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Frequently Asked Questions

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  1. How will I feel after my surgery?
  2. Will I need medication for pain?
  3. If I start to feel ill, what should I do?
  4. What do I need to know about my incision(s)?
  5. How will I care for my incision(s)?
  6. Do I need to make any changes in my diet?
  7. When will I need to see my surgeon again?
  8. When can I start driving again?
  9. When can I resume my normal activities?
  10. Will I have any restrictions?

If your question is not answered here, please call our office at (505) 998-SURG or toll-free (877) 998-SURG.

1) How will I feel after my surgery?

It is common for patients to experience:

  1. shoulder pain
  2. nausea
  3. soreness around the incisions
  4. bloating, or
  5. swelling of the abdomen

Still, it is important to walk a little every day to avoid respiratory problems and blood clotting. Total bed rest is not advisable.

2) Will I need medication for pain?

After leaving the hospital, you will be given pain medication to help reduce discomfort. Please read side effects and instructions carefully. This medication may make you sleepy, dizzy or cause nausea and vomiting. If you do experience nausea or mild vomiting, try taking this medication with food and not on an empty stomach. It is best if you do not handle any heavy equipment, including driving, until you are no longer taking painkillers.

Also, avoid drinking alcoholic beverages or ingesting cough syrup and Nyquil while taking these medications. Usually, pain medications cause constipation. An over-the-counter stool softener such as Metamucil will most likely provide relief.

3) If I start to feel ill, what should I do?

Call your surgeon immediately if:

  1. Your temperature is greater than 100.5 degrees.
  2. You are persistently vomiting or are unable to urinate.
  3. You have worsening pain that is not controllable with pain medication.
  4. You have increasing pain and redness in any of the incisions or if they begin draining puss.
4) What do I need to know about my incision(s)?

Most likely, absorbable sutures will be used to close your incision(s). These will be absorbed by your body over time and do not need to be removed. Occasionally, staples may be used and if this is the case, your surgeon will take these out in 5-10 days. It is typical to have a small amount of redness directly around the metal staples. Numbness, bruising and/or a spotting of blood around the incision(s) are normal, as well. A ridge or bar of swelling just under the incision(s) is also typical and should disappear over the next several weeks following your surgery.

5) How will I care for my incision(s)?

24 hours after your surgery, remove the wound coverings from your incision(s). Once these bandages have been removed, it is okay to shower using soap and water. There is no need to replace the wound dressings with band-aids or gauze covering unless this makes you feel more comfortable. If the incision(s) is swollen, you may gently apply an ice pack. Wait 2 weeks before soaking in a bath or going swimming.

For those patients who have had hernia repair: Follow the instructions above, but also apply an ice pack directly over the incision as much as possible for the first 48 hours after surgery. After 48 hours, use a heating pad set on low. Male patients may experience swelling and bruising around the penis and scrotum. An athletic supporter should alleviate some of this discomfort.

6) Do I need to make any changes in my diet?

It is advisable to start slowly with a light diet, such as clear soup. Food that is low in fat is best for the first two weeks. The surgery may affect your appetite. However, by the end of the 1st month, your appetite should be back to normal. You may also want to:

  • take the recommended dosage of milk of magnesium daily, or
  • drink 1/2 cup of prune juice 2 times a day to relieve constipation.

If you have undergone stomach wrap surgery for chronic heartburn, you will be given a special diet.

7) When will I need to see my surgeon again?

Call our office at (505) 998-SURG or toll-free (877) 998-SURG to schedule a post-op appointment for 5-7 days after surgery, unless otherwise instructed.

8) When can I start driving again?

First, you must be off of narcotic pain medications. Then, once your pain does not limit your ability to maneuver a vehicle, you may start driving again.

9) When can I resume my other normal activities?

Remember that it is important to get out of bed and walk around early after your surgery. This will hasten your recovery. Resume your daily activities as your pain permits. Depending on your type of surgery, the speed of your recovery and how strenuous your job is, your surgeon will make a recommendation on when you can return to work. If your employer requires a note explaining your absence, please inform your surgeon or his staff, and he/she will provide one.

If you have any further questions, please ask your surgeon or his/her staff either over the phone at (505) 998-SURG or toll-free (877) 998-SURG or during your post-op appointment.

10) Will I have any restrictions?

You should wait approximately 6 weeks before lifting anything heavier than 15 pounds unless otherwise instructed. Do not participate in any strenuous activities or sports during this same time period. This is vital because your incision takes about this long to heal to full strength.