Surgery 7th Jan - what to expect and take? Help please

Hi 

I am going to tag in Kareno62 and Stwhitm have some good advise so will see if they are around to guide you .

Take care ,

Court 

Hi  and a happy new year to you too. I’ve attached a link to a booklet about the operation and a has a good page about useful things to take with you. 
https://bowelcancerorguk.s3.amazonaws.com/Publications/YourOperation_BowelCancerUK.pdf

A long phone charger is a good idea. You will probably find that your bowel will be a bit slow to wake up and maybe a bit erratic when it does. I found myself rushing to the loo so had a little grab bag with clean underwear, wet wipes, panty liners, sudocream. The nights can be quite noisy so Earplugs if you can stand them.

The nurses will have you up and about ASAP and walking up and down the corridors. You will have a few drips and a catheter in initially and getting up and about will become easier as these are removed.  Once you get home however they usually recommend no heavy lifting for at least 6 weeks - that means nothing heavier than a kettle with 1 cup of water in and no driving until you can safely perform an emergency stop. 

Hope all goes well with the op and please keep us posted

Take care

Karen x

Hi LVLDS, 

I had this surgery 7 weeks ago and the one thing I wish I had taken but didn’t was peppermint tea. The shouldertip/wind pain after the surgery was eased by the peppermint tea that someone next to me on the ward kindly gave me. This was a life saver. I’m a midwife and I always recommend it to women after a C-Section but didn’t think of it myself, my logical brain wasn’t working during the run up to the procedure. . The surgery and recovery went smoother than expected and I was home by day 6 and out for daily walks. I’m already exercising and I went back to work last week. You will be well looked after. I wish you all the best for your recovery. You got this! Xx

Emma 

Hi LVLDS

They told me seven days I was out in five. Get up and moving as soon as they recommend it works a treat.I was up next day  Like Karen said long charging cable, at least three changes of night clothes. I took two loose nighties it wasn’t enough. I took outdoor easy wear clothing too. Hoping to get out. Dry shampoo and toiletries. If your light sensitive eye mask  iPad ear phones.

Good Luck 

Dear LVLDS

I must apologise for not replying earlier, I missed the link in my emails until now.  What to take isn’t easy, it depends on a whole range of things.  I went in on a Wednesday morning in January, but the Royal Liverpool was at heat level sauna++, I have never been so hot in my life, I spent the entire post-op time in a thin pair of lounge pant shorts, no top, no sheet over me in a vain attempt to cool down; this is probably a bad idea if you’re female.  Others have said their stay was cold.  I’d make sure what you wear has short sleeves, you’ll be on a drip & will be having regular blood tests etc.  I’d consider a wrap/throw that can be put on or removed easily.  I’m an avid reader, my degree is English Lit, so I took a book with me; big mistake, I didn’t read a thing apart from a cursory flick through ‘The Independent.’  I didn’t take an iPad/tablet but wished I had, a lightweight TV download or an audiobook would have been useful.   Do not forget a decent length charging  cable and earphones if you do.  Take a phone - WhatsApp was particularly useful.

For the time immediately after surgery you will be on a drip and eat very, very little; get some decent drinks sorted.  The g/f of one of my sons had a near relation who’d had the same op and knew about the drinks.  She arrived with some fantastic lemon juice drinks deep frozen which were fantastic and arrived on another day with a ‘Costa to go,’ - absolutely wonderful.  Drinks seem disproportionately important, so arrange to have some decent ones with you, or brought in - depending on the  coved visiting restrictions.  I wish I’d taken a few notelets & a pen just to leave some individual ‘Thank you notes.’ Also take some earplugs, wards are loud places at night.

I had laparoscopic surgery, and went in the morning of the op.  It was my first stay in hospital, I was even born at home, so had no idea what to expect.  The hospital was in terrible condition the treatment was fantastic.  Op on the Wednesday, sitting up in a chair Thursday morning, walking, of sorts, with a catheter Thursday afternoon, more exercise on Friday, home Saturday.  Part of the reason for the fast release was because my wife is a Dr, so I think was considered a safe option.  I went home and seemed to spend much of the next couple of weeks asleep; be prepared you will sleep a great deal.

Sorry for rambling and giving little useful advice.  I would ask one thing, keep people informed of what happens.  Court is brilliant at that and the story of her mum’s treatment has provided solace for many.  It’s too easy to forget how scared those recently diagnosed are, and how desperate they are for hope.  I was lucky the op & post treatment went well and was much easier than I could ever have imagined; and I’m at the ‘whimp end’ of any pain scale.  Recovery is faster than I expected, a month to the day of surgery I drove, parked and walked a klm to Anfield to watch Liverpool.  A few months later I was trying to go to Kiev to watch Liverpool in the C/L final but my surgeon put her foot down at that, she was having none of it so soon after major surgery.  I did go to Madrid a year later to see them win it.

i’ve included a link below to a short video clip, it’s from Madrid and is the captain & his dad.  Brian Henderson had survived throat cancer and had had a very rough time.  That night all that was forgotten, all he knew was the sheer joy of seeing his lad lift the biggest prize in Europe.  Life goes on after treatment and it can be amazing; I hope it is for you

https://youtu.be/pcaAOH1gLt4

 YNWA (please everyone watch ‘Anne,’ - not an easy watch but an essential one)

Mike

All the best today, , fingers crossed for you.

Good luck for today

I found it really good to have a tablet with Netflix downloaded & watched lots of comedy afterwards (they say this helps with recovery & I also watched comedy during chemo infusions)

Hope all goes smoothly & well for you,

Suzy