The most important thing to consider when your home is to maintain your fluid intake. Sip, sip sip constantly
- Fluids - sip constantly. Your dietitian will have provided guidance regarding which nourishing fluids to drink. You should aim for at least 1-1.5 litres of fluid each day including all clear and nourishing fluids
- Nausea - this should settle within a few days
- Pain - normally patients won't need to take analgesia for more than a few days postoperatively
- Walking - walk as much as you can tolerate (but take your water bottle with you)
- Wounds - your wounds will have a clear skin glue over the top. This might feel a bit itchy by day 7 and by day 10-14 it starts to fall off
- Driving - at least one week after the operation, but make sure you are able to hit the brakes safely before you start driving again.
- Long drives - if you are driving back a long way, make sure you take frequent stops. Get out of the car, walk around every 2 hours or less to stretch your legs. Keep your stockings on.
Bowels - as before, if you have not opened your bowels by day 5 after the operation - take lactulose (20ml 3 times a day) and movicol (2 sachets four times a day) until your bowels have opened. If by day 7 you haven't opened your bowels - use a microlax enema. Each of these are available over the counter at your local pharmacy. Avoid taking a Senna-based medication as these can irritate your gut.
