How long does it take to heal from colon surgery?

Let’s start with a disclaimer, I’m not a doctor, but if you’re here reading this article, neither are you. So if you really want to know how long it takes to heal from colon surgery, go see a professional!

However, if you’re looking for some humorous insight into the topic (insert drumroll) look no further!

Why is it Important to Know?

So why do we even care about healing time when it comes to colon surgery? Well, for starters, your body just went through a major ordeal and needs time to recover. Plus there may be certain activities or foods that need to be avoided during the recovery process.

What is Colon Surgery Anyway?

Before we dive in any further let’s establish what exactly colon surgery entails. According to my favorite site (Wikipedia), colon surgery is “surgery on the large intestine”. Riveting stuff.

In all seriousness though, there are various reasons someone would undergo colon surgery such as cancerous tumors or diverticulitis.

The Short Answer

As much as I’d love to give you an exact timeline for healing from colon surgery (spoiler alert: there isn’t one!) the truth of the matter is that everyone’s recovery process will differ based on various factors like age and overall health prior to surgery.

That being said (see what I did there?), most people can expect at least six weeks before they begin feeling back t0 normal after a standard laparoscopic procedure.

For more complex surgeries involving larger incisions or potential complications during recovery (shudder), recovery times could range anywhere from 2-6 months or longer! Yay!

Of course these numbers are not set in stone and should only be used as rough guidelines until your doctor gives you specific instructions tailored specifically for your body.

Recovery Timeline

Don’t worry folks, I won’t leave you hanging without a proper timeline! Here are some general guidelines based on what you can typically expect during each stage of the recovery process:

In-Hospital Recovery (1-5 Days)

  • Pain and discomfort can be expected (duh)
  • IV fluids to keep hydrated
  • You’ll likely be asked to get up and walk around as soon as possible post-surgery, even though moving may not seem too enticing at first

First Two Weeks Post-Surgery

  • Mainly rest and liquid diet with plenty of water (yum)
  • Gradual reintroduction of solid food after one week
  • Continuing pain/discomfort is normal

Three to Six Weeks Post-Surgery

  • Resuming daily activities (think: exercise or employment) in moderation while gradually increasing activity level
  • Still avoiding heavy lifting or strenuous physical work/activities for several weeks

After Two Months

fingers crossed
Feelings of near-normality should start creeping back into your life by this point. If they’re not…well that’s when we bring out the big guns.

Ongoing Care

Just because things begin to look up doesn’t mean it’s time for celebration quite yet. Keep track of potential symptoms like fever, vomiting, bowel obstruction, intense abdominal pain etc.

It’s important for postoperative patients to monitor themselves closely since complications can arise days or even sometimes months later.

Make sure communication lines with your physician stay open so that any warning signs (cough cough) don’t go unnoticed.

Benefits of Humor (!)

Now if y’all think I’m just making jokes about colon surgery for my own personal entertainment.. well ok maybe a little bit…

But humor has been shown(to myself!)to actually have real positive effects when it comes to healing from surgery–(CNN article link), seriously! Humor releases endorphins which promote pain relief and relaxation in the body.

So if you can’t laugh at a situation (ex: going to the bathroom post-surgery) then what’s even the point?

Conclusion

In conclusion, while there isn’t an exact healing time when it comes to colon surgery (sad face), there are ways to make things more manageable.

Make sure communication with your doctor is established from day one, follow their instructions diligently and don’t be afraid to crack a joke or two about how much you’re missing that Chipotle burrito during this somewhat unpleasant recovery process.

Or maybe just stick with some of these post-colon surgery recipe ideas. It’s up to you really!

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