bowels to return to normal.
As you recovery from surgery, it is important that you do not strain to have a bowel
movement. To try to avoid hard stools and constipation, add more fruit, vegetables,
and unprocessed bran to your diet. Drinking plenty of fluid is also helpful. If you have
not had a bowel movement in 2-3 days, please call your surgeon. Do not treat
constipation yourself without speaking to your surgeon first. This means do not use
suppositories, enemas, stool softeners, laxatives, or mineral oil unless your surgeon or
nurse says it is okay.
Bladder function
You may urinate more than usual for the first few days after surgery. The urination
may be uncomfortable. But if you experience a burning sensation when passing urine
after the first few days, it may mean you have an infection. If this happens, call your
surgeon.
Fatigue
You should expect to feel tired for a long time after surgery. It may take several weeks
to return to your usual level of energy. This is part of the normal healing process and
is not a cause for concern. You should rest and nap as needed.
Over 
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Activity
Walking at a slow, comfortable pace is the best way to gradually increase your
stamina and get back to normal activities. However, for the next 6 weeks you should
refrain from any heavier exercise including sit-ups, push-ups, aerobics, and running.
Do not do anything that will strain your abdominal muscles, such as opening stuck
windows or lifting anything heavier than 5 pounds. Don’t do any heavy household
work, such as vacuuming or washing floors. This is important because the deeper
layers of the incision heal more slowly than the skin. You may ride in a car as a
passenger, but driving generally is not recommended for the first 2-3 weeks after
surgery. You should not drive if you are still taking narcotic pain medication (such as
Percocet, Demerol, or Dilaudid), or if you are feeling any discomfort or fatigue.
Managing pain
You will have pain from the incision and some deeper pelvic pain inside the body
from the surgery. Before you leave the hospital, your surgeon and nurse will discuss
the type of pain medication you will need at home. You may receive a prescription for
pain medication, if needed. Take the medicine as directed so that you will be as
comfortable as possible. This pain should lessen over time.
Wound care
The incision on your abdomen may be itchy for a few days. You may see an area of
redness right around the incision, and you may notice a small amount of clear drainage
coming from the wound. This is normal. However, if there is warmth or redness that is
spreading, or if you see a lot of drainage, or bloody or thick material coming from the
incision, please call your surgeon. As your incision heals, you will see it change color
and then it will become numb for several weeks.
You may shower. It is okay to get the incision wet. After you shower, pat the incision
dry with a clean face cloth or towel. If you have little bandages called steri-trips in
place, you may remove them after 1 week. If the steri-strips fall off sooner, that is not
a problem. Avoid putting bandages, cream, lotion, ointments, hydrogen peroxide,
rubbing alcohol, or anything else on your incision, unless instructed to do so by your
surgeon.
Vaginal care
During the first 6 weeks after surgery, a small amount of bleeding or pink to brownish
vaginal discharge may be present. Call your surgeon if you have bright red bleeding or
a heavy, foul-smelling discharge.
Nothing should be inserted into your vagina until you have been told otherwise by
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your surgeon. Do not use tampons, douches, or sexual devices. You must not have
sexual intercourse until your doctor says it is okay. These precautions usually are
recommended for the first 4-6 weeks after surgery.
Your emotional response
It is common to have concerns and worries about your surgery, diagnosis, and ongoing
health and well-being. Any concern is important enough to bring to the attention of
your caregivers. Your surgeon is available to provide advice and guidance. Social
workers also are available to provide support to you and those close to you before,
during, and after your surgery and hospitalization. If you want to see a social worker,
please ask your nurse or doctor.
No question is too insignificant to ask. Don't hesitate to call your surgeon if you have
a question or concern.
When to call your surgeon
Call your surgeon immediately if you experience any of the following:

Temperature higher than 100.4 degrees

Increase in abdominal pain or cramping or an increase in pain around the
incision that is not relieved by pain medication

Spreading area of redness or warmth around the incision

Bloody or thick drainage from the incision, or large amounts of drainage

Bright red vaginal bleeding

Foul-smelling discharge from the vagina

Other things to watch for:
Follow-up appointment
Please call your surgeon to arrange a follow-up appointment. Your surgeon will let
you know how soon to schedule the appointment.
This material was prepared by clinicians from the departments of surgery and nursing at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.
It is produced and distributed by The Beth Israel Deaconess Learning Center. ©2008, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. All
rights reserved.
MC0120 REV 08/08
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