I’ve had laparoscopic or open surgery

You’ll have one to four incisions (depending on the surgery), covered with transparent dressings. The dressings should be changed three to five days post-surgery; we’ll provide you with extra dressings before you leave the hospital.

There may be small paper tapes covering the wound; please don’t remove these as they should fall off by themselves within days.

You can remove the dressing seven to ten days after your surgery.

I’ve had a joint replacement or total abdominal hysterectomy surgery

You’ll need to have your wound reviewed by the Practice Nurse at your GP surgery about seven days after surgery. We’d recommend you arrange this appointment as soon as you get home from hospital.

If your wound has clips, please book a follow-up wound care appointment with your Practice Nurse. This appointment should be within 12 and 14 days after your surgery.

You may notice bruising or hardness beneath and around the wound site. This is not uncommon and should resolve within weeks.

Don’t rub creams or ointments directly onto the wound, and avoid having baths, swimming, or using hot tubs for the first two weeks after your surgery.

Your dressings are shower resistant, so you can have a shower. Avoid water running onto your wound area for prolonged periods, and when drying, use a clean dry towel to gentle dab the area dry – avoid rubbing.

You might notice a small amount of ooze on your dressing, which might increase as you start to move around more. Once home, if this becomes continuous and leaks through or around your wound dressing, do the following:

• Immediately apply pressure to the wound site
• Apply ice to the wound site (wrapped in a clean towel or pillowcase)
• Elevate limb if appropriate (if your wound is on your arm or leg)
• Contact Bensan Ward on 01580 857410 and ask to speak to the nurse in charge

If your wound continues to ooze for more than seven days, or requires daily dressing changes, please contact Bensan Ward for further advice.

Pain is a normal response after surgery. It can be mild, moderate, or severe. You may feel that it’s stopping you doing things you would normally do, or disturbing your sleep, and if left untreated, pain can slow your recovery.

It’s much easier to treat pain before it becomes severe. Pain can be controlled if you take painkillers regularly. We’d recommend you take regular pain relief for the first three to five days following surgery, as this is when pain is often at its worse.

It’s safe to take different painkillers together or at various times of the day. However, it’s important that you follow the advice given to you by your nurse or the Pharmacy team when you’re discharged from the ward.

For mild to moderate pain

Paracetamol is a very good simple painkiller for managing mild to moderate pain. It can also help other painkillers work better for more severe pain.

You can take paracetamol on its own, or with other painkillers which don’t contain paracetamol. It’s most effective when taken regularly. You can take two tablets (1g in total) four times a day, or as prescribed by a doctor and you should leave at least four hours between doses.

An anti-inflammatory/non-steroidal such as ibuprofen, diclofenac or naproxen can work well with paracetamol. If this is applicable to you, we’ll provide you with advice when you’re discharged.

For moderate to severe pain

During your preoperative assessment, we’ll recommend that you purchase a supply of co-codamol 8/500 (a combination tablet of codeine and paracetamol). DO NOT take paracetamol tablets or any other medication containing paracetamol while taking co-codamol.

Depending on your procedure and assessment of pain control during your admission, an alternative painkiller may be prescribed to you. Please follow the instructions on the packet and any advice we’ve given you and do not exceed the recommended daily dose.

If this medication isn’t controlling your pain, please contact your GP for further assessment of your pain and to discuss the other options available to you.

Morphine-based pain killers, including co-codamol, may cause constipation so it’s important that you drink plenty of fluids, increase your dietary fibre and take laxatives if you were advised to do so before you were admitted to hospital.

If you’re taking a variety of medications, particularly if these are ones you don’t usually take, we’d recommend you write down what you’ve taken, and the time at which you took them. This ensures you’re following the medication’s instructions correctly and helps reduce the possibility that you might take too much or not enough. It can also be a useful record if you need to discuss your pain management with your GP or other doctor.

If you have any questions about your medication, please contact Bensan Ward, your GP surgery or your local Pharmacist.

As your wound heals, you should feel less pain. Once your pain is under control, you should take only paracetamol. If your pain remains severe and isn’t being relieved by painkillers, you should contact your GP.

Always ensure that you return any unused medication to your local Pharmacy so that it can be disposed of safely.

Before you drive you should be:

• Free from the sedative effect of painkillers and/or not taking any morphine-based painkillers
• Able to sit comfortably in the car and work all the controls safely
• Be able to wear the seatbelt comfortably
• Be able to perform an emergency stop
• Be able to comfortably look over your shoulder to safely manoeuvre

Check with your own insurance company regarding your cover following surgery as they may have guidelines you need to follow.

Following discharge home, if you notice any of the following signs of infection, please contact Bensan Ward on 01580 857410 or contact your GP as soon as possible.

• Swelling of the affected area
• Pus forming in the affected area
• Redness spreading from the wound
• Increasing pain at the wound site
• Feeling unwell
• An elevated temperature

The wound area/limb could become very bruised and swollen after the operation. This is usually quite normal and no cause for alarm.

Swelling can persist for weeks or even months and may worsen with over-activity This can be relieved with elevation and ice to the affected area/limb.

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)

Please also be mindful of the symptoms of infection and DVT. If you have any concerns, please contact Bensan Ward, your GP or NHS 111 for further advice.

Post-operative constipation is a common complication of surgery and can be caused by anaesthetic, inactivity, medication, or a change in your usual diet and fluid intake. Opioid medications such as co-codamol are often used to manage pain after surgery, however these can cause constipation.

We may discharge you with something to help soften your stools, which you should take as prescribed, along with ensuring you follow the diet and exercise instructions or advice we’ve given you.

You can return to work when your pain levels reduce but remember you may tire more easily. Depending on your own circumstance, i.e. type of surgery, type of work or other activities you do, we may advise you to take two to four weeks off work or other activities. We can provide you with a fitness to work certificate when you’re discharged.

Please make an appointment to see your GP if you don’t feel ready to go back to work and need more time off.