Recovery after surgery

The length of your hospital stay and the side effects you experience will depend on the type of surgery you have. Most people are in hospital for a few days to a week.

Learn more about:

• What to expect after surgery
• Taking care of yourself at home after surgery

What to expect after surgery

	Recovery time Your recovery time will depend on your age, the type of surgery you had and your general health. If only a small amount of tissue is removed, the wound will heal quickly and you can go home in a day or two. If your lymph nodes are removed or the surgery is more extensive, recovery will take longer. You may spend up to a week in hospital.
	Having pain relief After an operation it is common to feel some pain, but this can be controlled. You will be given pain medicine as a tablet, through a drip into a vein (intravenously), through a drip into a space around the spinal cord (epidural), or through a button you press to give yourself a measured dose of pain relief (patient-controlled analgesia or PCA). After you go home, you can continue taking pain-relieving tablets as needed.
	Bowel issues Strong pain medicines and long periods in bed can make bowel motions difficult to pass (constipation). Avoid straining when having a bowel movement. Talk to your treatment team about taking laxatives if needed.
	Stitches Your doctor will tell you how soon you can sit up and walk after surgery. With vaginal surgery, the stitches are all on the inside and will dissolve on their own. You need to avoid straining with bowel movements or lifting heavy objects.
	Vaginal bleeding You can expect some light vaginal bleeding, which should stop within two weeks. Use a pad instead of tampons. Infection is a risk – report any fever, redness, pain, swelling, heavy bleeding, wound discharge or unusual smell to your surgeon or nurse.
	Tubes and drains You may have a tube called a catheter to drain urine from your bladder. This helps keep your wound clean and dry. It will be removed before you leave hospital. There may also be a surgical drain to draw fluid away from the wound. You may go home with the drain in place if there is still fluid coming out. Community nurses can help you manage the care of the drain at home until it is removed.
	What to wear While you are in bed, you may need to wear compression stockings and have blood-thinning injections to prevent blood clots forming in your legs. Wear loose-fitting clothing and avoid underwear so your wound can air.

Taking care of yourself at home after surgery

When you return home from hospital after surgery for vaginal cancer, there will be a period of recovery and adjustment.

Rest

You will need to take things easy and get plenty of rest in the first week. Avoid sitting for long periods of time if it is uncomfortable, or try sitting on a pillow or doughnut cushion.

Exercise

Check with your gynaecological oncologist or nurse about when you can start doing your regular activities. You may not be able to lift anything heavy, but gentle exercise such as walking can help speed up recovery. Because of the risk of infection, avoid swimming until your doctor says you can.

Emotions

If you have lost part of your genital area, you may feel a sense of loss and grief. It may help to talk about how you are feeling with someone you trust. For more on this, see Effect on your emotions.

Sex

Sexual intercourse needs to be avoided for about 6–8 weeks after surgery. Ask your doctor when you can have sexual intercourse again, and explore other ways you and your partner can be intimate. You may feel concerned about the impact on your sex life after surgery. For more on this, see Impact on sexuality.

Using the toilet

If the opening to your urethra is affected, you may find that going to the toilet is different. The urine stream might spray in different directions or go to one side. Read tips on managing bladder issues.

Driving

You will need to avoid driving after the surgery until your wounds have healed and you are no longer in pain. Discuss this issue with your doctor.

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