Colon Surgeries Overview
The colon is an essential part of our digestive system which is responsible for the final step of digestion. Numerous conditions which may be present since birth (congenital) or may have developed at a later stage in life are known to affect the colon. These can include congenital abnormalities in the structure of the colon, infections of the colon, formation of polyps, ulcers or fistulas (an abnormal connecting passage between two structures) and occurrence of cancers. Colon surgeries are frequently advised to treat severe infections, remove polyps, treat ulcers and fistulas, and treat colon cancers. While some surgeries are minor and do not affect the health in a major way other surgeries may involve complete removal of the colon wherein the normal lifestyle of the individual undergoing colon surgery may be affected to a certain extent.
Colon Surgery Classifications
Colon surgeries can be broadly grouped as minimal surgeries and extensive surgeries. Minimal surgeries refer to minor procedures that may be performed to remove only certain affected parts of the colon. Polyp removal is one such surgery which generally involves removal of the polyp while the colon is left intact.
Extensive surgeries are performed when majority of the colon is affected or destroyed either due to certain infections or due to certain cancers of the colon. This procedure involves complete removal of the colon. Following this, the elimination of the body wastes is facilitated by the placement of a bag (the procedure is referred to as colostomy and bag is called colostomy bag) on the surface of the abdomen through an opening that connects to the small bowel. In some cases this may be a permanent way to eliminate the body wastes while in other cases the small bowel is connected to the anus at a later stage to aid in defecation.
It should be noted that digestive functions are not altered to a major extent and quality of life is well preserved following colon surgeries.
Effects on Health
Surgeries in general result in physical and mental stress. The fear of surgery and the doubts about recovery following surgeries create a lot of stress on the individual who is about to undergo a surgery. The recovery period that is associated with pain, tiredness, restrictions in physical activity and diet and the healing of injuries create physical stress. Colon surgeries are not devoid of these things. However, the quality of life following colon surgeries can be improved with better care at hospital and at home.
You may need to stay in the hospital for about a week’s time following the surgical procedure. Diet and activity restrictions are generally advised for a few weeks following colon surgeries. Pain is generally bearable with the use of medications. These may be advised for a few weeks.
The return of normal functioning of the colon is comparatively better in cases of minimal surgeries. However, in cases of major surgeries wherein the whole colon is removed, the elimination of waste products through the anus is not possible and the individual may need to use a colostomy bag for the rest of his life in certain instances. Although it alters the normal functioning, with proper emotional support and encouragement, the affected individuals are able to carry out normal functioning within a few weeks time.
Change of Diet
The diet may have to be altered to a certain extent wherein the doctor may advise increased consumption of fibrous foods along with plenty of fluids. In other cases, fibrous foods may have to be avoided along with other fatty foods.
Knowledge Helps You
Colon surgeries are considered to be a stressful procedure. However, obtaining knowledge of the procedure and understanding its limitations helps you to cope up with it at a faster pace and resume your regular life style much earlier. Although there may be certain restrictions, the quality of life is much better than that with colon disorders.
Some Tips After Colon Surgery
- Follow doctors instructions thoroughly about the diet and lifestyle
- Take adequate rest
- Do not attempt to lift heavy objects for a few weeks after surgery
- While some amount of physical activities are advised, avoid over-exerting yourself; check with the doctors about the activities you can perform without complications
- Take things positively, it helps you to recover faster
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