I can only speak from my experience, but it's probably fairly typical. When you wake from the anaesthetic you will feel immensely tired and weak, but you should not be in any pain. You will have numerous tubes, canulae etc. I was able to speak to my husband on a mobile held to my ear by the staff. Next morning I held the phone myself. Over the next few hours some of the equipment will be removed and within 24 hours you should be on a normal ward - depends on hosp protocol. Day by day you will improve, but you may feel a dip after a few days. My worst day was when the epidural was removed. Sometimes you have a morphine pump instead.
They will normally get you out of bed on the first day on the ward & attempting a few steps. Took 3 or 4 people to assist me due to drip stands, bags etc. I react badly to anaesthetic & felt rather hot & nauseous - had a fan blowing all the time & was too dizzy to do any more walking until Day 7. I also felt mentally woozy. However, if you can manage a bit each day, that will help bowels wake up. You should be out of bed in a chair most of each day, so can get legs moving & do deep breathing to help keep muscle tone up & shed the anaesthetic.
They will monitor you closely & administer oxygen/blood/drugs as necessary. Don't be stoic. Give them an accurate account of how you feel.
You may be given special nutritional drinks, you might have a nasogastric tube if unable to digest anything. After a few days if all is well, you will be allowed to start eating again, although you might not fancy much. You will doze/sleep a lot. You might like some light reading material or music/radio with headphones.
If all goes well, by the end of 7 days, you should be able to walk/shuffle about 100m & manage a flight of stairs. You should also have been taught how to manage your stoma & given initial supplies. You will still feel very weak & tired, but despite the stresses you have, you will probably feel a lot better at home in your own surroundings.
If you can, get stocked up with food in small quantities in fridge/freezer/ cupboard that is easy to eat cold/heated in microwave. I preferred finger food or stuff easy to eat with spoon or fork. Tinned or carton custard that you can have a few spoonfuls now & again, hearty soups, anything you fancy but concentrate on protein & carbs. Bending or stretching will be difficult so try to put things in accessible locations.
Easy wash & dry soft elastic or drawstring trousers are useful, pillows & cushions to help sit comfortably. Also I found it useful to have a small carry bag with drink, snack, book to tote from room to room upstairs/downstairs. You will probably want peace & quiet, even phone conversations may be stressful. Concentration may be poor for a while.
Having said all that, you will make progress day by day if you don't try to push yourself. If you overdo things one day, you will pay for it the next. Very best wishes.
I spent 9 nights in hospital,discharged on day 10 in the afternoon.The first 14 hours post op I was in intensive care.I had various tubes in my neck and had a morphine driver so I could give myself pain relief.I didn’t get on with the morphine at all,even with anti sickness drugs I was sick.I declined the morphine after day 1 and just had paracetamol.I was on strong antibiotics via a drip.I was allowed to have my mobile in ICU and the ward.I didn’t see any physios but the stoma nurse helped me to the bathroom and showed me how to manage the stoma.I was able to walk slowly up and down the ward holding onto the rail on the walls.I was very weak and wobbly.I was nil by mouth for virtually the entire time due to paralytic ileus where the bowel stops working.This is a fairly common complication causing abdominal pain and vomiting.I had a nasal gastric tube put in which helped.Apart from day 1 and the day I had the NG tube I tried to get washed and dressed and walking very slowly.I started off on the special drinks Fortisip and Fortijuice plus sugar free chewing gum ( to stimulate the bowel) but these had to be stopped because of the bowel problem.Because I was nil by mouth I had IV fluids.My sister brought in loose fitting trousers as my stomach was very swollen.When I got home my sister took some time off work to look after me and then an elderly relative took over when Sarah went back to work.I definitely needed help as I was so weak climbing the stairs.I found I could manage on my own after a couple of weeks but everything was extremely tiring.My sister left out non perishable food out within reach and I was careful how I opened the fridge.You are not allowed to lift anything heavier than a kettle for the first few weeks.I did feel quite nauseated at first so I didn’t eat a lot.I had snacks regularly and built up to things like jacket potatoes.I walked slowly up to the post box near my house with help from my relative.Over the months I built up the walking distance but it took 3 attempts to make the short walk into town to the care home to visit my mother.I found the recovery up and down and slow going.I felt better after 3 mths but it was another 5 mths before my energy levels really picked up.Best wishes Jane
Hi Coojee,When you first have a stoma it changes shape and should gradually become smaller.I found measuring it often and cutting the bags to size was the best way to stop leaks.Your stoma will produce mucus as it’s made of bowel.The stoma nurses will show you what to do and how to clean and care for the stoma.It isn’t difficult although it was trickier in hospital due to having tubes,drip stands etc.I expect you will have a couple of tiny tubes into the kidneys.These are stents and will be removed.I think I had mine out after a fortnight by the stoma nurses.It might be a good idea to get a waterproof mattress protector.At night you will plug your stoma bag into a much larger night bag.I had a night stand for it in hospital but at home I keep the night bag in a bowl at the side of the bed.The tubing is fairly long so you should be able to turn over comfortably.The bonus of a stoma over a neo bladder at night is that you won’t have to get up unless it’s for bowels.Stoma’s are usually on the right hand side of the body so I sleep on that side of the bed as it’s easier for the night bag.I have been lucky and only had a couple of tiny leaks at the start and nothing since.You might have to try a few different types of bags if you have problems but the stoma nurses will advise.I’ve had the same brand of bags from the start and they have worked very well for me.I’m able to do the garden with a stoma.It’s saved my life and I’m grateful for it.Jane
I had a small leak when the stoma had shrunk and the hole I cut in the bag was too big.That’s why I kept measuring until the stoma had settled in size.I had a freak accident when I caught the plug squeezing through a tight gap.That needed a clean up and a new bag like the others.Jane
