About this topic
A colon stricture is a narrowing of the colon. The colon is your large bowel or the tube that connects your small bowel to your rectum. When you have a narrow area in your colon, food and stool are not able to pass through on their way out of the body. This can be a very serious problem if your colon is blocked all the way. ‚
What care is needed at home?
- Ask your doctor what you need to do when you go home. Make sure you ask questions if you do not understand what the doctor says. This way you will know what you need to do.
- You may have a tube in your nose in the hospital to remove digestive fluids. If you still have a tube in your nose when you go home, your doctor will tell you how to clean and care for it.
- Take your drugs as ordered by your doctor.
- If you had surgery, ask your doctor about how to care for your cut site:
- When you should change your bandages
- When you may take a bath or shower
- If you need to be careful with lifting things over 10 pounds
- When you may go back to your normal activities like work and driving
- If you have an ostomy, learn how to care for it before going home.
What follow-up care is needed?
- Your doctor may ask you to make visits to the office to check on your progress. Be sure to keep these visits.
- If you have stitches or staples, you will need to have them taken out. Your doctor will often want to do this in 1 to 2 weeks.
What drugs may be needed?
The doctor may order drugs to: ‚
- Help with pain
- Fight an infection
- Keep your stool soft
Will physical activity be limited?
Physical activities may be limited if you are suffering from pain. Talk to your doctor about the right amount of activity for you. If your doctor says it is okay, take short walks every day to help with blood flow and prevent blood clots. ‚
What changes to diet are needed?
Ask your doctor or dietitian for a diet plan. Your doctor may suggest a liquid or soft diet until your bowel is stable and ready for regular food. Drink lots of clear liquids. Clear liquids include water, fruit juices, soup broth, gelatin, popsicles that do not have fruit or fruit pulp, tea or coffee with no added milk, and sports drinks. Avoid beer, wine, and mixed drinks (alcohol) and caffeine. ‚
What problems could happen?
- Hard stools
- Need for salt and water
- Infection
- Tear or hole in the small bowel
- Bowel function does not return to normal
When do I need to call the doctor?
- Signs of infection. These include a fever of 100.4 ‚ °F (38 ‚ °C) or higher, chills, pain with passing urine or not able to pass urine, wound that will not heal.
- Signs of wound infection. These include swelling, redness, warmth around the wound; too much pain when touched; yellowish, greenish, or bloody discharge; foul smell coming from the cut site; cut site opens up.
- Unable to pass stool or gas
- Very upset stomach or throwing up
- Very bad belly pain
- Blood in your stool
- You are not feeling better in 2 to 3 days or you are feeling worse
Teach Back: Helping You Understand
The Teach Back Method helps you understand the information we are giving you. The idea is simple. After talking with the staff, tell them in your own words what you were just told. This helps to make sure the staff has covered each thing clearly. It also helps to explain things that may have been a bit confusing. Before going home, make sure you are able to do these: ‚
- I can tell you about my condition.
- I can tell you how to care for my cut site if I have one.
- I can tell you what I would do if I have an upset stomach, throwing up, or are unable to pass stool or gas.
Last Reviewed Date
2015-08-12 ‚
List_set bdysylist
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care provider 's advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
Copyright
Copyright ‚ © 2016 Wolters Kluwer Clinical Drug Information, Inc. and its affiliates and/or licensors. All rights reserved. ‚