What happens after I get home from anal and rectal surgery?
Patients often ask; “How do I take care f myself after surgery?”. In this section we will discuss what happens after surgery and how you take care of yourself in the days immediately after going home. Please be sure to read this carefully and have your family members also read these instructions.
These are DISCHARGE INSTRUCTIONS for patients who had any kind of rectal surgery such as hemorrhoids, fistula, rectocele, fissure or other ano-rectal conditions
DIET
Resume your normal diet but add some roughage. You are encouraged to take a high fiber diet. Use bran, brown bread, vegetables, beans and fruits to add fiber to your diet. Avoid hot spicy foods, beer, wine, carbonated drinks, coffee or tea as these may cause irritation of the anus.
SITZ BATH
Take Sitz bath (sit in a Luke-warm water bath) for 10-15 minutes 3 times a day and after every bowel movement, starting tonight. One may use the bathtub as a Sitz bath or buy one from pharmacy.
BOWEL MOVEMENTS
Take 2 Dulcolax tablets at bedtime, the night you are home from surgery. If you have no bowel movement by the next day, you may use 2 to 4 tablets before bedtime until you do have one. Once you are having regular bowel movements stop using Dulcolax. Avoid constipation. Prune juice also helps. Make only normal efforts to pass a stool, do not strain. Do not push. You may feel false urges to defecate- the Sitz bath may be helpful if you have these sensations.
BOWEL MOVEMENTS
Take 2 Dulcolax tablets at bedtime, the night you are home from surgery. If you have no bowel movement by the next day, you may use 2 to 4 tablets before bedtime until you do have one. Once you are having regular bowel movements stop using Dulcolax. Avoid constipation. Prune juice also helps. Make only normal efforts to pass a stool, do not strain. Do not push. You may feel false urges to defecate- the Sitz bath may be helpful if you have these sensations.
PERSONAL HYGEINE
You may use toilet tissue as soon as comfort allows. Baby wipes are a softer alternative. Using just plain luke-warm water for cleaning is even better and more comfortable. Gently clean the wound with your fingers as you pour water over the area. After cleaning, tuck in a piece of 4 x 4 gauze over the area.
MEDICATIONS
1) Use Konsyl, Citrucell or Metamucil for 6 weeks and drink plenty of water. One to two teaspoon full 2-3 times day is sufficient. If you judge the stools to be too loose, or get more than 2 movements per day, cut back on the dose or stop it completely.
3) Pain pills (1 or 2) may be taken every four to six hours. It is a good idea to take these pill round the clock for the first few days after surgery and not wait till the pain gets unbearable. These pills have a tendency to cause dizziness, drowsiness and nausea. Do not drive a car or consume alcoholic beverages with these pills.
4) You may apply Anusol ointment, Preparation H or Tucks pads to operation site for comfort.
GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS
You have stitches that dissolve. In order for the stitches to dissolve, the tissues about the anus will create an inflammatory reaction and therefore do not be alarmed by some soreness, swelling, bleeding, discharge or false urges to defecate. Some Bleeding is possible up to several weeks after surgery. Tissue around the anus may be swollen. These are not hemorrhoids but simply a response to stitches. Strenuous exercise, pushing, straining or heavy lifting is to be avoided for at least 4 weeks. One can drive when comfortable but prolonged driving is to be avoided. You will be seen in office one week after surgery. Call the office for an earlier appointment if you have excessive pain or fever.
www. ColonSurgeonHouston.com
Khawaja Azimuddin M.D. & Tal Raphaeli M.D. & Jean Knapps M.D.
1125 Cypress Station Dr, Suite G, Houston TX 77090
Tel: 281-583 1300 Fax: 281-583 1303