After Colon Surgery.

A normal appetite should return comparatively quickly following the colon surgery. Unless the patient has a prescribed diet for another medical condition, such as diabetes, a well-balanced, normal diet should be resumed before discharge from the hospital. In the beginning, however, some foods, such as nuts, seeds, coleslaw, celery, and binding foods should be eliminated. The patient also should avoid foods that produce excessive gas, such as beans, cabbage, and onions. Preparations of bismuth subcarbonate or charcoal are effective in controlling gas and odor.

If constipation occurs, the patient should add such foods as cooked fruit, vegetables, juices, and fluids, and avoid those foods that tend to constipate. Colostomy patients should not take a laxative unless it is prescribed by the physician.

If diarrhea occurs, the patient should examine his or her diet to see if foods that produce loose, frequent stools are being eaten. Most people, including colostomy patients, occasionally get intestinal flu, and this possibility should be considered when diarrhea occurs. Commonly, intestinal flu is accompanied by headache, muscle aches, loss of appetite, and fever. If these symptoms are present, a physician should be consulted. During these occasional intestinal upsets, a temporary appliance with bag should be worn for the sake of cleanliness and skin care until the diarrhea subsides.

A panty-type, two-way-stretch girdle is the best type of undergarment for women with a colostomy, and a wide-belted athletic supporter seems best for men. These garments serve three purposes: they support the recently healed abdominal wound and help keep a dressing in place over the incision as well as cover the stoma. If the posterior, or perineal, incision has been left open, sitz baths will have to be continued until closure is complete. Closure can take several months. During this time, disposable diapers can be worn over the wound dressing under the girdle or supporter to keep undergarments from becoming wet from the wound secretions.

Most patients can wear their usual clothes, but tight dresses and trousers may prove uncomfortable. Pants suits and A-line dresses are usually the most comfortable for women. Non constrictive slacks are usually best for men, and some avoid possible discomfort from a belt by switching to suspenders.

As stressed earlier, it is crucial for patients to learn to manage their colostomy rather than become enslaved by it. This means engaging in normal, pleasurable activities. Travel, for example, should not prove a great problem for colostomates; a patient can irrigate the bowel wherever there is a toilet and a sink with running water. The patient should plan ahead by preparing a small kit with all the necessary items, including appliances for irrigation and care of the stoma. A flight bag is good for this purpose. Some string to hang the irrigating bag in bathrooms away from home should be included; a door hinge often makes a good hook in an emergency. When planning a trip abroad or extensive travel, the patient's physician should be consulted, particularly regarding medicine to prevent diarrhea.

Most sports, with the exception of body-contact sports, are recommended and encouraged. These include golfing, swimming, tennis and other non-contact sports