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Large bowel resection - discharge

Definition

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.

When You're in the Hospital

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.

• Diarrhea.

• Problems with your colostomy.

Self-care

Follow your surgeon'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 surgeon if there are activities you should not do.

• Start by taking short walks.

• Increase your activity slowly. Don't push yourself too hard.

Your surgeon 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 regulate 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 surgeon 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 surgeon 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 surgeon 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 surgeon 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 surgeon. 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, contact your surgeon.

Ask your surgeon 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 surgeon gave you. They can make you constipated. If OK with your surgeon, try using acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin) to help with pain.

• You may use stool softeners if your surgeon tells you it is OK.

• Ask your surgeon if you can take milk of magnesia or magnesium citrate. Don't take any laxatives without asking your surgeon first.

• Ask your surgeon 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 surgeon 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 surgeon can write a letter to limit your work activities if you do heavy labor.

When to Call the Doctor

Contact your surgeon 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.

Wagner M, Probst P, Haselbeck-Köbler M, et al. The problem of appetite loss after major abdominal surgery: a systematic review. Ann Surg. 2022;276(2):256-269. PMID: 35129465 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35129465/.

Review Date: 9/30/2024

Reviewed By: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Clinical Professor, Department of Family Medicine, UW Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.