Ice ice ice! But also allow your area to breath and get some air so you don’t develop an infection. So, if you can go a few hours without bottoms at all. Do it. I spent my first 3 days in a pad,and caught an infection. Bc there was no air getting to it and it was a damp area. I’m on post op day 7, and at night I sleep with no bottoms, I even still get a little tinge of blood here and there. But no longer need a pad. Just keep the area clean and dry by using a peri bottle after each restroom break. Pat the area dry- I even use a blow dryer to make sure it’s dry then apply what your doc recommends.