Life After a Colectomy for Diverticulitis

Diverticulitis causes pouches in the digestive tract to become infected and inflamed. Those who present with serious complications or who have not healed through conventional treatments might require a partial colectomy--removing the diseased part of the colon and rejoining the remaining portions. Typically, a partial colectomy will not produce any long-term hindrances. The University of Chicago, the Mayo Clinic and the National Library of Medicine offer the following information for recovery from this procedure.

Hospital Recovery

You need to stay in the hospital until you can eat a normal diet and achieve normal bowel function--this can be anywhere from a few days to a week. Initially you will receive IV nutrition and a liquid diet and eventually move to solid foods.

Diet

You need to consume a low-fiber diet for six weeks after your operation. You want to reduce the volume and frequency of bowel movements to avoid stressing the intestine. After this point, you can add high-fiber foods gradually. Eat 5 to 8 meals daily instead of three big ones.

Rest and Recovery

After a couple of weeks of rest and modified activity, you can typically resume normal activities. You should not lift anything heavy for at least six weeks, however. Within a couple of months, you should feel back to normal.

Work

If you can be active around the house for eight hours and wake up the next day feeling rested, you are probably ready to return to work. You might need to modify your activities or hours temporarily, depending on your line of work.

Warning Signs of a Problem

Call your doctor if you have a fever over 101 degrees, changes in bowel habits or if you have not had a bowel movement in four days after coming home, are throwing up or have black, tarry stool, a swollen and/ or painful abdomen, trouble breathing and have swelling in the legs.