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It makes a difference if you had the open or laparoscopic tubal reversal.  The amount of pain and discomfort you are having will determine your ability to do things like returning to work, doing housework, or walking up stairs.  You may go home the same day or the next day after the laparoscopic procedure because the incisions are small and there is less pain.  You will have to stay in the hospital for several days after the open procedure. Your doctor will give you pain medicine when you go home.  You should not lift anything heavier than 10 to 15 pounds for 4 to 6 weeks.  It takes this long for the tissues in the abdominal wall to heal.  Expect to do everything sooner than later if you have undergone the laparoscopic procedure. These serious symptoms include heavy vaginal bleeding, severe abdominal pain, persistent nausea and vomiting, excessive thirst or sweating, failure to pass gas or urine, severe bloating and/or constipation, and drainage, bleeding, or redness around the incision site.  Heavy vaginal bleeding, requiring more than one pad per hour, combined with severe abdominal pain may be a sign of uncontrolled bleeding from the site of your tubal reversal.  Excessive thirst and sweating can be a sign of bleeding, too.  You want to drink liquids because your body needs to replace the fluids lost due to the bleeding.  Sweating is your body’s response to the stress of losing a lot of blood.  Remember that calling emergency services is always an option.  Nausea and vomiting can be caused by anesthesia or your pain medication.  Your body clears out the medications used during anesthesia in about 24 hours.  Your doctor can give you a medication to help with the nausea and vomiting to get you through this period.  If your doctor thinks the pain medication is the problem, she will prescribe a different one.  An ileus occurs when your intestines stop pushing food and gas forward through the intestines.  This happens after abdominal surgery, especially an open procedure.  You will have nausea, vomiting, bloating, abdominal pain, and pass less gas.  Anti-nausea medications should not be used.  Time resolves the ileus.  You can drink small amount of liquids until your intestines recover.  Call your doctor if your symptoms get worse instead of getting better over time.  Pain medications can cause severe constipation.  Eat high fiber foods, vegetables or whole grain products, and take a stool softener.  Call the doctor if you completely stop passing gas and stool. You want your wound to stay dry and clean so that it can heal well.  Look at the wound to make sure there are no signs of an infection, such as drainage (including blood), fever (temperature greater than 101 degrees), and/or redness and warmth around the wound(s).  Increasing abdominal pain and fever could be a sign of a serious infection inside the abdomen.  Call your doctor so that she can examine you, order the appropriate tests, and decide how to treat the infection.  Your doctor will have specific instructions.  The general rule is to wait 2 to 3 days before taking the dressing off the wound(s).  It takes that long for the skin portion of the wound to seal and protect deeper tissue from infection.  If you have a special waterproof dressing on the wound(s), you can shower immediately.  Otherwise, stand at the sink and wash around your dressing until the 2 to 3 days have passed.  You can shower after this time.  Letting soapy water gently run over your wound(s) helps keep it clean.  Just dry it off after you are done.  Do not take a bath for about a month. Most doctors will want to see you around two weeks after the tubal reversal.  Expect this to be the first of many as you heal and then try to get pregnant.  The first visit is about making sure you are healing as expected.  She will examine your wound and look for any signs of infection.  She will press on your abdomen and make sure your pain is decreasing appropriately. Most couples get pregnant in the first 6 months after the tubal reversal.  If you do not get pregnant, she will schedule a hysterosalpingogram to make sure your tubes are open and functioning properly.  A majority of the time, your tubes will be opened.  You will try other methods to get pregnant.  You will keep track of when you ovulate and plan to have sex around that time. The doctor can use drugs to make it more likely you will ovulate or she could have your partner give a sample of his semen so that she can put in inside your uterus.  IVF will be discussed at some point if you continue to have difficulty getting pregnant.

Summary:
Restart your normal routine in stages. Call your doctor immediately if you develop serious symptoms at home. Follow your doctor’s instructions for wound care. Schedule a follow-up appointment with your doctor.