Today you can go home. We hope that your stay in our hospital was as good as possible. Below you will find some rules to help you take care of yourself at home. This information is in addition to the conversation you had with your doctor.General guidelines
- After keyhole surgery (laparoscopy), you may have shoulder pain for a few days. This happens because of the gas that was used during the operation to fill your belly. This gas irritates the muscle under your lungs (the diaphragm). The gas will go away on its own, and the pain will also stop within a few days.
- Do not lift heavy things (more than 5–10 kg) for the first 6 weeks. Walking and using stairs is fine. After 4 weeks, you can slowly start doing sports again. You can do housework and ride a bike when you feel ready. If you have pain or feel very tired, take a rest.
- If your uterus (womb) was removed: do not have penetrative sex for 10 weeks.
- For good wound healing, do not swim or take a bath for the first 2 weeks. You can take a shower. After showering, dry your belly carefully by patting it gently. Do not rub.
- You may have some vaginal bleeding or dark discharge for a few weeks. This comes from the small wound at the top of the vagina. Please contact us if the bleeding is more than a normal period.
- If contrast fluid was used during the procedure, your urine or stool may look green or blue. This is normal.
- Driving a car: we advise you not to drive yourself for the first 2 weeks, until you can concentrate well again and you no longer have pain. You must be able to make an emergency stop. Of course, you can ride along as a passenger, but not for longer than two hours in a row.
Important information about pain relief
We recommend taking
paracetamol 1000 mg, 4 times a day for the first three days after you leave the hospital. After that, you can reduce to taking it only when needed. In addition, you may take oxycodone 5 mg up to 6 times a day if needed, but only if paracetamol is not enough. Oxycodone is an opioid and can slow down your bowels. Take your medicine on time and do not wait until the pain becomes very bad.
If you had surgery on the bowel, it is important that you
do not use anti-inflammatory painkillers (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen, naproxen, or diclofenac for the first 6 weeks. These medicines can slow down healing.
Follow the instructions of your doctor and nurse as much as possible. If the pain clearly gets worse or moves to a different place, please contact us.
Wound care
You can remove the
wound plasters (if there are any) the day after the operation. If the small wounds are no longer leaking, you do not need to put new plasters on them. Wounds heal faster and better when uncovered. If
adhesive strips (steri-strips) were used, leave them on until they come off on their own. This usually happens after 5 to 10 days. If they have not come off by then, you can remove them yourself. The stitches used are dissolvable, so they do not need to be removed. Keep the wounds clean and dry.
Follow-up appointment
After
2 weeks, a nurse will call you to ask how you are doing and to discuss the results of the tissue that was removed. Your check-up with the gynaecologist will be
6 weeks after the operation. If part of the bowel was also removed, you will also have a check-up with the surgeon after
6 weeks. You will receive these appointments by email. You can also view them in the Reinier de Graaf online patient portal.
When to contact us
If you are back home and you have one or more of the following problems, please contact de Nederlandse
Endometriose Kliniek:
- Fever: 38.5 degrees Celsius or higher
- Increasing pain or questions or doubts about pain
- Heavy vaginal bleeding, more than a normal period
- Your wound looks red or swollen, or there is pus coming out
- Vomiting, not being able to eat or drink
Contact
The Nederlandse
Endometriose Kliniek is available on working days for questions at
015-270 6868. We are available from 8:30 – 12:30 and 13:30 – 16:30.
For
urgent questions outside office hours that cannot wait until the next working day, call the hospital at
015-260 3060. You will be connected to the gynaecology resident on duty.
The team of the Nederlandse
Endometriose Kliniek
https://endometriosekliniek.nl | 015-270 6868 |
endometriosekliniek@rdgg.nlReinier de Graaf | Locatie de Gravin | Reinier de Graafweg 5 2625 AD Delft
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