Anal & Rectal Surgery Home Care Instructions

Anal & Rectal Surgery Home Care

ACTIVITY:

Limit activity the day of surgery
You may get up to use the bathroom and before meals as desired.
Gradually resume your activities as tolerated.

PAIN:

Some pain is common. Here are some steps you can take to relieve it:
Take your pain medication as directed with food.
Warm sits baths—unless directed not to.
Lying down with an ice pack to the rectal area is also comforting.
You may take Ibuprofen not to exceed 2400 mg in 24 hours. Often your pain medication has acetaminophen in it. Do not exceed 4000 milligrams of acetaminophen in 24 hours.

PERSONAL HYGIENE:

Keep the surgical area clean and dry.
Tub bath or shower as desired.
Take a sitz bath 4 times a day and after each bowel movement. Dry the surgical area with a soft cloth, and then use a blow dryer with warm (NOT hot) heat to dry the area. Be sure the sits bath is warm, NOT hot.

SURGICAL AREA:

Slight redness, swelling, and pink drainage are to be expected. You may have spotting of blood, especially after a bowel movement. This can last up to 4 weeks. Using hydrocortisone cream to the area will also help with the swelling.

DIET:

Eat a light diet when you get home, starting with fluids and gradually increase as tolerated. After the first 24 hours, you may increase to your normal diet unless otherwise instructed. Avoid greasy and spicy food.
To avoid constipation, eat a diet high in fiber. Take a powder fiber supplement such as Metamucll, Beneflber, or Citrucel. Dissolve 2 teaspoons In a full 8 ounces of water or juice daily. Taking a stool softener such as docusate sodium 100mg once to twice daily to keep your stool soft may be of help.
If you do NOT have a bowel movement every day, take 1-2 tablespoons of Milk of Magnesia, or a dose of MiraLAX. If still no bowel movement, call the office.

NOTIFY YOUR SURGEON AT 208-302-2400 IF ANY OF THE FOLLOWING OCCUR:
Bleeding that will NOT stop.
You are unable to urinate or have difficulty with bowel movements.
Fever over 100.5 or chills.
Pain not relieved by your pain medication or other methods described above.

Dr. Sheev Dattani, MD is a Colorectal Surgeon at Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center in Boise, ID.