Like any major surgery, a bowel-related surgery will take quite some time to recover from, so you must remain calm and patient. Some people may find the recovery process to be much quicker and others may take longer. Everybody is different, therefore, so are the individual recovery times. Don’t try to rush this sensitive time period as your body must adjust to the changes at hand.
Be Patient
The most important thing to keep in mind when making a full recovery after surgery is that you must be patient. You cannot expect to be running around and living your normal life after you have just undergone a serious medical procedure. It may be frustrating at first, however, you should allow your body the time it needs to get back on track. When the time comes, you will be able to live your life as normal.
Keep Your Ostomy Clean
You may find that cleaning your ostomy and managing your pouch is a bit difficult or flimsy at first. However, as you get used to the process, and your confidence grows, you won’t have any difficulties in cleaning your stoma. If you worry about liquid drainage, you should invest in stoma powder. This helps absorb moisture around the raw or broken skin surrounding a stoma and can help reduce any leakages. Â
Avoid Heavy Lifting
In the first few weeks after your surgery, you will have to avoid any physical strain. This includes activities like heavy lifting and even driving. You will probably feel quite weak after your procedure, therefore, you should take it easy for the first 6-8 weeks. During this time, you should not lift anything heavier than a kettle full of water, as this could cause a hernia behind your stoma. Your doctor will be able to give you more advice on exactly how long you should wait before driving or working.
Join a Local or Online Support Group
Recovering from major surgery is no easy task, however, having the right kind of support can make this process much easier. Although your family and friends can help you through the journey, they may not be able to fully understand what you are going through. Thankfully there are many people in your situation, you just have to find them. Look for support groups in your local area or perhaps even join a group online. Here, you can freely discuss your questions, doubts, and struggles with likeminded people.
Recovering from such a significant surgery will, at times, be quite painful, daunting, and tiresome. However, this is all part of the process. You need to focus all of your energies on making a full recovery and try to take each day at a time. Life after ostomy surgery will be challenging at first yet the quality of your health will drastically improve thanks to the procedure. With the right support from your doctor, family, and friends, rest assured that you will be back to full speed in no time.
