• Two weeks before surgery you may be asked to stop taking drugs that make it harder for your blood to clot. These include aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), Naprosyn (Aleve, Naproxen), and others.
• Ask your doctor which drugs you should still take on the day of your surgery.
• If you smoke, try to stop. Ask your doctor for help.
• Always let your doctor know about any cold, flu, fever, herpes breakout, or other illness you may have before your surgery.
• Eat high fiber foods and drink 6 to 8 glasses of water every day.

The day before your surgery:

• A few days before surgery, you will be given a bowel prep that includes drinking fluids and taking laxatives and enemas. This is done to make sure that the colon is free of any stool.
• You may be asked to drink only clear liquids such as broth, clear juice, and water after noon.
• Do NOT drink anything after midnight, including water. Sometimes you will not be able to drink anything for up to 12 hours before surgery.

On the day of your surgery:

• Take the drugs your doctor told you to take with a small sip of water.
• Your doctor or nurse will tell you when to arrive at the hospital.

You will be in the hospital for 3 to 7 days. You may have to stay longer if your colectomy was an emergency operation.

You may also need to stay longer if a large amount of your small intestine was removed or you develop any complications. By the second or third day, you will probably be able to drink clear liquids. Your doctor or nurse will slowly add thicker fluids and then soft foods as your bowel begins to work again.

Most people who have a large bowel resection recover fully. Even with a colostomy, most people are able to do most activities they were doing before their surgery. This includes most sports, travel, gardening, hiking, and other outdoor activities, and most types of work.

If you have a long-term (chronic) condition, such as cancer, Crohn's disease, or ulcerative colitis, you may need ongoing medical treatment.

Images

The large intestine

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Review Date: 01/24/2011
Reviewed By: Shabir Bhimji, MD, PhD, Specializing in General Surgery, Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, Midland, TX. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)