Post-op info

Getting home

Once your hospital recovery period is over you will be able to go to your home to complete the rest of your recovery.

You should be patient over the course of your recovery which can be expected to last around eight weeks once you are out of hospital. During this time, you should take lots of rest and let your body restore itself to its pre-operative state. While you are at home you might expect phone calls, online appointments or visits from your stoma nurse to form routine check-ups or you might go into a clinic for an appointment. Your stoma nurse will be with you to assess your stoma and to help educate you on how best to care for it. They will also support your physical, psychological, spiritual, cultural, sexual and social needs, to enhance your quality of life.

Week 8+

After the 8-week recovery period your stoma should be at its normal size and appearance. This generally tends to be a pink/red colour, and about the size of a 50p coin. Sometimes your stoma may change size or shape, and this can sometimes happen when your weight fluctuates. Your stoma can sometimes bleed slightly when you change your pouch, try not to worry as this is common and the bleeding should stop quickly. You should call you stoma nurse if the bleeding does not stop or if the bleeding is coming from inside your bowel. If you’re worried about any changes to your stoma, please contact your stoma care nurse.

Week 12+

Once your 8-week recovery period is over you can try to take short walks but only once you feel up to it. You should not lift anything heavier than your kettle for about 8-12 weeks post-operation, as you could risk a setback in your recovery and cause harm to your stoma. Do not attempt any exercise that might cause abdominal strain (for example, sit ups and heavy lifting) for a minimum of 12 weeks after your surgery. You should not drive in the six weeks after your surgery, only after this time can you resume driving and only if you can perform an emergency stop safely. You shouldn’t rush your return to driving and instead build your confidence back up again after the first six weeks of recovery.