The first voice I heard when I came out of surgery was my own voice. It said: ‘You made it. You're all good. No need for any more worry!’
—— Glynis
Helping you prepare for after bowel SURGERY
You may feel different after bowel surgery, especially if your surgery involves a colostomy or ileostomy bag.
Looking ahead to living a normal, but different life, is also part of preparing for better surgery outcomes.
This page offers resources and some helpful tips on diet, staying active, and guidance on how to cope post-surgery.
We also suggest you check out Part 4: After your surgery, on the team's Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) page.
Looking ahead to living a normal, but different life, is also part of preparing for better surgery outcomes.
This page offers resources and some helpful tips on diet, staying active, and guidance on how to cope post-surgery.
We also suggest you check out Part 4: After your surgery, on the team's Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) page.
Staying Active:
Moving after your surgery is important for your recovery of physical functioning after bowel surgery. You may want to consult with your doctor about an exercise plan that works for you. Additional information is available for specific movements, postures and exercise that you can do to help you keep moving.
Moving after your surgery is important for your recovery of physical functioning after bowel surgery. You may want to consult with your doctor about an exercise plan that works for you. Additional information is available for specific movements, postures and exercise that you can do to help you keep moving.
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...You can swim with an ileostomy bag. |
Eating a healthy diet:
Maintaining good nutrition is also critical for your healing from bowel surgery. It can be difficult to prepare your own meals following your surgery, so you may want to plan for what you will do to buy and prepare food post-surgery. Ask your doctor or dietitian if they will prescribe you a special diet.
** If your condition needs a special diet (e.g. low-fibre diet or ileostomy diet), please consult your dietitian for specific instruction. If you feel like you have trouble eating, please consult this page for more information. **
Here are some resources to help you prepare a post-surgery diet plan:
Maintaining good nutrition is also critical for your healing from bowel surgery. It can be difficult to prepare your own meals following your surgery, so you may want to plan for what you will do to buy and prepare food post-surgery. Ask your doctor or dietitian if they will prescribe you a special diet.
** If your condition needs a special diet (e.g. low-fibre diet or ileostomy diet), please consult your dietitian for specific instruction. If you feel like you have trouble eating, please consult this page for more information. **
Here are some resources to help you prepare a post-surgery diet plan:
I pre-made and froze soups & meals for when I went home from hospital; unfortunately, a lot of the ingredients were things I couldn’t eat until my colon healed & the inflammation went down.
—— Kim P.
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… Marshmallows help thicken up the output going into your ileostomy bag. … Drinking coffee or alcohol can quickly clear your bowels (be prepared). |
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Coping —— You’re stronger than you think.
Keeping a positive mindset is important for coping with unplanned after-surgery events. There are many psycho-social and emotional aspects of bowel surgery and you may experience changes in your mood and thoughts. It can be helpful to prepare for how you will manage your mental health during your recovery.
Coping with the practical aspects of bowel surgery, particularly stoma care, will be supported by the designated stoma nurse at the Colorectal Surgery Center at St. Paul’s Hospital. There may be special materials or medical supplies that you need to take care of your stoma that you may wish to purchase before your surgery, although you will have to wait til after surgery to be properly fit with your ostomy bag. Speak to your doctor about what you may need.
Keeping a positive mindset is important for coping with unplanned after-surgery events. There are many psycho-social and emotional aspects of bowel surgery and you may experience changes in your mood and thoughts. It can be helpful to prepare for how you will manage your mental health during your recovery.
- Understanding Post-surgery Depression
- Depression after surgery - what you need to know
- Post-Op Mood and Cognitive Changes: Undisclosed Effects
- Managing Your Mood, Expectations and Goals after surgery
Coping with the practical aspects of bowel surgery, particularly stoma care, will be supported by the designated stoma nurse at the Colorectal Surgery Center at St. Paul’s Hospital. There may be special materials or medical supplies that you need to take care of your stoma that you may wish to purchase before your surgery, although you will have to wait til after surgery to be properly fit with your ostomy bag. Speak to your doctor about what you may need.
This website is for people who have planned abdominal surgery for conditions like colorectal cancer, stomach cancer, Crohn's Disease, Ulcerative Colitis, Diverticular Disease, Polyps or other digestive / gastro-intestinal diseases.