How long will it take to recover?
When you first go home you will probably find that you feel weak and tire easily. You may not feel like doing much. On the other hand, you should no longer have the symptoms from your ulcerative colitis, and, as you recover, should begin to feel a lot better than before the operation.
If you have a stoma bag, it may take time to learn how to manage it. Talk to the stoma care nurses if you have a problem or need more information. Specialist nurses should also be able to help with advice about living with an ileo-anal pouch. Patient associations such as the Ileostomy and Internal Pouch Support Group, or the Colostomy Association, can also be helpful. (See Useful Organisations below.)
As time passes you will regain your strength and stamina, and will probably be able to return to your normal daily activities including sports and hobbies. Everyone is different, however, and how long this takes can depend not on only the type of operation you have had, but also on your age and your general state of health. During your recovery it is important to strike a balance between trying to do more each day and over-doing things. Listen to your body and only do as much as feels comfortable.
A gentle exercise program may help speed up your recovery and you will probably be given some advice on this by the hospital or your IBD team.
Most people are advised not to do any heavy lifting or housework like ironing or vacuuming for a period of time following their operation. You should not start to drive again until you feel strong enough and comfortable enough to control a car properly, including making an emergency stop if you need to. This may take several months. Your car insurance may not cover you if you drive before you are fully recovered.
When you can return to work will also depend on the operation you have had, your general health, and the type of work you do. People with jobs that involve a lot of physical effort may need more time off than those with less active jobs, although even sitting at a desk all day can be very tiring after surgery. On average, it probably takes about 2-3 months before most people feel able to return to work. Working part- time for a while, or only taking on lighter duties, can often help the recovery process.
When you first go home you will probably find that you feel weak and tire easily. You may not feel like doing much. On the other hand, you should no longer have the symptoms from your ulcerative colitis, and, as you recover, should begin to feel a lot better than before the operation.
If you have a stoma bag, it may take time to learn how to manage it. Talk to the stoma care nurses if you have a problem or need more information. Specialist nurses should also be able to help with advice about living with an ileo-anal pouch. Patient associations such as the Ileostomy and Internal Pouch Support Group, or the Colostomy Association, can also be helpful. (See Useful Organisations below.)
As time passes you will regain your strength and stamina, and will probably be able to return to your normal daily activities including sports and hobbies. Everyone is different, however, and how long this takes can depend not on only the type of operation you have had, but also on your age and your general state of health. During your recovery it is important to strike a balance between trying to do more each day and over-doing things. Listen to your body and only do as much as feels comfortable.
A gentle exercise program may help speed up your recovery and you will probably be given some advice on this by the hospital or your IBD team.
Most people are advised not to do any heavy lifting or housework like ironing or vacuuming for a period of time following their operation. You should not start to drive again until you feel strong enough and comfortable enough to control a car properly, including making an emergency stop if you need to. This may take several months. Your car insurance may not cover you if you drive before you are fully recovered.
When you can return to work will also depend on the operation you have had, your general health, and the type of work you do. People with jobs that involve a lot of physical effort may need more time off than those with less active jobs, although even sitting at a desk all day can be very tiring after surgery. On average, it probably takes about 2-3 months before most people feel able to return to work. Working part- time for a while, or only taking on lighter duties, can often help the recovery process.
0 comments:
Post a Comment