Discharge advice following surgery

Transcription

1 Discharge advice following surgery Information for patients/carers

2 The following is some general advice to help you following your surgery, some will not relate to you and some will require further explanation. Our aim is to ensure you have all the information you need to speed your recovery. We hope this information will relieve some of your anxieties and also encourage you to ask us more questions. Please don t be embarrassed, as any question you can think of, we have probably been asked many times before. Rest and Activity Most people feel tired and insecure when they first go home and are frustrated by not being able to do all the things they want to. Don t worry if this happens to you, as it is quite normal. Make a plan for yourself; gradually increasing the things you do by yourself over the following weeks. It is often helpful to plan a rest time during the day when you can be undisturbed. On the whole, resting on your bed is better than in a chair. If possible let your friends and relatives know when you will be resting so that you are not disturbed. Eating Some people find their appetite is small and they get a bloated feeling or indigestion after meals. These symptoms usually clear up by themselves, as you become more active. Small meals, taken regularly, can reduce the likelihood of their occurrence. If you are in any doubt about the diet you should be eating ask for advice. A small amount of alcohol can improve your appetite and is not normally harmful eg. a glass of sherry or wine before or with your meal. 1

3 Moving A gradual increase in the amount of exercise you take is helpful, start with a short walk two or three times a day and increasing the distance over the next few weeks. If specific exercises are needed you will be advised of these before you leave hospital. Most people find it more comfortable to sit in a high chair, as it can be difficult getting up from a low chair. Climbing stairs can be surprisingly tiring, but it is a useful way of getting exercise and judging your progress. Some people find it easier to go up backwards on their bottom in the first instance. Sexual Activity There is no hard and fast rule about the time at which you can resume your usual sexual relationships (with the exception of hip replacement surgery see note below). As a rough guide, by the time you are ready to go back to work this activity can be resumed, however, some people will feel ready earlier. Ask for advice if you are concerned or for information about resuming your usual contraceptive methods (especially the pill). If you have undergone a total hip replacement please take advice from your consultant and/or physio as to when you can resume activities, but there should be no sexual activity for the first 6 weeks after surgery. 2

4 Household Jobs The sort of movements that can cause discomfort are bending or stretching (eg reaching high or low shelves), lifting heavy weights (including small children), and pushing and pulling (such as hoovering or mowing the lawn). Similarly, standing for long periods (eg washing up or peeling vegetables) can be tiring. If help is available for the first one or two weeks after discharge it is very useful. Bowels Changes in diet, activity and the use of some drugs can lead to irregular bowel habits but this usually rights itself with time. Straining can be particularly uncomfortable after abdominal surgery and it may help to take a mild laxative. If you are in any doubt about this ask for advice. Driving The time at which you can safely start driving varies a great deal with the type of operation you have had. Ask for specific advice, but do remember that your movement and strength must be up to coping with an emergency situation as well as normal driving. It is advisable to check with your insurance company if they have any restrictions. Wound Healing All wounds progress through several stages of healing and you will be able to see changes in your wound. The following points are usually experienced: 1. Unusual sensations such as numbness, tingling or itching. 2. A slightly hard lumpy feeling as the new tissue forms. 3. Slight pulling around the stitches as the wound heals. 3

5 Remember - do not pull at scabs as they protect the new tissue underneath and act as nature s dressing. They will fall off without any help when ready. Seek help if - the amount of pain in your wound increases, if the amount of redness and/or swelling increases or if there is any discharge from your wound. Bathing and Showering It is quite safe to get your wound wet two or three days after your operation (unless otherwise advised). Some people feel a little insecure when they first get into or out of the bath. A bath mat helps to cut down the risk of slipping. A towel hooked around the taps can be helpful in pulling yourself up. Many people feel more secure if there is someone else in the house when they take their first bath, even if actual help is not needed. Sleeping Changes in routine and restricted movement can cause difficulty in sleeping. Some people are woken by wound discomfort caused by sudden movement. If this does occur it could be helpful to take a mild painkiller before you go to bed. Work The time at which you can return to work depends on both the type of operation you have had and what your job is. It is better to feel completely well before you return as many people feel tired and find concentration difficult to start with. Please ask a nurse/doctor if you require more specific advice. 4

6 General Advice Many people are surprised at the length of time it takes to get over an operation, even if it is fairly minor, but time, nature and a bit of determination are usually effective. Before you are discharged we will arrange adequate support for you at home. This could be a district nurse, health visitor or a range of people from social services. At the very least we will inform your own doctor about your operation or treatment in hospital. If you have any difficulties or worries when you get home you can ask for advice from any of these people or at your local surgery/ health centre. When to Contact the Hospital Should you have any problems in the first hours after your discharge you may telephone the hospital for advice. You MUST telephone if you have any of the following symptoms Excessive bleeding. An increase in pain. Pain, swelling, or redness at the wound site. Pain, swelling or redness in lower limbs. A raised temperature or feeling shivering/shaking. Bloated feeling accompanied with not passing wind from your back passage. Vomiting or increased nausea. In the first instance you should telephone the ward from which you were discharged (Telephone Numbers at the back of this leaflet). Or you may telephone the Surgical Assessment Unit at Pinderfields Hospital. Please note ward 38 is closed from 12 midday Saturday until Monday 0730 and therefore the Surgical Assessment should be your first point of contact 5

7 If you have a copy of your discharge summary from when you were discharged please have this to hand when you telephone as this has details on it the nurse may require to help with advice. Telephone Numbers Pinderfields Hospital Ward 28 (Plastic Surgery) Ward 31 (Orthopaedics) Ward 32 (Orthopaedics/ENT/Max Fax) Ward 32a (General Surgery) Ward 33 (General Surgery) Ward 34 (Uro-gynacology) Ward 38 (Surgical Short Stay Unit) Ward 37 Surgical Assessment Unit / Dewsbury District Hospital Ward 12 (General Surgery) Ward 14/15 (Orthopaedics) Pontefract Hospital Surgical Short Stay Unit)

8 We are committed to providing high quality care. If you have a suggestion, comment, complaint or appreciation about the care you have received, or if you need this leaflet in another format please contact the Patient Advice and Liaison Service on: or pals@midyorks.nhs.uk To contact any of our hospitals call: To book or change an appointment call: c Updated July 2011 Review Date 2014 SMOKE FREE hospital Design: The Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust - design and print dept