Discharge Instructions for Laparoscopic Treatment of
Endometriosis
You have been diagnosed with
endometriosis, a disease that affects your reproductive organs and your monthly menstrual
cycle. It can cause cramps and pain during your periods or pelvic pain throughout
the
month. Some cases cause infertility. This means you won't be able to become pregnant.
There is no cure for endometriosis,
but you can be treated. You and your healthcare provider decided on laparoscopic treatment
for you. During your procedure, the healthcare provider made small cuts (incisions)
in your
belly (abdomen) and used surgical tools to remove or treat the diseased tissue. Your
incisions and the area around them may be sore or tender. You may also feel pain in
your
upper back or shoulders. This is from the gas used to distend your abdomen to allow
your
provider to see and treat the endometriosis. This pain usually goes away within a
day or
two.
Here's what you can do at home to help with your recovery.
Activity
-
Plan to rest for a week after
your surgery, although you may feel OK within a few days.
-
While you recover, have
friends or family help you with chores and errands.
-
Walk as often as you feel
able.
-
Don’t lift anything heavier
than 10 pounds to prevent straining your incisions.
-
Don’t push a vacuum or do
other strenuous housework until your healthcare provider says it’s OK.
-
Climb stairs slowly and pause
after every few steps.
-
Don’t drive for a few days
after the surgery. You may drive as soon as you are able to move comfortably from
side to side as long as you aren't taking any narcotics.
Other home care
-
Take your medicine exactly as directed. Don’t skip doses.
-
Continue with the coughing and deep breathing exercises that you learned in the hospital.
-
Prevent constipation.
-
Eat fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
-
Drink 6 to 8 glasses of water every day unless directed otherwise.
-
Use a laxative or a mild stool softener if your healthcare provider says it’s OK.
-
Shower as usual.
-
Wash your incision with mild soap and water. Pat it dry. Don’t use oils, powders,
or lotions on your incision.
-
Don’t have sex or use tampons
or douches until your healthcare provider says it’s safe to do so.
-
Report hot flashes, mood swings, and irritability to your provider. There may be medicines
that can help you.
Follow-up
Make a follow-up appointment as
directed by your healthcare provider.
When to call your healthcare provider
Call your provider right away if you have any of the following:
-
Redness, swelling, or
drainage at your incision site
-
Fever of
100.4°F (
38°C) or higher, or as
directed by your healthcare provider
-
Pain that is not relieved by
your medicine
-
Any unusual bleeding
-
Dizziness or fainting
-
Abdominal pain and swelling
that get worse
-
Nausea and vomiting
- Pain, redness, and swelling of a leg