• It may take 4-6 weeks to get back to normal after major abdominal surgery such as bowel resection. Everyone is different and some take longer to recover whilst others may recover faster depending on the type of surgery, length of stay in hospital and general health prior to the surgery

  • Wound care
    • Keep the incisions open without any dressings unless specified otherwise. This allows the wound to breathe and allows the patients to see any early changes.
    • Wounds can get wet during showers but, be dried with a towel after showers.

  • Diet
    • A low fibre diet is recommended after major abdominal surgery.
    • Frequent but small meals along with energy supplements such as Sustagen in between meals are recommended
    • Adequate water intake is required while recovering from surgery

  • Analgesia
    • Despite keyhole or open surgery, the patient will experience some pain.
    • Regular analgesia such as paracetamol is reommended.

  • Exercise
    • The abdominal wounds take up to 6 weeks to heal. We don’t recommend any lifting greater than 5 kg for the first 6 weeks. There is an increase in pain and possible development of hernia if this is not followed.
    • Exercise such as walking 2-3 weeks after surgery is okay. However, this is dependent on patients’ recovery and level of fitness.

  • Bowels
    • Generally, bowels take 4 weeks to settle. Initially, it can be erratic with frequent bowel motions followed by very few bowel motions.

  • Returning to work
    • The patient should be able to return to work after 3-4 weeks depending on their recovery and type of work. Light duties are recommended if possible, or short duration of work hours initially and gradually building up to normal hours.

  • Sleep
    • Normal sleep pattern is important for recovery and mental well-being.
    • Patients tend to be more fatigued in the early stages of recovery and may need more sleep during the daytime.

IF THERE ARE ANY CONCERNS PLEASE CONTACT YOUR GP OR PHONE OUR OFFICE 08 81646727