Two weeks post surgery and feeling dreadful

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Hi,

I had my lower anterior resection for upper rectal cancer on the 15th December and I just feel completely exhausted and with a few complications post op, I am, for the first time feeling a bit fed up with it all. I had done a pretty good job of taking it all in my stride to this point.

i had a few episodes of melena the day following surgery and was anaemic. Thankfully that sorted itself out without further intervention. I was home by the following Tuesday but back in hospital via an ambulance with a UTI and retention that was absolutely excruciating on Christmas Eve and it made some of the other stuff seem like a walk in the park. I was home late Christmas Eve night complete with a course of antibiotics and catheter fitted for the next two weeks. When I was shown how to work the catheter I was told to replace the day bag with the much bigger night bag before going to bed. A few days later I got a phone call from the Urology outreach team to make an appointment to remove the catheter and they were horrified when I told them I had been told to switch bags at night instead because of attaching the night bag to the bottom of the day bag. Apparently you risk a new infection if you change the bag because it’s exposed. I’m now terrified of getting a new infection when the catheter comes out.

i am also on another course of antibiotics for a wound infection. I’m still really struggling with the pain management and was sent home with tramadol and oral morphine which work brilliantly but I know I need to get off them as soon as possible but the paracetamol aren’t really touching the pain. At the same time I’ve had extreme constipation which I know the opioids can cause so another incentive to get off them. I’ve started to introduce more fibre to my diet and taken a few sachets of Laxiido on the recommendation of my lead nurse. I managed to have a bowel movement early this morning which was very uncomfortable, not least for the straining of stomach muscles that have been under the knife but also causing the catheter to bypass which is also uncomfortable and unpleasant. Since then my bowels have lurched the other way, presumably the Laxido starting to work and I’ve had a bit of diarrhoea. I also have practically no appetite. I’m very lucky that my wife is taking such good care of me but I feel so guilty seeing her running around after me.

It just seems like I am having to monitor a whole host of symptoms at the moment in a seemingly impossible balancing act this is before I get the pathology results back and learn of any more potential treatment. For the first time I am struggling and feeling a bit overwhelmed.

Thank you for letting me offload.

Kareno62 over 1 year ago

Hi Craig123 If you click on my name then you’ll see that i had a couple of complications after surgery. Yes it does get you down and you wonder if you’ll ever feel ‘normal’ again but you will - it just takes a bit longer for some more than others.
Im sure your wife is more than happy to care for you because a lot of treatment is out of their hands and this is the part where they can get involved and feel like they’re contributing to your recovery. Eat whatever you fancy - you can get back on the healthy diet train later when you feel up to it. 2 weeks is still early days especially with a couple of setbacks so be patient and don’t ask too much of yourself?

I pinched a mantra from a guy on here which was ‘This too shall pass’ and it will. If you can get off the strong painkillers (with medical supervision) then your bowels will hopefully start to settle down just don’t expect too much too soon and you’ll get there.

Take care

Karen x

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Craig123 over 1 year ago in reply to Kareno62

Hi Karen,

Thank you very much for the reply, that’s really helped a lot and makes an awful lot of sense and it is nice to hear it when you’re having a bit of a rubbish time. I am trying to manage the pain relief the best I can, I managed with just the one dose of tramadol yesterday and a couple of morphine. I’m desperate to get off it so I can see what impact that is having on my bowel movements but I have gone to hard to fast a couple of times and left myself in pain to the point that I can’t concentrate on anything. I will speak with my lead nurse again on Tuesday and see if we can put in place a plan to help come off them successfully.

I clicked on your name and read the timeline of your journey, thank you so much for sharing that. I found it very helpful and it gave me a sense of perspective. It was lovely to see how your journey improved despite having so many obstacles to overcome.

Thanks again and I wish you a very happy new year x

Andy.w over 1 year ago

Hi Craig

Your story is so close to mine the only difference is that I didn't come home with a catheter but Everything else the infection,loss of appetite,constipation,diarrhoea and the guilt you feel with your wife running around having to do everything is unbelievable but I had my follow up results which thankfully we all clear but I'm still struggling with bowl movements at the moment it's a case of of when you've got to go you've got to go out makes it hard because you have to plan when you go out so you know you're close to a toilet hopefully most things will get better for you.Andy

Craig123 over 1 year ago in reply to Andy.w

Hi Andy,

Cheers for the reply. It does sound like we are in a similar position. The catheter has been ….well I was going to say a pain in the backside but that’s not quite accurate is it. I’ll be so glad when it’s out.

Like you mention the changing bowel movements is so unpredictable, mine tend to kick off just as I’ve attempted to start a meal….’it’s like….really? Now? Right now?

I found the constipation improved when I reduced the tramadol and oral morphine down. I just tend to need a tramadol at night now as everything starts to kick off as I’m lying there trying to sleep.

its just a balancing act at the moment as to what sends me one way then the other. Hopefully it will settle down for both of us soon.

I wish well in your recovery.