After your operation
After your operation you will be encouraged to start
moving about as soon as possible. This is an essential part of
your recovery and even if you have to stay in bed it is
important to keep up regular leg movements and deep breathing
exercises. These will be explained to you by a
physiotherapist.
An intravenous infusion
(drip) will be used to replace your body fluids until you are
able to eat and drink again. Sometimes a nasogastric tube will
be in place. This is a fine tube that passes down your nose
into your stomach and allows any fluids to be removed so that
you do not feel sick. It is usually removed within 48
hours.
You will be given
antibiotics intravenously (as an injection into a vein)
just before and after surgery. This is to prevent any
infections. You will also be asked to wear special stockings
and will usually be given a drug called heparin. Both
of these help prevent blood clots forming.
As an anaesthetic slows
down the movement of the bowel it is important that you don't
start drinking until the bowel starts working normally again.
After about two days you will probably be ready to start
taking sips of water. This will be increased gradually over a
couple of days until you are able to take a light diet,
usually four or five days after your operation.
Often a small tube or
catheter is put into your bladder and urine is drained into a
collecting bag. This will save you having to get up to pass
urine. The tube is usually removed after a couple of days. You
may also have a drainage tube in place from your wound to make
sure that the wound heals properly.
After your operation you
will probably have some pain or discomfort for a few days. There are
several different types of pain-killing drugs, which are very
effective. If you still have pain it is important to tell the
doctor or the nurse looking after you as soon as possible so
that your drugs can be changed. After some types of bowel
surgery it may be uncomfortable to sit down for a long period
but this should ease gradually as the wound begins to
heal.
You will probably be
ready to go home about ten days after your operation, once
your stitches have been removed. If you think you might have
problems when you go home, for example, if you live alone or
have several flights of stairs to climb, let your nurse or the
social worker know when you are admitted to the ward, so that
help can be arranged before you leave hospital.
As well as being able to
offer practical advice, many social workers are also trained
counsellors
who can offer valuable support to you and your family, both in
hospital and at home. If you would like to talk to a social
worker ask your doctor or nurse to arrange it for you.
Before you leave hospital
you will be given an appointment to attend an out-patient
clinic for your post-operative check up. This is a good time
to discuss any problems you may have after your
operation.
Some people take longer
than others to recover from their operation. If you are having
any problems you may find it helpful to talk to someone who is
not directly involved with your illness.
Will the operation
affect your sex life?
Once you have recovered from the
operation, there is usually no medical reason why you should
not take up a normal sex
life again. However, you may find that you feel self-conscious
about the change in your body's appearance, especially if you
have had a colostomy, and that this inhibits you making
love.
If you have a supportive
partner, you may find that talking about your feelings will
help to dispel your anxieties. You should not feel guilty or
embarrassed to talk to your doctor about what is troubling
you; he or she may refer you for specialist counselling if you think that would be
helpful.
Occasionally an operation
to the area of the rectum can cause damage to the nerves which
go to the sexual organs.
If damage does occur a
man may not be able to achieve or maintain an erection, and
may have problems with ejaculation. This only happens in a few
people and may resolve over time. Occasionally it is
permanent.
If you do have any
problems, your doctor will be able to discuss them with you in
more detail.
