Emergency bowel op - anyone else had one?

[dippica]

After sudden and crippling tummy pains I ended up having an op to remove a blocked bit of bowel 2 weeks ago, and am now recovering at home. Can't believe how completely lacking in energy I am - am barely moving off the sofa (which is giving me back ache, but that's another story!)

I'm now eating small quantities, but it still seems to be going straight through me - does anyone know how long the bowel takes to get going properly again? What can I do/eat/drink to help - really nervous about eating anything much other than bread, soup, some fruit etc, in case its too acidic or something.

Any advice welcome....

Oh poor you how horrid. Did your consultant not advise you on diet? That's a bit poor. Your bowel has been handled during surgery and it's entirely normal for it to be super sensitive for a good few weeks post surgery.

I am just out of hospital having had my colostomy reversed, pretty similar to what you've had done in some respects as two ends of my bowel have been sewn back together. I am on a low residue diet for a few days, and then will start to gradually reintroduce other foods. The idea is to eat food which goes through your gut slowly!

There is a great article on wikipedia about it, and there is a link at the end to a diet sheet which should help.

I would have a few days of eating only white bread, white pasta, mashed spuds, plain yogurt, rice pudding, white rice etc which should firm things up for you. Then add other bits in, but keep away from high fibre stufffor a while!

Hope this helps

PS if your bottom is sore (!) Sudocrem should help.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Low_residue_diet

x

Thanks Spudballoo, I'll have a look at that. And I'll dig out the Sudocrem!
Hope you feel better soon too.

Hey Spuds, glad to know you're out of hospital. How are you feeling?

dippica - I had a part of my bowel removed about 20 years ago. Blockage due to adhesions. I don't remember being advised about diet either but I do remember that it took some weeks to settle; partly due to not eating at all for two weeks and partly because the bowel itself is still very bruised and sensitive.

Take things very slowly and I hope you both feel better very soon.

BS...hello! Good thanks, recovering fast, I was out in 5 days ... my consultant is very cautious and wouldn't let me eat for 2 days post op so those all important First Farts were delayed. anxiously awaiting any clue on what kind of continence I have. I was warned of squits, but the low residue diet seems to be having the opposite effect plus, of course, not eating for 5 days means there was nothing there to begin with!

My tummy is stapled together. I look like I have a zip on it....

Thanks for all your help last weekend, I really appreciated it. x

First Farts!! I remember those. My scar looked like a cartoon fishbone to start with - I was tempted to draw a head on one end and a tail on the other. Best of luck for a really good recovery - I'll keep an MN eye out for you! x