Ulcerative Colitis: Recovering From Surgery

It is an unfortunate reality that many people suffering from
ulcerative colitis will require surgery to rectify obstructions
in the intestine. This surgery is often unplanned due to the
fact that it is usually conducted at short notice and under
emergency conditions. There are many horror stories that
describe sufferers of ulcerative colitis being rushed to
hospital with abdominal pains and waking up after having 18
inches of their intestines removed. Sadly, medical professionals
are yet to find a cure for colitis and therefore surgeons are
left to deal with symptoms when they are otherwise impossible to
treat. http://www.1colitis.com If surgery is unavoidable
however, it is possible to reclaim a normal life depending on
the extent of the surgery and how much of the intestines were
removed.

Surgery to rectify and intestinal obstructions or blockages from
sufferers of ulcerative colitis can be divided into two
categories, small intestine surgery and large intestine surgery.

After small intestine surgery, the bowel is capable of
increasing its absorptive capacity to compensate for the loss of
the removed section of the intestine. Therefore, by allowing the
intestines to heal properly and adjust to the changes, a person
with colitis can return to life as normal. This includes a
return to the regular diet that was consumed before surgery was
performed. In severe cases where a more significant amount of
the intestine is removed, the remaining intestine may be unable
to fully compensate for the loss of surface area. The obvious
alternative to an underperforming intestine is to increase the
caloric value of food that is consumed.
http://www.1ulcerativecolitis.com This should balance the
deficit in food absorption and reduce the amount of weight that
is lost as a result of the surgery. In cases of severe
ulcerative colitis, food supplements may need to be delivered to
the stomach via a tube or alternatively, into the blood stream.

Following large intestine surgery, a special diet of high
caloric value is rarely needed. This is due to the fact that
much of the function of the large intestine is related to water
absorption. The initial diet following the operation will most
likely be dominated by liquids and slowly transition back to a
regular diet. http://www.colitispage.com In cases where the
whole intestine is removed, an ileostomy will be formed using
the surrounding tissue. Due to the function of the colon in
absorbing water and salt, both will need to be consumes in
higher amounts.