Discharge Instructions for Total Abdominal Colectomy

A total abdominal colectomy is surgery to remove your colon. Your colon, also called the large intestine, is part of your bowel. A colectomy is done to remove disease, such as cancer, polyps, and inflammatory bowel disease, and to relieve the symptoms you have been having, such as bleeding, blockage, and pain.

Activity

• Ask your friends and family to help with chores and errands while you recover.

• Walk on a regular basis. Start with short walks each day. Gradually increase the distance you walk and how often you walk.

• Don’t lift anything heavier than 10 pounds for the first 6 weeks after your surgery.

• Don’t drive for 2 weeks after surgery or as directed by your doctor. Don’t drive while you are taking prescription pain medicine.

• Ask your doctor when you can expect to return to work. Most people are able to return to work within 4 to 6 weeks after surgery.

Other home care

• Diarrhea or loose stools are common after surgery, and can last weeks to months. If you have watery, or bloody diarrhea, call your surgeon. This may be a sign of a bowel infection or other problem.

• Follow the diet prescribed for you in the hospital. Slowly add foods until you get back to your regular diet. If a food gives you stomach or bowel problems, avoid it for a while.

• Initially, you may be on a low fiber diet. After this, adding fiber can help with the diarrhea. If it is severe, your doctor may add a medicine for the diarrhea as well.

• You may use pain medicine as directed by your provider. Discuss your best option before leaving the hospital and at your post operative visit.

• Use nutritional supplements or shakes as directed by your doctor.

• Drink at least 8 glasses of water every day, unless directed otherwise. It's very important to avoid dehydration, especially if you have an ostomy (a bag that collects stool) or diarrhea. 

• Take your medicines exactly as directed. Don’t skip doses.

• Shower or bathe as directed by your healthcare provider. Gently wash your incision with soap and water and pat dry.

• Avoid tub baths until the staples in your incision have been removed.

Follow-up care

Make a follow-up appointment as directed by our staff.