Functional GI Disorders, Microbes, and Brain-Gut Interactions.Medications that can Affect Colonic Function.
Make an appointment with your surgeon for one month after surgery.Ask your doctor for specific limitations. This may take several days to several weeks depending upon the procedure. You may go back to work when you feel ready to do so.Avoid driving a car while taking pain medication.You may sit on a foam pillow but avoid rubber rings or "donuts." Do not sit for longer than 10 to 15 minutes at a time. You may do what feels comfortable to do after surgery.They may need to place a catheter into your bladder to empty it. If you are still unable to urinate 12 hours after surgery, go to the Emergency Department. If you are not able to urinate, try sitting down (men) or try urinating in a warm bathtub. You may strain to urinate – this will not harm the area that was operated on. It may be difficult to urinate after the surgery.If the bleeding does not stop within an hour after a bowel movement, if the amount of bleeding is worse with time or if you are passing clots of blood, call your surgeon. Some bleeding with each bowel movement is expected.If this does not work within 12 hours, call your surgeon. If you still have had no results after three days, take four Dulcolax tablets by mouth at one time. If two days pass without a bowel movement, take a tablespoon of milk of magnesia (30 ml) and repeat in eight hours if have not had a bowel movement.Do not give yourself an enema unless you get approval from your surgeon.Be sure to drink six to eight glasses of water or other non-caffeinated beverage a day. Take a fiber supplement, such as Metamucil, Konsyl, Fibercon, Citrucel or any generic brand, as directed on the package.Colace (Docusate sodium) 100 mg twice a day is the recommended stool softener. Take a stool softener as long as you are taking the pain medicine. The pain medication can cause constipation and passing a hard stool will just add to the pain.Tuck the gauze into the wound so that it covers all the surfaces. If you have been told to place a moist gauze pad in the wound, do so several times a day.After each bowel movement, gently cleanse the area with water or bathe/shower to keep the area clean.After bathing, pat dry or use a hair dryer.Apply Silvadene cream to anus after each hot bath for the first seven to 10 days.Remove the dressing the morning after the surgery and then get in a warm tub.Expect the pain to get better at about seven to 14 days after surgery.It is the most effective method of controlling pain. This is a minimum and there is no maximum limit. Take a hot bath in plain water and soak for at least 20 minutes three times a day.This is not covered by any health insurance and costs up to $65 a tube. Apply ELA-MAX 5 percent cream to anus (inside and out) every two to four hours as needed.Take the pain medicine every three to four hours as needed for pain.