FAQs

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You may experience pain but not more than the pain you have been experiencing previously from the fissure. The pain should around a week.

You may experience pain but not more than the pain you have been experiencing previously from the fissure. The pain should around a week.

You may experience pain but not more than the pain you have been experiencing previously from the fissure. The pain should around a week.

You may experience pain but not more than the pain you have been experiencing previously from the fissure. The pain should around a week.

You may experience pain but not more than the pain you have been experiencing previously from the fissure. The pain should around a week.

You may experience pain but not more than the pain you have been experiencing previously from the fissure. The pain should around a week.

Post-Operative FAQs

We thank you for choosing us as your surgeons to provide your care.  After surgery, you may have questions regarding what is expected and normal.  The following is a list of frequently asked questions which will better prepare you for what to expect post operatively.

After surgery, it is common to have discomfort at the sites of surgery. Regardless of the size of your incision you should still expect to have some pain in these areas.  Your doctor will prescribe pain medication for you, take this as prescribed along with a stool softener.  If you begin to have pain that is uncontrolled by your medication, contact our office immediately.

Depending on the type of surgery you have, you can expect to have some delay in bowel movements.  If general anesthesia was used during your surgery, it can take a few days for your bowels to begin to move normally.  Early and frequent ambulation can help.  After surgery if you are prescribed pain medications, it is very important to also take a stool softener because pain medication itself can cause constipation.  If you have had no bowel movement after 3 days, please contact our office.  Special exceptions are for colon surgery patients, who routinely may not have a bowel movement for up to 5 days.

Incisions can vary in length and number depending on the type of surgery you had.  There are also different methods for closing incisions including sutures, staples and skin glue.  Some patients can have reactions to the glue or tape used after surgery.  This usually looks like redness but only in the area where the glue/tape touched the skin.  If you have redness outside of these areas or redness that is spreading, or if you notice any drainage from your incision that is creamy yellow/green/white or foul smelling, please contact our office.

If you are taking pain medications, you should NOT drive.  After surgery you should schedule an appointment with the medical assistants or your physician, at that time you will be assessed for driving ability.

You should see the medical assistants or physician, generally within 7-10 days after surgery if your incisions were closed with skin glue and 10-14 days after surgery if your incisions were closed with staples.  Should you not already have a post op appointment scheduled, please contact our office.

If your incision was closed with skin glue, you may shower after 48 hours.  You should avoid scrubbing and using scented soaps/lotions.  Sutures and staples should remain dry until removed by your physician. If there is packing you should sponge bathe or keep the area dry until your first visit with the physician or nurses for wound care, unless wound care was taught to you in the hospital or there is a home health nurse following you.

If you have a drain, you should keep the area clean and dry.  Sponge bathing is always ok. It is very important to avoid soaking any incision, to change dressings if they are wet and to cover or protect incisions that are stapled.

Contact our office if you have pain uncontrolled by medication, fever/chills/nausea/vomiting, or red/draining incisions or wounds.  Call 911 if your pain is suddenly severe or incapacitating or if you become short of breath or have chest pain.  This is not normal after surgery and will require evaluation in person by a doctor in the ER.    

Should you have any further questions please do not hesitate to contact our office during normal business hours from 8:30am-5pm at (949) 457-7900(Laguna Hills location) and (949) 364-1007 (Mission Viejo location).  Should you have an emergency outside of these hours, an on call doctor is available.  We thank you again for choosing OC Surgeons and we look forward to providing you with continued outstanding care.

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