Anorectal Surgery
Post-Op Instructions

Activity

• Your activity may progress as tolerated
• Do not lift anything over 20 pounds for 48 hours (two weeks for three quadrant hemorrhoidectomy, rectocele or sphincteroplasty operations)
• Soak in a warm tub of water (Sitz Bath) at least 3 times a day for 10–15 minutes at a time
• You may use an ice pack for 10–20 minutes several times a day for comfort
• Do not drive while taking narcotic pain medications
• No intercourse for women for 6 weeks

Diet

• Resume your regular diet
• Drink eight (8) – 8oz. glasses of water a day
• Do not drink alcoholic beverages for 24 hours after surgery or if taking narcotic pain medications
  

Medications

• You may resume your previous medications
• If you are on a blood thinner or aspirin, ask your doctor when you should resume taking it
• A pain medication will be prescribed to use for the first few days. You may take Ibuprofen 400mg every 6 hours instead of or in addition to your prescribed pain medication. For less severe pain, you may take TYLENOL Extra-strength every six hours rather than your prescribed pain medication. If you find that your pain medication may not be working for you, call our office and we will try to make changes in your medications over the phone by calling your local pharmacy.
• Take Metamucil 1 tsp in 8 oz water or juice DAILY. Take Milk of Magnesia 1 tsp every day following surgery until you have a bowel movement. If you do not have a bowel movement with in 24–48 hours after surgery, take Milk of Magnesia 1 tsp every 4 hours until you do. If this does not happen within the next 24 hours, then call the office.
  

Dressing

• It is normal to have a small amount of bleeding with bowel movements for up to two weeks after surgery
• Change the dressing twice daily, replacing it with clean, dry gauze, and after every bowel movement
  

When to Notify Physician

• Large amount of bleeding with or without bowel movement (greater than 2 Tbsp)
• Severe pain not relieved by pain medication, especially if getting worse and not better with time
• Fever (Temperature over 101 F) or chills
• Inability to urinate.***If you have trouble, first sit in the bathtub filled with warm water and relax. Try to urinate in the tub. It will not hurt the incision. If you are not able to do so within 4–6 hours, then proceed to your local emergency room to have a urinary catheter placed temporarily. It can be removed in the office in the following day or so. Call the office if you have difficulty urinating.

Post-Operative Check: Your surgeon will want to see you within two to three weeks of your procedure. If you have not already arranged a follow-up appointment with the office, please call to do so. In the meantime, if you have any questions or problems, do not hesitate to contact USA at (423) 267-0466.