after colon surgery

[justamainer]

I had colon surgery 2 months ago and most everything is going quite well but I am still eating a low fiber diet and suffer constipation at times. I am also hungry. I was never told how long to stay on the low fiber diet. Any one else on it and for how long? I also sometimes have a burning feeling on the right side. I had a right colectomy to remove large polyps . Thank you

[Beckster]

I had colon surgery 2 months ago and most everything is going quite well but I am still eating a low fiber diet and suffer constipation at times. I am also hungry. I was never told how long to stay on the low fiber diet. Any one else on it and for how long? I also sometimes have a burning feeling on the right side. I had a right colectomy to remove large polyps . Thank you

I also had a right colectomy. I was told to eat low fiber for 2 weeks and than I could add foods. After 2 weeks, I was on a normal diet. My dr told me that I would know if certain foods did not agree with me. Eat if you are hungry...I would just recommend not eating too much high fat foods. That is the only thing that I found affected my bowels. And yes...I did have off and on burning on the right side. I think it is the healing process. It eventually went away.

[boxhill]

I also had a right hemicolectomy. I agree re adding foods gradually, sticking to small meals, etc. I think I stuck to pretty much the portions and low residue type of food I had in the hospital for about a month, then started to broaden a bit. I used it as an opportunity to lose some weight. Unlike you, once my bowels started functioning after surgery I had ongoing diarrhea and loose stools rather than constipation, mostly because of the metformin I take. Make sure you drink plenty of fluids. If you are constipated, use the gentle type of stool softener and laxative they send you home from the hospital with, in my case GeriCare docusate sodium and GeriCare Geri-kot, which is senna.

See what agrees with you food-wise, and what doesn't. It's probably a good idea to avoid nuts and seeds for a while longer, though.

It is normal to have some pain around the area on and off in the months after a colectomy, especially if it is open surgery. If the pain is really bothering you, call the office of whatever doctor is doing your follow-up and tell them about it. Or use My Chart to send them a note.

BTW, I live in Maine, if that's what your user name refers to.

[justamainer]

Thank you for the replies I appreciate them. After surgery I was given the diet to use and not told how long so I just kept eating soft foods. I am adding things now. Yes, I am from Maine.