4 days post operation.

My husband was nil by mouth for the first day after his surgery and then water and tea only for the next day. I think only then he had a very small pot of pasta the next day and wasn’t eating properly til day 4. It’s normal to take it slowly. He should also be told about diet changes for the next few weeks to prevent blockages or food moving too fast through the stoma. 

Sometimes the bowel takes time to "wake up"after an op.so the hospital takes things slowly at first.

Agree with this. If you’ve had major bowel surgery the hospital prefer not to give the bowl too much to do, so food is limited purposely to give it time to get going again. My husband was eating tiny portions for about a week afterwards, even when he was home. The first few days he would have half a baked potato as a meal with cheese and tuna for example. As long as he had something every few hours I was happy. It does take a while but he’s 4 weeks post op and eating almost normally now - he does miss his cabbage and beans though 

Hi SarahSerena,

Your way sounds better. He was allowed to eat on day 2 soup, mash, and icecream. Porridge and soup the next day, but not allowed anything today.I feel as if we have gone backwards. They have taken him for a scan today to see what's happening. He was given a booklet about food before the operation. I'll no doubt be asking you more!!! 

NannyAnny

Just wondered if they reduced his food today to get a better scan image !

Maybe wrong but I get the feeling less food the better with scans !

Hope he has a bit of success tomorrow!

Court 

Yes I would assume they’ve stopped food to give clearer scans and maybe to give the bowel a chance. It can take a good few days to get going, though my husband had liquid output to his stoma within the first day though his was an emergency op and he was very backed up. He passed stools several times in hospital after the op too. 

Try not to worry - I know it’s hard - but I think stopping or slowing food would be the right thing just to make the scans easier. 

Thanks for your imput. He has had a certain amount of success today. The consultant is talking about sending him home on Friday, but I can't see that as he still has had no food and is wobbly. If its not too horrible a question - what kind of constituency can we expect normally? 

Do you know if he had an ileostomy or colostomy? My husbands is a temporary ileostomy and it’s a fluid output, reasonably continual throughout the day. The bag he has is clear so you can see it. Your husband will need to be shown how to care for the stoma and what to eat before he goes home as this is important but he will heal better at home I think xxx 

Thanks Serena. I think that, too. I don't know what he has, but was told it could be reversed! The stoma nurse has seen him several times. The output was fluid today.xxx

It’s probably a temporary ileostomy which will be on his right side. The output will be liquid like. Glad that it’s working for him! Once he’s up and about and eating he should be allowed home. They should give you spare bags for the stoma, we got a kit with everything we needed to take home.