Pre op nightmare

Hi Shieldsman Well I’m frankly appalled to hear how your pre-op went and the tales you were told - I’m not surprised your head is spinning. My pre-op was with my surgeon and the stoma nurse. They basically told me what the op would involve, checked what medications I was on and any allergies, the risks, what to expect post-op recovery and answered any questions that I had. I don’t think I had an enema before mine but it may depend on whereabouts the tumour is? Ive attached a link to a booklet about the operation in general but I think it would be a good idea to write down a list of questions/concerns and then ring your colorectal support nurse and see if she’ll run through it quickly with you again.

Remember you’ve already had your scans so the surgeon knows what to expect and if it had ‘spread all over’ then you would have been told that - I can only suppose that the nurses friend had gone in with a blockage and undergone emergency surgery or something. 
Hopefully the booklet will help but please post again if you’ve any specific questions 

Take care

Karen x

Thanks Karen and thanks for your reply ,,I can't see any link to the booklet you mentioned 

Hi Sheildman

I totally know how you feel I had the same last year. I walked away from the nurse asking me questions actually in tears. By the time I got to the anesthetist I was unable to speak. The Doctor said do you know when you have to have your drinks

No I said I had a plastic bag thrown at me. She called in the bowel nurse and she settled me. 

Wednesday I had another Pre op. I suffered PTSD.

The trouble is they do not take in to account what op you’re having. 
I wish I had complained at the time but my head was in anxiety mode. I prayed I wouldn’t see her in the morning at 5.30. SHE WAS THERE !!! Still not talking and miserable

If you have the energy complain I regret not telling her at the time  if I ever see her again I will tell her how she made me feel 

Luckily nurses like that are few and far between  

Whoops sorry Shieldsman

https://bowelcancerorguk.s3.amazonaws.com/Publications/YourOperation_BowelCancerUK.pdf

Hi Shieldsman

That sounds like a really awful pre-op assessment and to be honest, I'm a bit speechless.  How unprofessional.  No wonder you're so confused and anxious.

Mine (for a low anterior resection) went like this -

Nurse first - swab test for MRSA followed by blood pressure check and ECG and then bloods.  She gave me a pouch of the dreaded bowel prep to take home (to be drunk the day before the op) and some build-up drinks to be taken before the op too.  4 the night before and 2 on the morning of the op.  She also gave me some exercises to do both before and after the op and a diet sheet to follow, again before and after the op.

Doctor next - he took my medical history, sounded my chest,  examined me and answered any questions.

Finally the anaesthetist - he basically went over everything that the earlier professionals had already checked.  He also had the report from the surgeon which outlined the operation he intended to perform, including the length of time it was likely to take.  He answered all my questions and was extremely reassuring, explaining that I would be in intensive care after the op (this is routine apparently and wasn't a reflection on my particular state of health) and said that he would see me after the op.  He also checked my teeth as there would be a tube over my throat and described all the different tubes and lines that would be in place afterwards.  A lovely man and very reassuring. After speaking to him I came away feeling far more calmer than I'd been for weeks.

If you know the contact number of your colorectal nurse then I'd get in touch with her and ask her to go over everything with you. You deserve to be treated so much better than that.

I hope that it all goes well.  Take care.

Thanks for your reply Ann ,, yeah I agree apart from this one nurse everyone has been fine ,I'm back in tomorrow for another scan seemingly the first one only scanned my belly area and lower (couldn't see owt)but as I'm now getting an op they want to scan everything ,and I've also been asked to take part in some trial ,I've getting a booklet from Karen that's on here explaining everything so gonna see my nurse tomorrow as well and try get mind bit more at ease ,again thanks for your reply and hope ur ok as well  

Thanks Karen was a good read and has give me couple questions to ask Tomorrow 

Thanks blue for ur reply I had some of that but not near as much as u did deffo got some questions tomorrow 

Hi Shieldsman

She was way out of order. Firstly she was a preop nurse not a colorectal nurse. Totally different job and skill set. When you see your nurse she will be able to tell you everything you want to know   My surgeon was fantastic in what he was planning on but I had my nurses to contact if there were and queries. If you get a chance tell your nurse about your experience at the preop it may protect others and will ease your stress. 
Do you know what operation you’re having. I had a LAR. 

Good luck 

Absolutely Ann-they are dealing with a huge variety of patients undergoing all sorts of different operations and are just carrying out general tests.

Sarah xx