Patient Education Colorectal Cancer: Your Care and Recovery | Page 32

Your Hospital Stay
The First Three Days after Surgery
• You will continue to receive pain medication by IV, PCA, or epidural
catheter. Once you are drinking liquids, you will be able to take pain
pills. Let us know when you need pain medication before you are very
uncomfortable. This makes it easier to manage your pain.
• Your dressing will be removed by the second day after surgery. The
incision may be left uncovered. The dressings on the drains will be
changed as often as needed.
• If you have an NG tube, it will remain in place until your stomach and
intestines show signs of activity. These include a decrease in the amount
of drainage from the NG tube, rumbling in the stomach, and passing gas.
• It is important for you to keep doing the breathing exercises and using
your incentive spirometer every 2 hours while you are awake. This will
help decrease your risk of pneumonia after surgery.
• You will begin drinking clear liquids (water, Jell-O, broth, or clear soda).
When your stomach is able to handle liquids well, your diet will be
changed to soft foods.
• As you become more active, your doctor will order your Foley catheter
removed.
• We will help you increase your activity level each day. This is to prevent
blood clots in your legs and to increase the activity of your intestines. You
will be:
— getting up in a chair at least 3 times a day
— walking in the hall at least 3 times a day
— increasing the distance you walk each time

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