Do’s and Don’ts for Your Surgery

What To Bring To Hospital
Please bring comfortable clothes/nightwear for your stay in hospital and your usual toiletries. You will also need to bring all your usual medications and any reading, hearing or walking aids that you use.

Please make sure you leave any jewellery or valuables at home as you will need to remove jewellery prior to the surgery.

You might like to bring something to read, a crossword book or other entertainment to hospital with you.
Do's & Don'ts - Before Your Surgery:
  1. DO try to stay fit and healthy prior to your surgery as this can help greatly with your recovery.
  2. DO try to give up smoking or at least reduce the number of cigarettes you smoke leading up to your admission. (If you would like assistance to quit smoking, you can call the quit line on 131848 or visit the website www.QUITWa.com)
  3. DON’T forget to organise for a family member or friend to help look after your children while you are in hospital and recovering.
  4. DON’T eat or drink anything for 6 hours prior to your booked surgery time. If you need to take any medications, you can have a small sip of water with them.
NOTE: Bowel preps/enemas are no longer routinely given prior to surgery as current evidence suggests that this is not necessary. You will be advised at your pre-op consult if you are to have one.
 
Do's & Don'ts - After Your Surgery:
The nursing staff on the wards will assist you with all your post-op care.
  • DO try to move around and mobilise as soon as you can, as this helps with your recovery.
  • DO take some simple analgesics (pain-killers) such as paracetamol and/or anti inflammatories for the first day or two after you get home, if you have any pain or discomfort – otherwise this will keep you from mobilising and thus slow down your recovery.
  • DO keep your wound clean. You may shower/bathe but make sure that you gently pat the area dry after washing to discourage infection.
  • DO try to refrain from sexual intercourse for at least 6 weeks after your surgery. This will help with the healing process and decrease the incidence of infection.
  • DO try to rest as much as you can after an operation, as this can help greatly with your recovery.  However, it remains important to keep active without straining, and to mobilise, as this will decrease the chance of you developing a blood clot/DVT.
  • DO eat healthy foods and drink plenty of water (about 2 litres per day is recommended) to aid in your recovery.
  • DON’T worry if you experience a little redness around your wound. However, if redness increases, becomes hot to the touch or has a smelly discharge, please see your GP in case you have an infection in your wound.
  • DON’T worry if you notice some vaginal bleeding after your operation. This can be quite normal. But if your loss is getting heavier or like a heavy period, then please contact the practice so that you can be assessed.
  • DON’T lift anything heavier than 2kg for six weeks (example: a jug of water) following your operation to allow optimal healing of your wound.