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When you have been discharged from hospital:
Approximately 2 days after your discharge, you will receive a
phone call from the Colorectal Nurse to provide further advice and
support as necessary.
Eating
after Bowel Surgery
It is important to eat a healthy, varied diet as soon as you can
after surgery. Remember to eat regularly and drink plenty of fluids
to help your body recover. Your bowel can adapt after having part
of it removed and you can still meet your nutritional requirements
without making major changes to your diet.
Following your surgery, it is helpful to monitor your weight
once a week and be aware of any significant weight loss (-5kg or
more) as this may be a sign you are not eating and drinking
enough.
If as a result of your surgery, you now have a colostomy or
ileostomy you will be given specific written information on how to
introduce high fibre foods in the weeks following surgery.
If you are experiencing on-going symptoms that are contributing
to poor appetite and weight loss, a referral can be made to a
dietitian for further assessment and advice. Please talk to your
doctor or nurse about this if required.
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Wound
care after surgery
Laproscopic surgery
- Remove the small dressings over your wound sites 3-5 days after
discharge.
- Keep your wound site dry following a shower.
- Watch for any redness, swelling and discharge. See your GP if
any of these occur.
Open surgery
- A district nurse will be arranged to visit if necessary. They
will phone you to inform you of their visit time.
- Watch for any redness, swelling and discharge. See your GP if
any of these occur.
Closure of a stoma (ileostomy/colostomy)
- Keep the stoma site wound covered when showering.
- A district nurse will be arranged to visit if necessary. They
will phone you to inform you of their visit time.
- Watch for any redness, swelling and discharge. See your GP if
any of these occur.
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Bowel Function after
Bowel Surgery
Immediately following your operation you can have problems with
excess wind and loose stools. Excess wind is normal after any bowel
operation and should soon settle down. Eating regularly, chewing,
your food properly and closing your mouth when chewing will all
help to reduce a build up of wind.
Loose stools should reduce once the bowel has settled down after
surgery, and you are eating normally. Slight adjustments to your
diet may help in the short term. Sometimes, depending on the
surgery, a more frequent bowel activity may now be normal.
Medication can be prescribed to help slow the frequency and thicken
the output.
Generally, most people will develop a "new" normal bowel routine
in time. This could take between a few months and up to two
years.
Contact your nurse specialist if you are having any bowel function
problems.
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Driving
You should not drive until you can make an emergency stop. That
is, you must be able to do this without hesitation because of your
fear that your wound will hurt. It is advisable to check your car
insurance policy as there may be a restriction clause.
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What about sex?
You may resume sexual intercourse when it is comfortable for
you. This will depend on the surgery performed and will vary from
individual to individual.
Following pelvic surgery, men may experience problems achieving
an erection or ejaculation, and women may experience vaginal
dryness and discomfort on intercourse. It is therefore important
that you and your partner have open and honest discussions at this
time.
Your nurse specialist is used to discussing these matters and may
be able to offer support and advice if needed, or refer you to
someone who can help.
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Post-operative exercise
Restoring your physical health after an operation is vital to
your mental and bodily recovery. Start by walking and build up
gradually to your normal activities. Be gentle with yourself at
first; swimming, aqua-aerobics or yoga will help to tone muscles
affected by surgery. Relaxation exercises will help cope with the
stresses you have undergone. The doctors can deal with your medical
problems but you need to look after your daily wellbeing. Set
yourself simple fitness targets to begin with and build up steadily
from there.
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Anxiety and
fear
Being diagnosed with a serious illness or having an operation
can be very stressful. Some days you may feel weary, tearful and
generally not able to cope. This is perfectly normal and as your
energy and fitness levels return, you will start to feel well
again.
However, some patients find these feelings persist. If you find
that this is the case, please discuss this with your nurse
specialist.
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Follow up
appointments
It is usual for you to be followed up by the Surgeon in the
Outpatients clinics two to six weeks after your surgery. This is to
review your progress and discuss future care.
Your GP will have received a written summary of your hospital
stay. They will also receive a letter after your Outpatient clinic
visit, informing them of the plan for your future care.
The following signs and symptoms are especially
important:
- Chest pain
- Calf pain or swelling
- Shortness of breath
- Fever or chills
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Bleeding
- Increasing abdominal pain
- If your abdominal wound becomes red, painful or has a
discharge.
If you have any of these signs and symptoms or any other
concerns regarding your health after your discharge from hospital,
please seek advice from:
- Colorectal Clinical Nurse Specialist, Monday
to Friday, during normal working hours. Telephone: (07) 5798652,
0277 038277, helen.collins@bopdhb.govt.nz
- Your GP or an After Hours Surgery.
- The District Nursing Service - You may have
been referred to this service in which case the District Nurses
will contact you. They can also answer any phone questions -
Telephone 07 5798000
In an Emergency Please
Dial 111 for an Ambulance.
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