Possible surgery/stoma

Hi . Sorry for sticking my nose in but that certainly wasn’t the case for me! I had a Low Anterior Resection so not quite as big an operation as an APR but I’m sure the anaesthetic part will be similar. I was dreading the epidural but it was pretty painless. They do whatever they do in the bottom of your back then tape the tubing up your back. I then had a cannula put in the back of my hand and they injected something in that made me a bit woozy and the next thing I knew I was in recovery! I certainly wasn’t awake during the op and not even awake going into the actual theatre room. I think the epidural is used as it can then be continued for pain relief for a few days after the op but I’m not sure as mine came out during the night and the night staff didn’t notice so I was on paracetamol and codeine after that.

Hope that answers some of your fears 

Take care

Karen x

Cheers Karen. Yes it does.

Thanks for that 

Ian x

Hi Ian,

Like Karen said, you are 'out' for the operation. In the minutes before surgery the anaesthetist will set you up for the epidural, which is part of the pain management, and you get hooked up with the canula. I had a mask put on and I drifted off. Although the op was several hours, when I came round in recovery I actually thought I was still to have the op! You will definitely not be awake during your op!

Linda :-)

Hi g3mhx, and welcome! You're doing just fine on here! Linda :-) 

Hi Linda

Well I'm.back after 4 months. 

In hope you and yours are well during this awful time.

The APR is now a certainty.

It would have happened weeks ago but for CV19 turning the world upside down. 

Im on call at home, self isolating and its driving over the edge in myb mind atm.

I have had so much pain for so long with this experience that I cannot imagine a senario where I can have a major op and not be in awful pain. 

The surgeon told me she diesntb recall people saying much about pain issues for this procedure but I've been on 750mg of tramadol a day for weeks,  switched to 90mg Zomorph to stat on top of my current pains following biopsies on existing tumors.

I can't imagine a senario where I works Wake up in less pain than I am now. My greatest fear is this level of pain would just continue.

Did you find you could climb stairs immediately after surgery for example?

How did you sleep?

Ian

Xx

Hi Ian,

I have recently had this operation 4th December 2019 ending up with permanent colostomy. I had epidural then was put to sleep operation lasted 9 hours where I had tumour removed full Hysterectomy rectum removed and bottom sowed up. When I came round wasn’t in unbearable pain think epidural helped tremendously. You have a nurse who’s specialises in pain so no need to be in a lot of pain. Nurses like you to get up if you can I think I got up second day. I had 10 days in hospital mainly because my bowel was slow to open and refused to do a poo. I was so frightened of having to wear a bag but you soon get used to it. My stomach nurse suggested irrigating and I now do this in a morning it’s great really does give you freedom to go and not worry about Changing your bag. Not sure if This will help but I’m 4 month in from operation and went back to work be good March.

Best of Luck Ian

Alison