You had surgery to remove all or part of your large intestine (large bowel). You may also have had a colostomy. This article describes what to expect after surgery and how to take care of yourself at home.
During and after surgery, you received intravenous (IV) fluids. You also may have had a tube placed through your nose and into your stomach. You may have received antibiotics.
What to Expect at Home
You may have these problems after you return home from the hospital:
Pain when you cough, sneeze, or make sudden movements. This may last up to several weeks.
Hard stools, or you may not be able to have a bowel movement at all.
You may have diarrhea.
You may have problems with your colostomy.
Self-care
Follow your health care provider's instructions for how to take care of yourself at home.
Activity:
It may take several weeks for you to get back to your normal activities. Ask your provider if there are activities you should not do.
Start by taking short walks.
Increase your activity slowly. Don't push yourself too hard.
Your provider will prescribe pain medicines for you to take at home.
If you are taking pain medicines 3 or 4 times a day, take them at the same times each day for 3 to 4 days. They control pain better this way.
Do not drive or use other heavy machines if you are taking narcotic pain medicines. These medicines may make you drowsy and slow your reaction time.
Press a pillow over your incision when you need to cough or sneeze. This helps ease the pain.
Ask your provider when you should start taking your regular medicines again after surgery.
Wound Care
If your staples or sutures have been removed, you will probably have Steri-Strips (small pieces of tape) placed across your incision. These pieces of tape will fall off on their own. If your incision was closed with a dissolving suture, you may have glue covering the incision. This glue will loosen and come off on its own. Or, it can be peeled off after a few weeks.
Ask your provider when you can shower or soak in a bathtub.
It is OK if the tapes get wet. Do not soak or scrub them.
Keep your wound dry at all other times.
The tapes will fall off on their own after a week or two.
If you have a dressing, your provider will tell you how often to change it and when you can stop using it.
Follow instructions for cleaning your wound daily with soap and water. Look carefully for any changes to the wound as you do this.
Pat your wound dry. Do not rub it dry.
Ask your provider before putting any lotion, cream, or herbal remedy on your wound.
Do not wear tight clothing that rubs against your wound while it is healing. Use a thin gauze pad over it to protect it if needed.
If you have a colostomy, follow care instructions from your provider. Sitting on a pillow may make you more comfortable if part of the surgery was performed through your rectum.
Diet
Eat small amounts of food several times a day. Don't eat 3 big meals.
Space out your small meals.
Add new foods back into your diet slowly.
Try to eat protein every day.
Some foods may cause gas, loose stools, or constipation as you recover. Avoid foods that cause problems.
If you become sick to your stomach or have diarrhea, call your provider.
Ask your provider how much fluid you should drink each day to prevent getting dehydrated.
If you have hard stools:
Try to get up and walk around more. Being more active can help.
If you can, take less of the pain medicine your provider gave you. They can make you constipated. If OK with your provider, try using acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin) to help with pain.
You may use stool softeners if your provider tells you it is OK.
Ask your provider if you can take milk of magnesia or magnesium citrate. Don't take any laxatives without asking your provider first.
Ask your provider if it is OK to eat foods that contain a lot of fiber or take any over-the-counter fiber product such as psyllium (Metamucil).
You may have little appetite for a couple of weeks after surgery. If you don't feel like eating, talk with your provider about different ways to help stimulate your appetite.
Returning to Work
Return to work only when you feel ready. These tips may help:
You may be ready when you can be active around the house for 8 hours and still feel OK when you wake up the next morning.
You may want to start back part-time and on light duty at first.
Your provider can write a letter to limit your work activities if you do heavy labor.
When to Call the Doctor
Contact your provider if you have any of the following:
Fever of 101°F (38.3°C) or higher, or you have a fever that does not go away with acetaminophen (Tylenol)
Swollen belly
Feel sick to your stomach or you are throwing up a lot
Not had a bowel movement 4 days after leaving the hospital
Have been having bowel movements and they suddenly stop
Black or tarry stools, or there is blood in your stools
Belly pain that is getting worse, and pain medicine does not help
Shortness of breath or chest pain
Swelling in the legs or pain in your calves
Changes in your incision, such as the edges are pulling apart, drainage or bleeding coming from it, redness, warmth, or worsening pain
Increased drainage from your rectum
References
Galandiuk S, Netz U, Morpurgo E, Tosato SM, Abu-Freha N, Ellis CT. Colon and rectum. In: Townsend CM Jr, Beauchamp RD, Evers BM, Mattox KL, eds. Sabiston Textbook of Surgery. 21st ed. St Louis, MO: Elsevier; 2022:chap 52.
Smith SF, Duell DJ, Martin BC, Gonzalez L, Aebersold M. Perioperative care. In: Smith SF, Duell DJ, Martin BC, Gonzalez L, Aebersold ML, eds. Clinical Nursing Skills: Basic to Advanced Skills. 9th ed. New York, NY: Pearson; 2017:chap 26.
Wagner M, Probst P, Haselbeck-Köbler M, et al. The problem of appetite loss after major abdominal surgery: a systematic review. Ann Surg. 2022 Aug 1;276(2):256-269. Epub 2022 Jan 27. PMID: 35129465; PMCID: PMC9259039 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35129465/.
Review Date:
8/22/2022
Reviewed By:
Debra G. Wechter, MD, FACS, General Surgery Practice Specializing in Breast Cancer, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. Editorial update 06/13/2024.
