Your Care at Home After Laparoscopic Oophorectomy

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Care of Incision

 

1.         Two days after surgery you may remove the Band-Aids®/dressings.  Under the Band-Aids®, there may be strips of tape which should be left on for one week.  You may then shower, letting the water run over the incisions.  Pat dry.  Do not soak in a tub, swim or scrub the incisions for one to two weeks.  After a shower, place clean Band-Aids® over the incisions.  Keep the incisions covered with Band-Aids® for two days.   Do not apply any powders, ointments, or creams to the incision site.

 

2.         Your incisions should heal completely in 1-2 weeks.  The stitches do not need to be removed as they will be absorbed. 

 

3.         Check your incisions daily for signs of infection.  Call your doctor if you notice any of the following:

 

• Incision is bright red and/or hot

• Pus-like (yellow, green or thick) drainage from the incision

• Fever (by mouth) greater than 100.4°F

• Excessive swelling or bleeding

 

Call your doctor if you have any of these symptoms:

 

• Severe abdominal pain not relieved by pain pills

• Severe nausea and vomiting

• Pain or burning with urination

• Redness or increasing tenderness around any of the incisions

 

Shoulder Pain

 

You may have some shoulder pain as a result of gas still present in your abdomen.  For relief, lie down, and place pillows under your buttocks so that they are higher than your chest.  Stay in this position for 5-15 minutes, and the pain should subside.  It is normal to have some pain or discomfort.  Pain pills will be prescribed for you.  Please follow the instructions for use given by your pharmacist.  Often a pain pill taken at bedtime can help you to get a good night’s rest.

 

Activities

 

1.         Do not drive for the first 24 hours and during the time you are taking pain pills.

 

2.         Do not lift greater than 10 pounds for 4 weeks.

 

3.         If your job does not involve heavy physical labor, you may return to work as soon as you feel ready.  Otherwise, check with your doctor.

 

4.         Sexual activity may be resumed when you feel ready.

 

Diet

 

If you feel sick to your stomach, do not eat a full meal.  Start slowly with clear liquids such as tea, broth, or jello.  Add solid food to your diet as your stomach feels better.  You may want to avoid fatty foods at first and slowly add them to your diet.  Fatty foods include fried foods, creams, potato chips, pizza, and large servings of gravy or butter.

 

Constipation

 

Narcotic pain relievers and decreased activity may cause constipation.  A diet with enough fiber and water can help prevent or relieve constipation.  Eat a balanced diet each day that includes:

 

• 6-8  (8-ounce) glasses of fluids a day (water, juice, tea, etc.)

• At least 4 servings of fruits and vegetables
• At least 4 servings of breads or cereals (2 of these servings should be whole grain)

 

FOOD GROUPS	FOODS HIGH IN FIBER
Breads	Whole grain breads or crackers (whole wheat, dark rye, pumpernickel, oatmeal); breads or crackers with seeds; nut breads, bran muffins.
Cereals	Bran cereals (100% bran, concentrated bran; cereals with nuts raisins, or seeds; “natural” cereals, granola, oatmeal, shredded wheat.
Cereal Products & Flour	Wheat germ, wheat whole wheat, buckwheat, corn, cornmeal, rice, wild rice, brown rice, barley.
Fruits	Fresh or canned fruits, especially those with skin or seeds (apples, plums, peaches, tomatoes, berries); dried fruits.
Vegetables	Raw or cooked vegetables (not overcooked).

 

 

Phone Numbers:

 

 

UW Health- Managed OB Clinics
UW Health West OB/GYN Clinic 451 Junction Rd Madison WI 53717 (608) 265-7601	UW Health East OB/GYN Clinic 5249 E Terrace Pkwy Madison WI 53718 (608) 265-1230		UW Health Benign Gynecology Clinic 600 Highland Ave Madison WI 53792 (608) 263-6240	UW Health Gynecology/Oncology Clinic 600 Highland Ave Madison WI 53792 (608) 263-1548
UWMF- Managed OB Clinics
OB/GYN Clinic 20 S. Park, Suite 307 Madison, WI 53715 (608) 287-2830	East Towne 4122 East Towne Blvd. Madison, WI 53704 (608) 242-6840	West Towne 7102 Mineral Point Rd. Madison, WI 53717 (608) 828-7610		Fitchburg 5543 East Cheryl Parkway Fitchburg, WI 53711 (608) 274-5300

 

If you live out of the area, please call 1-800-323-8942.

 

The information provided should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.

Last Updated: 11/22/2010

Copyright © 02/17/2010 University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority. All rights reserved. Produced by the Department of Nursing. UWH #4905

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