I had a right hemicolectomy in April using the Da Vinci robot to remove a 200mm (8-inch) long tumour. It was so large it had almost blocked the part of the colon close to the appendix. I found these Macmillan forums invaluable in providing me with additional information that was not covered in the NHS leaflets, and reading the posts on the forums put my anxious mind at rest before what I felt was a daunting operation. I'm 64, and was reasonably fit and active before the surgery, but I wanted to share my experiences post-surgery and reassure those who are worried about what happens afterwards.
I was in the hospital for four nights. The day after my operation, I ate only the pureed meals from the menu, beginning with the evening meal. I was irrationally scared of causing any damage or rupture to the internal stitches and staples, and wanted my recovery to be as problem-free as possible. I continued to eat pureed soups and soft scrambled eggs for the next two weeks at home, then I progressed to other soft foods like mashed potatoes, soft vegetables, pasta, and minced beef.
I followed the post-operation instructions exactly, taking Laxido laxative daily, paracetamol when I felt pain from the abdominal scarring (all below the belly button and unobtrusive). I also took the recommended blood thinner injections and wore compression socks for 30 days.
Internally, I've had no problems at all. Sometimes I get a little constipated if I don't drink enough water. I have not had any bleeding, pain or discomfort - apart from slight pulling from the scar tissue as my muscles knitted back together, which stopped hurting after about four weeks. Now, only two months after the operation, I consider myself 'back to normal'. Everything is working normally, with no problems, and my digestive system feels like it used to before the tumour started to grow.
So if anyone has fear and anxiety about the surgery, like I did, I hope this post offers a little reassurance.
