Post-Procedure Instructions
Nurse Monitoring
The Prentice nurses are familiar with your required care and will be checking on you frequently to address the special needs this procedure requires such as, groin puncture management, pain and nausea control, anti-inflammatory medications, and prevention of other complications. To prevent any complications with blood clots, compression leg boots will be applied while you are in bed. The epidural and bladder catheters will remain in place until morning.
Visitors
All patient rooms are private rooms. Visiting hours are 11:00 am – 8:30 pm. If you wish, one person may stay with you in your room overnight. Let the Clinical Coordinator know ahead of time if you would like to have this arranged. There can be numerous interruptions throughout the night, as the nurses will continue to monitor your condition.
Diet
You may begin eating or drinking in your room as you can tolerate it. Start slowly at first with fluids and progress gradually to other foods.
Next Morning Routine
Your Interventional Radiologist will re-evaluate you in the morning. The nurses will provide and discuss your discharge instructions with you. If you wish, you may shower before leaving the hospital. You will be transported down by wheel chair and can be assisted into your car if needed.
Recovery at home
Most patients usually recover in seven to 14 days. Each day of recovery can be different from the previous day. It is normal to feel very tired and bloated from uterine inflammation. You will have a small puncture wound so there will be no large incisions or sutures to manage. You can still be functional at home, but most patients are not motivated to do much. Activity will not generally cause you harm because all the work is done internally, but avoid staying in bed for prolonged periods of time. Using a warm heating pad or compress can also offer comfort during your recovery.
- No physical exertion or heavy lifting (greater than 10 pounds) for the next three days following your procedure
- Slowly increase your physical activity. Depending on your work and its demands, you may return to work.
- You may climb stairs to your apartment. You can support the puncture site by placing pressure with your fingers over the site as you walk up.