Vein Surgery Instructions for Patients Going Home UHN You have had a general anesthesic. Do not drink alcohol or drive a car for 24 hours. What are Varicose Veins? Varicose Veins are veins that have become larger, twisted and wider then normal. They usually develop in the legs and are mainly caused by standing for long periods of time, obesity or they may run in your family (heredity). Patient Education Improving Health Through Education Varicose veins may cause: increased pressure swelling poor blood flow What is vein surgery? The surgeon will tie off the veins and then remove them (by burning or cutting them away). The blood flow will then redirect to other veins. What can I eat and drink after my operation? You can go back to eating and drinking what you normally would right away. Please visit the UHN Patient Education website for more health information: www.uhnpatienteducation.ca 2012 University Health Network. All rights reserved. This information is to be used for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult your health care provider for advice about a specific medical condition. A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for non-commercial personal use only. Author: Francine Lowe RN, BScN & Bruna Curti RN, BScN of the MSDU at TWH Created: 09/2006 Form: D-5370 (0/2012)
How much activity is safe? Go home and rest today. When you are sitting or lying down, rest your leg on one or two pillows. This will help prevent swelling. Do NOT cross your legs. Do NOT stand or sit in one spot for long periods of time. It is important to walk. Start by taking short walks around the house and then increase your activities and walking as tolerated. Wear your tensor wrap at all times. Avoid strenuous activities such as jogging, swimming or aerobics until your surgeon says you can do these activities. Your surgeon will tell you when it is safe for you to return to work and sports (usually 3 weeks after your surgery). How to take care of your wounds Keep your tensor and dressings clean and dry at all times. Remove your tensor wrap and dressings (Band-Aids) after 48 hours. Do not put the dressings back on but re-apply the tensor wrap. You must wear the tensor wrap at all times for the first 48 hours. After 48 hours, remove the tensor bandages at night (when you go to sleep) and then re-wrap your leg in the morning. Do this for 1 week. The tensor must be wrapped starting from the bottom of your leg to above your knee. Your surgeon will remove your staples or sutures in 12 to 14 days (follow the instructions given to you by your surgeon). Bruising is normal and should get better in 3 to 4 weeks. Always keep the wounds clean and dry. Page 2 of 5
When can I shower or bathe? You can take a shower after 48 hours (when the dressings and wrap have been removed). Do NOT take a baths for the first 5 days. You may take a warm bath after the 5 days. Pat the wound dry with clean towels and then re-wrap your legs with the tensor. How can I cope with pain? Pain is normal after this operation and should get better with time. We will give you a prescription for your pain. Take it to a pharmacy to get it filled and follow the directions for taking the medication. Take the pain medication every 4 to 6 hours for the first 24 hours if you are feeling pain. After the first 24 hours, you can gradually decrease your pain medication, as you feel more comfortable. (Take less and less until you don t need any pain medication at all). What if I have constipation? Some pain medications can make you constipated. To prevent constipation: Drink lots of fluids (3 to 5 glasses of water every day and each glass should be about 8ounces). Eat foods that are high in bulk (such as bran and fruits). If you have not had a bowel movement for 72 hours, take 30ml of Milk of Magnesia. You can get this from your pharmacy without a prescription. Page 3 of 5
Watch for these problems Call your surgeon, or go to the nearest hospital emergency department if any of these problems happen to you: Bleeding that won t stop Press on the area for 15 minutes. If the bleeding soaks your dressing and does not stop. Pain If your pain becomes very bad and it does not get better when you take the pain medication that we prescribed (have the phone number of your pharmacy ready because the doctor might want to call the pharmacy to change your prescription). Swelling or poor circulation If your leg is very swollen, red, and there is a change in colour (if they are pale white or bluish). Or if your toes feel cold and you have less feeling in your leg or foot and can t move your toes. Fever A temperature that is higher than 38 o C or 101 o F. Follow-up appointment If you don't already have a follow-up appointment, please call your surgeon's office to make one. Your appointment should be 2 weeks after your operation. Doctor: Phone no# Date: Time: Location: Page 4 of 5
Special instructions for you For more information visit our website at www.uhn.ca Page 5 of 5