What are the most important things after diverticulitis sirgery

Posted , 5 users are following.

My surgery is on Tuesday July 31, woman, 52 years old, laparoscopic/robotic. I probably would not be able to take shower after that for few days. What do I need to have at home after the surgery: baby wipes, lots of drinks like aloe Vera juice, Gatorade, please share your detail feedback. 

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17 Replies

  • Posted

    Hi Violeta, 

       Water and Gatorade . Stay away from coffee and tea that have caffeine. Also stay away from carbonated drinks.

    Bring sugar free gum to the hospital. My dr recommends this to help with bowel movements. You should be able to eat soft foods when you get home so eggs, white toast ,pudding ,applesauce, chicken , mashed potatoes.

    Good luck

    Kate

  • Posted

    Mine was open cut, but as Kate said soft diet, Gatorade, water, and most of all PATIENCE. Eat minimal meals, walk after each meal, walk as much as you can but don't overdo it. Keep in mind what goes in your mouth has to come out where they repaired your colon so highly recommend staying away from fresh fruit and vegetables. Stick with soft foods for at least 4-6 weeks until you know your inside stitches are healed. Lapriscopic is different from open, you should heal faster than I am. I'm going into my 10 weeks, just barely started eating salad (2) times a week, minus tomatoes. I've been able to eat small tender steaks. Slowly introduce the foods you couldn't eat because of the disease, but stay away from the seeds. Supposedly its a 10% chance of the disease returning as long as you watch what and how much to eat. Remember you are not a superhero, this is major surgery, know your limits as far as any activity like housework, bending, etc.

  • Posted

    The biggest advice is drink a lot of water and keep up with it! You will become constipated if you don’t! And walk, walk, walk. It helps to break up the gas, also reduces your risk of complications after.  You don’t have to go far or fast. You will still need to be close to the bathroom or feel the need to be!

    My recovery , I  feel, is taking Forever!

    I can eat  something one day and then 2 weeks later it doesn’t agree with me! 

    Aggravating! I find I have to still eat smaller meals . Thankfully the pain is completely gone.

    Kate

  • Posted

    Blessings and Prayers for a smooth hospital stay and surgery! You will be in my thoughts! I'm 3 weeks out and doing well. My tips:

    -stay hydrated

    -walk a lot but ease into other activities, ask for help, don't over do bending and reaching, pulling youself up and about

    -Drink soothing Tea and Bone Broth, Have popsicles To Help With hydratiOn

    -Develop a routine for care..tea, walk, shower, wash, hair, comfy clothes, pain managment, hydrate, walk, eat, relax..try not to sink into the couch or bed too much..it's tempting

    -Take anti gas meds, I should have right away, a lot of my initial pain was gad

    I think it will be easier than you think! please keep up posted!!

    • Posted

      Thank you, Jenny and thank you to all beautiful people on this forum. Your great updates, proposals and feedbacks have been keeping me with a good and positive spirit since April 2 2018 when I got my first flair up of diverticulitis. 
  • Posted

    Yesterday i had 5 hours robotic  surgery. My surgeon cut: big piece of the colon, a smal  part of the small intestine and the appendix.  It is a big surgery but needed to be done. This surgery willl take much longer to heal since there was so much going on.  Recovery is around 6 weeks but I am glad I did it.?
    • Posted

      It sounds like it was much needed for sure! You are on your way to feeling better, so happy for you! Take it easy, one day at a time and keep us updated and keep asking questions!
    • Posted

      Glad you are able to update today! Big surgery for sure ! Make sure drink a lot of water and walk!

      You will be home before you know it!

      Kate 💚

    • Posted

      Thank you  Kate. My surgeon put me on clear liquid diet and the nurses like to help to make me get up and start moving. Nurses are angels, great people, very comfortable in the room.

      Yesterday, surgery day zero was very painful day and I am as not able to get up from the hospital bed. Today they switched the medicine and I was able to go to the bathroom by myself. Still in pain but I know it will go away.

    • Posted

      You have had worse pain with having diverticulitis remember that! This will all stop soon. Just listen to your body!

      Hope the liquids  staydown ! One day behind you.

      Kate

  • Posted

    You will be so happy you had this done. Patience, stay hydrated, walk as much as you can, don't be afraid to ask for pain meds,and remember what goes in will come out so stay on non gassy, soft diet until your insides heal. Congratulations, it's a big step to have made.

  • Posted

    Hi Violeta,

    How are you feeling now? Are you out of the hospital? I hope things are going really well for you and you canput this all behind you.

    Julie

    • Posted

      Thank you for asking. The hospital keept me for 5 days and I am resting at home.  This was a huge surgery. I try to move but I am sleeping most of the days. I know I am on my way to recovery, slowely but surely. I will see my surgeon on August 14.
    • Posted

      I have another question. 6 days after my surgery i cannot sleep very well, I wake up every 2 hours. Would you recommend the best way for sleeping: in an angle like the hospital bed or just to use one pillow. I also feel like I have acid reflex? Please advice?
    • Posted

      Hi there! I would try to curb food and liquids around 7pm to help with the reflux, I know that may be hard..If you have a recliner or reclining couch consider sleeping there for a bit instead of bed. From experience I will tell you the sleeping thing is a tough nut to crack..If I ended up on my right side for too long when I got up or moved I would be in serious pain. My left side was better, but even better to not fully go to the left but to lean on a pillow. I think back sleep is the best until healing is better, but staying on one's back is hard. I did try to put pillows on either side of me to prevent rolling..The couch occasionally did help, but sadly this is somewhat normal. I promise you it will get better..Also make sure you are making it so you can take pain meds before bed even if its just tylenol or aleve..any bit helps. hope that helps! Also I used my heating pad quite a bit..and sometimes slept with my brace

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