Recovery Guide

• Monitor wound sites daily: look for redness, warmth, swelling, discharge, or smell
• Temperature check twice daily — above 38°C / 100.4°F means call the hospital immediately
• With colonic repair, infection risk is elevated — do not wait, do not self-assess

Eating pattern

• Small, frequent meals — aim for 6–8 per day rather than 3 large ones
• Easy to digest: soups, broths, soft proteins (eggs, fish, yogurt), cooked vegetables
• Avoid raw vegetables, high-fibre foods, and gas-producing foods while the colon heals

Supplements — discuss with your surgical team first

• The gastric bypass modification changes how nutrients are absorbed — ask your team about B12, iron, calcium, vitamin D, and folate
• Vitamin C (1000mg daily) — supports collagen formation for wound healing
• Zinc (15–30mg daily) — supports immune function and tissue repair
• Protein supplement — if appetite is poor, a whey or plant protein shake provides the building blocks for healing
• Iron — if blood loss was significant during surgery, supplementation may be needed

All supplements should be discussed with the surgical team — not self-prescribed.

Hydration

• Small sips throughout the day — not large amounts at once
• Staying hydrated also helps prevent blood clots (more on this below)

• After colonic repair, bowel function will be unpredictable for weeks — loose stools, constipation, or alternating between both is normal
• Do NOT strain. If no bowel movement for 3+ days, call the GP for a gentle laxative
• Probiotics may help restore gut flora after surgery and antibiotics — ask the surgical team before starting
• Peppermint tea can help with trapped gas pain

• Stay ahead of the pain — take prescribed painkillers on schedule. Do not wait until pain builds
• If on opioids: they cause constipation. Ask your team for a stool softener. Straining is dangerous after abdominal surgery
• Pillow splinting: hold a pillow firmly against your abdomen when coughing, laughing, or standing up — it protects the wound and reduces pain significantly

• Sleep is when the body does most of its tissue repair. Aim for 8–10 hours plus naps as needed
• Sleeping positions: on the back, slightly elevated, or on the non-surgical side with a pillow between the knees. Avoid sleeping on the stomach
• If pain wakes you at night, time painkillers 30 minutes before bed
• Room should be cool, dark, and quiet. White noise can help if hospital sounds linger in memory

• Short walks around the house, multiple times daily — this prevents blood clots (DVT)
• DVT risk is HIGH after abdominal surgery + ICU stay + recent travel
• No lifting heavier than a kettle for 6–8 weeks
• No core exercises, no twisting

This is critical after major surgery + ICU + recent travel.

• Wear compression stockings if provided by the hospital
• Ankle circles and calf pumps while sitting — 10 reps every hour
• Stay hydrated — dehydration thickens the blood
• If prescribed blood thinners (e.g., Clexane injections), do NOT skip doses even if the injection site bruises

• Two emergency surgeries and an ICU stay is traumatic — nightmares, anxiety, and low mood are entirely normal responses
• Exhaustion beyond what seems reasonable is expected — the body is doing enormous work to heal
• Rest IS the work right now. It is not laziness. It is recovery
• If anxiety or sleep problems persist beyond 2–3 weeks, speak with your GP

• Cortisol is elevated after surgical trauma — this is your body's normal stress response
• You may feel wired, anxious, or unable to settle even though you are exhausted

To help cortisol normalise

• Prioritise sleep above all else
• Avoid screens for at least 30 minutes before bed
• No caffeine after noon
• Gentle walking (even just to the kitchen and back)
• Morning daylight — even 10 minutes by a window helps reset your circadian rhythm

• If you still feel wired or anxious after 2–3 weeks, ask your GP to check cortisol levels

Once wounds are closed and stitches/staples removed:

• Keep wounds dry and clean until stitches or staples are removed
• Silicone scar strips or sheets reduce keloid formation — available at any pharmacy
• Gentle massage of healed scars after 6 weeks improves mobility and reduces adhesion formation
• Protect scars from sun for 12 months — they darken permanently if exposed to UV

• Wedge pillow or extra pillows — sleep slightly elevated to reduce abdominal pressure
• Loose, soft clothing — nothing pressing on the abdomen
• Grabber tool — avoids bending and straining
• Someone checking in daily for the first 2 weeks minimum