It may take a few weeks or longer to heal from the surgery. Find out how to care for yourself once you're home.

Vaginal hysterectomy is surgery to remove the uterus and often the cervix. It takes 4 to 6 weeks to recover from the procedure. Here's what you need to know about caring for yourself during this time.

Laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication is done to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). GERD happens when food or stomach acid backs up (refluxes) from your stomach into your esophagus.

You had a procedure called fine-needle thyroid biopsy. This biopsy was done to assess a nodule or cyst in your thyroid gland or enlargement of the thyroid. During the biopsy, a very thin needle is inserted through the skin into the gland. The needle is used to remove a small amount of tissue from the gland. (This may be done more than one time to be sure to get cells from all parts of the nodule.) Or the needle is used to drain fluid from a cyst. The tissue or fluid is then studied in a lab.

An esophageal dilation is a procedure used to widen a narrowed section of your esophagus. This is the tube that leads from your throat to your stomach.

A large bowel obstruction occurs when part or all of your large intestine is blocked. As a result, waste can't move through your bowel correctly and out of the body. You must be treated right away to manage the blockage.

A small bowel obstruction is when part or all of your small intestine (bowel) is blocked. Then digestive contents can't move through the bowel correctly and out of your body. Read on for information about symptoms and treatment.

A peptic ulcer is a sore in the lining of your stomach or in the first part of your small intestine. It can cause belly pain and other symptoms. In some cases, a peptic ulcer may get worse and lead to serious problems. But with treatment, most people fully recover.

Ileus occurs when there is a problem with the movement of food and waste through the digestive tract. This is not caused by a physical blockage.

Surgery is a complex process. There's a lot you can do as a patient to help your healthcare team keep you safe. This sheet suggests steps you can take before and after surgery to help make your operation safe and successful.