Download Anterior / Posterior Vaginal Repair Post

Thrombosis or Embolism
Additional Comments
On rare occasions some patients develop a
blood clot. The following signs may indicate
that you have developed a blood clot in
your leg (deep vein thrombosis or DVT) or
that it may have travelled to your lungs
(pulmonary embolus or PE). If you suffer
from any of these symptoms you must also
seek urgent medical attention (e.g. by going
to A&E or calling for an ambulance):
Anterior /
Posterior
Vaginal Repair
Post discharge advice
• Increased pain, swelling, redness or heat
in your leg
• Shortness of breath, coughing up blood
or chest pain
For more information on DVT/PE, please ask
to see our separate leaflet.
If you are unsure about any of the above
or anything else then please contact the
hospital who will advise you of the best
course of action.
Patient Information
References and further information:
1. Genitourinary Prolapse
www.patient.co.uk
Accessed December 2011
2. Royal College of Obstetricians and
Gynaecologists, Information for you after
a pelvic floor repair operation. Available
from: www.rcog.org.uk
Accessed December 2011
VAGINAL REPAIR - v2.0
CL-3004-000-R
Issue date: Dec 2011
Review date: Dec 2014
Anterior / Posterior
Vaginal Repair
to take a short walk daily, increasing the
distance each time.
This leaflet has been developed to give
you some general information about your
recovery following your anterior and/or
posterior vaginal repair operation.
Pain relief / medication
Please do not hesitate to ask your Doctor or
Nurse if you have any further questions.
It is important to take your painkillers as you
have been advised. If you are experiencing
discomfort, it is advisable to take pain
relief regularly – especially for the first few
days as this will help your mobility and
enable you to complete your exercises. If
pain persists and is not controlled with the
medication you have been advised to take,
then please contact the hospital for
further advice.
Have I got any stitches?
Your surgeon will have used some internal
stitching following your surgery, which can
take some time to heal. They will gradually
dissolve over time, but can take up to 3
months to dissolve completely.
Bleeding
You should expect some slight discharge
and/or bleeding from your vagina, which
will lessen every day. If you experience
heavy bleeding or clots please contact
the hospital.
Please use sanitary towels – do not
use tampons.
Mobility
Your surgery will cause some pain and
discomfort. This feeling is often described as a
‘dragging’ pain and is quite normal.
It is normally around two to four weeks
before patients think about returning to
work. If you have to do heavy lifting or very
physical work it may take longer to recover
fully enough to return.
Your Surgeon will advise you on the amount
of time you will need to be away from work,
and you can obtain a medical certificate
before you leave the hospital.
Driving
When can I drive again?
Do not drive until you are confident about
controlling your vehicle in an emergency
and always check with your insurance
company first.
If you were taking any tablets before you
came into hospital, it is important that you
continue to take them when you go home,
unless we advise you against this.
Sexual activity
Can I have a bath or shower?
When should I contact the
hospital or seek urgent medical
attention?
Generally it is fine to have a bath or shower
after 48 hours. But please follow the
instructions given to you by your
Surgeon / Nurse.
For the first week or two after your operation,
you should rest and relax. Refer to the
exercises that your Physiotherapist has given
you and continue with these as you have
been advised.
Eating and drinking
It is important to understand that your body
needs time to heal in order for you to return
to a normal life. To help your body recover,
you need to take time to rest when you feel
tired, gently increasing your activities. Try
Returning to work
A diet of fresh fruit, vegetables and other
high fibre foods is recommended, as this will
help prevent constipation and aid healing.
When can I return to work?
When you can return to work depends
upon the type of work you do.
Avoid sexual intercourse for six weeks
or until you have had your follow up
appointment with your Surgeon.
Infection.
If you are concerned about anything or
if you develop a high temperature the
following signs may mean you have a
infection and you are advised to contact the
hospital or your GP for advice;
• You feel an increasing amount of pain
• You have heavy or smelly vaginal
bleeding or you start to bleed again
• You feel burning or stinging when you
pass urine or you are passing urine more
frequently than usual