Post-surgery instructions (after the surgery)
Staple removal:
If you have surgical staples in your stomach, a nurse will give you information about how to get them removed by the care team at your CLSC.
Pain relief:
It is normal to have pain right after your surgery and for a few weeks afterward. You can relieve your pain by following your doctor’s prescription and your pharmacist's recommendations.
Unless advised otherwise, take acetaminophen (Tylenol) regularly for the first few days. If the pain gets worse, take your narcotic pain relievers as needed and as prescribed.
You cannot drive:
- Within 24 hours of your surgery.
- If you have taken a pain reliever (narcotic analgesic) in the past 24 hours.
- Until you no longer have dizziness for at least 24 hours.
Hygiene at home:
- You can take a shower if you have had laparoscopic surgery (i.e., a procedure done with a camera). You can let the water run over your incisions, but do not scrub them.
- It is normal for your wounds or incisions to be a bit red and sensitive in the first weeks following your surgery.