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The healing process after reproductive surgery can be slow. How fast you will heal depends on what procedure is being performed and how long the surgery takes.
Before surgery, sit down and discuss all aspects of surgery and your recovery (pain, side effects and weakness) with your surgeon. Also, discuss with the anesthesiologist what type of anesthesia will be administered. The type of anesthesia administered make a difference in recovery time.
It is important to understand how much or little pain is to be expected. Some people have a higher pain tolerance than others. The surgeon will prescribe you pain medication according to the average pain suffered. Along with pain medication, anti-nausea suppositories are a plus. Often times after surgery patients experience nausea (and/or vomiting) from either the pain or post-anesthesia.
Gas is one of the first pains experienced after surgery (outside of the obvious incisional pain). This type of gas pain comes from all the gas they fill you with prior to surgery. This gas enables the surgeons to maneuver around
more freely. After surgery is completed and you are sewed up, the gas begins to escape through different pores within your body. Often times, this pain moves up into the shoulder area. It is important to discuss with your physician about any unusual pain being experienced.
Often times after reproductive surgery, patients experience difficulty in urination. It is very important to empty the bladder. Running water (the sound of water running in the background) or standing in the shower running warm water over your stomach and down your legs often aides in the urinating process.
A few days after surgery you will note a distinct weakness. This is normal and can be over come with a combination of sleeping & light walking. Sleep and rest is imperative for your body to heal. On the other hand, you must force yourself to take short walks gradually building up your strength. A failure to keep moving will result in greater weakness.
Different kinds of anesthesia cause different side effects. As stated above, talk to your anesthesiologist. A spinal narcotic (anesthesia administered through your spinal area) has a quicker recovery time and patients often times
have an option of staying awake. A general anesthesia (being “put to sleep” often times requiring a breathing tube) stays in your system longer. This means it will take longer to wake up and it can have a side effect of nausea and/or vomiting.
A good source for information about your surgery is talking to others who have had surgery or surfing the Internet. There are many testimonies on the web from people explaining their surgical experiences. Many of these people are willing to answer any questions that you may have. With careful prepation and understanding, your surgery experience can be an easier one.
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