Hysterectomy
When to Call a Doctor
After a hysterectomy, call your health professional or go to the emergency department if you have:
- Chest pain, a cough, or difficulty breathing.
- Bright red vaginal bleeding that soaks two or more pads in an hour or forms large or painful clots. Some light bleeding or spotting is expected for up to 6 weeks following a hysterectomy. If your vaginal bleeding is heavier or different than what you were told to expect, call your health professional to discuss the problem.
- Pain or tenderness, swelling, or redness in your legs.
- A fever of 38°C (100.5°F) or higher.
- Pain that is not relieved by your pain medicine.
- Difficulty passing a stool, especially if you have not had a normal bowel movement for 3 to 5 days, or if you have mild pain or swelling in your lower abdomen.
- Difficulty passing urine, pain or burning when you urinate, blood in your urine, or cloudy urine.
- Pain, discomfort, or bleeding during intercourse.
- Hot flashes, sweating, flushing, or a fast or pounding heartbeat.
- Pain or swelling in the legs, especially the back of the calf.
Your health professional will give you specific instructions after your hysterectomy. Be sure to follow them. Usually, getting some rest and following those instructions will help post-operative problems diminish over time.
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| Author: | Kathe Gallagher, MSW Carrie Henley | Last Updated: November 7, 2006 |
| Medical Review: | Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine Joy Melnikow, MD, MPH - Family Medicine Liisa Honey, MD, FRCSC - Obstetrics and Gynecology Kirtly Jones, MD - Obstetrics and Gynecology | |
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