Preparing for Surgery: Inflammatory Bowel Disease Washington DC

Having surgery for any reason often produces a lot of anxiety and is otherwise upsetting for a lot of folks.  Knowing a few basic facts about what will happen during surgery and recovery can help to ease fears and make things go much more smoothly.  This short article is intended for individuals who are getting ready to undergo a colectomy for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease Washington DC.

Before Surgery for Inflammatory Bowel Disease DC

• Make sure to understand why your doctor thinks surgery is the best option for your inflammatory bowel disease Washington DC.  While it is very likely that a competent gastroenterologist has exhausted all of the less invasive IBD treatment DC options before referring you to a surgeon, you should understand whether or not there are other choices available to you.
• Give your surgeon a list of all the medications, supplements and herbal preparations you take before your operation.  Some medications might need to be discontinued for a few days if they have a side effect of thinning the blood.  More often, you will be advised to take medications normally, but to take them with only a sip of water on the morning of your surgery.
• The anesthesia provider should be informed of any important health conditions you have, like asthma or heart disease, in addition to any medications you are taking or any street drugs you use.  While you may hold back some of this information in many areas of your life, it is important to be completely honest with the anesthesiologist.
• Everyone knows it is incredibly difficult to quit smoking.  However, if you can quit smoking before your surgery, it will significantly reduce the risk of respiratory problems while you are under anesthesia.  Again, though, if you have not quit smoking, make sure to tell the anesthesia provider.
• Most people remain in the hospital around three or four days after their colectomy.  It is important for you to be able to eat normal food and have a bowel movement before you go home.  Plan for any help you may need with driving or other personal or household tasks before your surgery takes place so that you don't have any complications during your inflammatory bowel disease treatment DC recovery.