You should aim to sit out of bed twice a day, at first for one hour then gradually increasing the time each day. The best exercise after surgery is walking and this will start on the first day after your operation. The nursing or physiotherapy staff will help you until you can walk safely by yourself.
Activity Should Start Right Away
Starting with 2 or 3 ten minute bouts of light walking is a safe place to start your post-surgery exercise routine. This light activity will not only aid in improving your mood post-surgery, but it will also speed up recovery and help digestive/bowel function.
You should feel better after 1 to 2 weeks and will probably be back to normal in 2 to 4 weeks. Your bowel movements may not be regular for several weeks. Also, you may have some blood in your stool. This care sheet gives you a general idea about how long it will take for you to recover.
Avoid strenuous activities, such as biking, jogging, weight lifting, or aerobic exercise, until your doctor says it is okay. Ask your doctor when you can drive again. You will probably need to take 3 to 4 weeks off from work. It depends on the type of work you do and how you feel.
Diarrhea is also common after a colon resection. Your colon is shortened and therefore stool may pass at a faster rate. Give it time, approximately 6-8 weeks, and your colon should start to function more normally.
Start with a couple of minutes of light pace walking two or three times a day. Make sure your pulse remains steady. If you notice that you are getting overly sweaty or tired, bring it down a notch by pausing or lowering your pace. You could find it hard to get moving after going through abdominal surgery.
Possible problems after bowel cancer surgery include a leak where the surgeon has joined the ends of your colon together, or your bowel not working properly. Other risks include infection, blood clots and bleeding.
After 48 hours you may sleep flat on your back, you may not sleep on your stomach or sides for four weeks. Fluids: Fluids are critical following surgery. Drinking fluids is very important to help rid the body of the drugs used in surgery. Clear juices and water are best.
Drink extra fluids, 6 to 8 cups of fluid per day is recommended. Foods low in fibre are usually digested better at first. It is normal to lose some weight after this surgery.
Can patients live a normal life after a colon resection? Yes, most patients have a successful colon resection procedure and go on to live full and comfortable lives. If there is an underlying disease, of course, continuing treatment may be necessary.
This is a major surgery. You'll need to check into a hospital. On the day of your surgery, you'll get general anesthesia. That means you'll go into an unconscious, sleep-like state so you don't feel anything during surgery.
After you return home, aim to resume your normal activities. As soon as you feel up to it, you can climb stairs, go for walks, shower and even drive.
Surgery to the large bowel (colon)
Straight after surgery to remove part of your colon, your poo might be a bit looser and more frequent.
Removal of the entire colon and the rectum is called a proctocolectomy. Removal of all of the colon but not the rectum is called subtotal colectomy. Removal of part of the colon but not the rectum is called a partial colectomy.
The skin heals fairly quickly, but the deeper tissues take a little bit longer to heal. That's what takes one or two months. Those tissues are basically what make up your abdominal wall. They're sewn back together, but then the stitches that we use, the deep sutures, will only hold up so long.
You should be able to resume your normal routine by 6 weeks, with the exception of work involving heavy lifting (such as a load of wet washing) or prolonged standing. Vacuuming should be avoided until 4 to 6 weeks after the operation. After your operation try to limit your lifting to approx.
Drink plenty of fluids each day.
This will help you stay hydrated (when your body has enough water). Each person needs a different amount of fluid. Aim to drink 1.5 to 2.5 liters (6 to 10 cups) of fluid per day or .
Try a higher fibre breakfast cereal, e.g., Bran flakes, Shredded Wheat, Weetabix or Porridge. Try other fibrous foods like pulses, nuts or dried fruit. Your bowels should start working 3 - 5 days following this surgical procedure.
After surgery, abdomen incisions are closed with stitches. Bowel resection surgery usually takes between 1 and 4 hours.
Consider walking five to ten minutes a day when you first get home, and slowly increasing the time you walk each week. Do not do any strenuous exercise such as contact sports, jogging, tennis, sexual activity, or body conditioning (weightlifting, push-ups, sit-ups, etc.)
In many studies, a high proportion of the metachronous neoplasia occurred within the first 2 years after surgery. Colonoscopy should be performed 1 year after the resection of a sporadic cancer, unless a complete postoperative colonoscopy has been performed sooner.
Colonic resection is classified as major surgery and should not be undertaken if the patient is physically not fit to sustain a major procedure.
Avoid gummy foods such as bread and tough meats, as well as spicy, fried, or gas-producing foods. To prevent swallowing air, which produces excess gas, avoid drinking through a straw and don't chew gum or tobacco. Take small bites, chew your food well, and avoid gulping.