Hi! I'm three weeks in recovery from having a right hemicolectomy. Like the others have said, walking helps get the bowels moving and you will hear your tummy gurgle, pass gas, and maybe you'll have a BM. The docs also gave me a medicine to wake up the bowels. The name started with an E. Once my bowels were awake, which I think was day 2, they said I could eat anything I wanted, but I stayed with the liquid diet. I felt so nauseous, because of the pain meds! I also chewed gum, because it relaxes me. At home, I tried chicken and shrimp, about a week after surgery, but my stomach really hurt after eating those, so I am staying towards the soft foods until the pain subsides more. I eat pasta, soups, etc. Everyday is better, but it is a slow recovery. Recently, my surgeon gave me bentyl, along with pain meds, which is an antispasmodic and it helps. I'm not fond of pain meds, so I was given that with a lower narcotic. I still feel like myself and not groggy and blah. Let us know how your surgery goes.