This page provides important information and advice to help you recover safely and comfortably at home after your minor operation. It covers pain relief, wound care, when to seek help, and how to manage your follow-up appointments.
Caring for Your Wound
You will receive advice on how to care for your wound, including information about dressings and when stitches should be removed. Occasionally, dissolvable stitches are used. General advice includes:
- Please keep your wound dry for the first 24 hours after your operation. After this time, you may bathe or, preferably, shower as normal. Gently pat the area dry afterwards and make sure the wound is completely dry.
- Do not go swimming until your wound is healed.
- If you notice any signs of infection, such as redness, warmth, or pus coming from the wound, please contact your GP Practice as soon as possible.
- If you have any pain or discomfort, you may take common pain relief medication such as paracetamol.
- Your wound may ooze slightly or bleed. If this happens, raise the area if possible and apply firm pressure for 15 minutes. If the bleeding does not stop, please contact the Day Surgery Unit on 01324 567500 or 01786 434098.
- You may be asked to attend your health centre to see a nurse for a wound check and to have your stitches removed if required.
Pain Relief After Surgery
To help you control any pain during your recovery at home, please ensure you have a supply of:
- Paracetamol 500mg tablets (minimum supply of 32 tablets suggested)
- Ibuprofen 200mg or 400mg tablets (minimum supply of 24 tablets suggested)
Where can I get paracetamol and ibuprofen?
You can buy supplies from your supermarket or pharmacy.
If you do not have paracetamol or ibuprofen at home, please inform your nurse before you are discharged.
How to Take Your Medicines
- All painkillers work best if taken early, to prevent pain from occurring rather than treating it once it has started.
- In the first few days after surgery, take your painkillers regularly, even if you are not in pain.
- If you were taking painkillers regularly before surgery, you may need to continue taking the same amount after surgery. Please speak to your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist for advice.
- As you recover from surgery, slowly reduce the number of tablets you are taking.
When to start taking your painkillers
Your nurse will tell you when to start taking your painkillers once you return home.
Paracetamol is a good painkiller for preventing and treating mild pain. You can take TWO tablets every 4 – 6 hours – but no more than 8 tablets in 24 hours.
Never take other medicine containing paracetamol at the same time. This includes medicines bought from your pharmacy or supermarket.
If you are unsure check the leaflet inside the package or ask your pharmacist.
Ibuprofen is a strong anti-inflammatory painkiller. You can take ONE (400mg) tablet or TWO (200mg) tablets up to three times a day. It is important to take ibuprofen with or after food.
Never take other medicines containing ibuprofen or any other anti-inflammatory arthritis medicines at the same time as ibuprofen. This includes medicines bought from your pharmacy or supermarket.
If you are unsure check the leaflet inside the package or ask your pharmacist.
Side effects include:
- Indigestion or stomach
- Can make asthma
If you get side effects please stop taking ibuprofen.