After Your Circumcision or Vasectomy

Transcription

1 After Your Circumcision or Vasectomy For patients going home after surgery Read this brochure to learn about: How to take care of yourself at home What activities are safe How to cope with pain Problems to watch for What to know about your follow-up visit You have had an anesthetic or narcotic medicine. Do not drive a car or drink alcohol for 24 hours. Have a responsible adult stay with you overnight.

2 What can I eat and drink after my surgery? You can go back to eating and drinking what you normally would right away. If you feel nauseated (sick to your stomach) or you are vomiting, you can get anti-nausea medicine, such as Gravol. You can buy it from your pharmacy without a prescription. Take the anti-nausea medicine as directed and drink liquids until the nausea passes. Then slowly start to eat what you usually eat. How much activity is safe? Go home and rest on the first day. Here are activities to avoid: No heavy lifting (more than 10 pounds or 5 kilograms) for 1 week. For example: do not carry groceries, or lift young children or pets. Do not do strenuous exercises for 1 week. For example: no gardening, snow shovelling, jogging, golfing or skiing. If you had a circumcision, do not have sex for 4 weeks after surgery. Do not strain when you are having a bowel movement. To make sure you don t get constipated, drink fluids (about 4 to 6 glasses of water a day each glass should be about 8 ounces). Eat foods that are high in fibre, such as bran and fruits. If you had a vasectomy, it is OK to have sex after surgery. You will have to use contraceptives until your surgeon says it s safe to stop. Sterility does not happen right after a vasectomy. Before having sex again, send your semen sample to be tested in 4 to 6 weeks after your surgery to make sure you cannot make someone pregnant. 2

3 When can I go back to work or play sports? Your surgeon will tell you when you can go back to work and play sports. When can I shower or take a bath? You can take a shower 48 hours after your surgery. Do not take baths or swim for 1 to 2 weeks. How do I take my medication? We may give you a prescription for pain medication or other medications. Take your prescription to a pharmacy to get it filled. Follow the directions on the bottle. If you do not have a prescription and you feel some pain, take Tylenol Extra Strength. Follow the directions on the bottle. Do not take anti-inflammatory medications, such as Advil (ibuprofen) or Aspirin for 1 week after your surgery. These medications can increase the risk of bleeding. 3

4 How do I care of my dressing (bandage) and wound? You can remove your dressing after 48 hours. Once you remove the dressing, do not put on another dressing (such as a band-aid). Keep the wound clean by wearing clean underwear all the time. Your stitches will gradually dissolve. Raise your legs and stay off your feet for the first day after your surgery. Problems to watch for Call your surgeon, family doctor or come to the Toronto Western Hospital emergency department if you notice these problems. A lot of pain, which does not get better when you take your pain medication Pain that is getting worse A bloated feeling in your lower abdomen and you haven t been able to urinate for 6 to 8 hours A lot of bleeding Fever (a temperature higher than 38 C or 101 F) Redness Yellow pus coming from the incision If you are from out of town, go to the nearest emergency department if any of the problems occur. 4

5 My follow-up visit If you do not have a follow-up appointment, please call your surgeon s office to make one. Date: Time: Dr. Elterman ext Main Pavilion 8th Floor (Room 317) Dr. Hassouna Main Pavilion 8th Floor (Room 306) Urology Clinic East Wing 4th Floor Other Dr. Radomski Main Pavilion 8th Floor (Room 304) Special instructions for you For more information visit or Visit for more health information. Contact us to provide feedback or request this brochure in a different format, such as large print or electronic formats: pfep@uhn.ca 2018 University Health Network. All rights reserved. Use this material for your information only. It does not replace advice from your doctor or other health care professional. Do not use this information for diagnosis or treatment. Ask your health care provider for advice about a specific medical condition. You may print 1 copy of this brochure for non-commercial and personal use only. Author: Day Surgery Unit, Toronto Western Hospital Revised: 04/2018 Form: D-5225