New Diagnosis, Ascending Colon cancer

Update - I’m booked in for a right-hemicolectomy & lymph node clearance on Tuesday. 

Just celebrated my son’s 17th birthday yesterday and it felt very emotional for me.  

Stopped work this week. I feel like a hamster than has literally been thrown off the wheel, and I’m now lying face-down in a daze…I’m absolutely exhausted. 

The iv iron infusion last week didn’t seem to help…I’m wondering if the exhaustion I feel is more mental? I have such a busy & stressful career. Now that it is on pause, maybe the adrenaline is settling & my body/mind is reacting to it.

ive tried my first reflexology session last week. Absolutely amazing & very relaxing.

So now I’m preparing for surgery…a bit fearful at the thought of a hemi-colectomy but ‘better out than in’ I suppose! 

Hi SoniBee It sounds like you’ve been super busy and no doubt planned a lovely birthday for your son then made sure everything was up to date at work before you finished and then ………..the wait for Tuesday.   It’s probably the lack of adrenaline and the worry of the unknown that’s draining but try to remember that this is a normal every day operation for the surgeon and by Tuesday night the tumour will be gone and you’ll be on the  road to recovery.

Take care and don’t forget your extra long charging cable so you can let us know how you’ve gone on!

Karen x

Hi Sweetie,

I will be thinking of you on Tuesday ️. Same operation as mine.

Tips:

Nighties and long socks were my friends! 

Incontinence pants were great for when my poo pipe started working again but I couldn’t get out of bed (it’s not for long)

Cordial-not fizzy anything

Ginger teabags/peppermint teabags

Sleep mask

Leave-in conditioner ( to make your hair smell nice)

Fluffy blanket

The main problem I had after the op was wind. Trapped wind. Anything that helps that is a bonus. I also had a bit of ileus, where my bowel decided it wasn’t going to do anything for a day or two. 
My tummy was tender, but I genuinely had very little pain. I was given a morphine thing that you could press to have a dose, but I personally did not get on with morphine (my body seems to dislike the drugs that might actually help me!). Paracetamol being topped-up every 6 hours kept any pains at bay. 
I was home 7 days later, some people do it in 4 some in 10- take it at your own pace. A point came where I suddenly wanted to go home after feeling a need to be in hospital and it was a bit longer than some, but I think it has to feel right for you. 

Can we do private messages on here? If you have any questions about the poo/dignity aspects and you don’t want to ask in public, please message me. I have absolutely no qualms in talking about any of it (my period also decided to make an appearance for the entire time I was in there too, absolutely wonderful!!!)

If you are getting worried, I just focussed on the horrible yucky stuff in my body all being yoinked out and burnt! My scars are smallish and it tickled me that I was largely superglued back together. The wounds gave me no trouble at all, but my bellybutton is now a completely different shape, which cracks me up no end.

The surgery is long, but routine for them. Since I had the op I’ve watched some videos and stuff about it, purely out of curiosity, but I wouldn’t advise doing that before. 

All in all, it is MUCH better out than in. It’s not on the list of the best memories of my life, but the thought that all that horror I saw in the colonoscopy has long gone out of my little tummy is very, very comforting now.

Take care and keep in touch, any questions at all I will help as much as I possibly can 

Nic xxxx

P.S. I also have a busy and stressful career, but letting it go whilst I’ve been ill has really helped my mental state on many levels and that is a genuine positive of this whole experience (I’m a teacher).

Thank you for all your handy hints & tips.

To be unashamed & honest, I’m really worried about crapping myself - struggling to jet to the toilet after the op. The incontinence pants are a really good idea! Thank you for that!

I feel a mix of emotions - fear (of surgery), the unease of being recognised (I used to work in the hospital), relief (getting it removed) and hopefulness (that everything will go well).

I’m worried that they will discharge me quickly to get the bed… because I’m “young & fit” … I don’t want to be chucked out of hospital too early! 

I suppose everyone deals with the ups & downs of emotions associated with this journey…

I started sobbing during a massage treatment this week - all tension & worry coming out! Felt like a doofus but the therapist was wonderful & said that loads of people cry during treatments! 

Tonight the following is planned:

1. A Michael Buble Bubble Bath (listening to Mikey’s Christmas tunes while soaking in lavender bath salts) - loads of candles! 

2. Cheesy Xmas Rom-Com Movie on Netflix 

3. Mince Pie & Chocolate Cupcake & Custard. All mixed in one bowl with a hot cuppa! 

I’m a Doctor - GP.
Problem I have is that everyone - I mean everyone assumes that I’m a cancer or surgical expert- which I’m not.

Everyone uses lots of medical jargon - which my hubby doesn’t understand - and everyone assumes that I’m okay because I ‘know everything’ when I don’t.  I’m very honest when I say that I know very little about my condition because I’m not a Specialist, I’m a generalist. 

it’s been really frustrating for me.

Constantly asking staff to treat me like a patient, not a Medic. Asking to avoid the jargon so that my hubby has an opportunity to understand the content. I shouldn’t have to ask really.

One lovely Consultant said to me “I’m going to speak to you like a patient now…simple and straightforward” - which I really appreciated so much that I started crying after the consultation - he then asked “so how are you really feeling??” 

He had a similar patient journey & understood how hard it is to flip the mindset from a care giver to a care receiver (minus the guilt & awareness of NHS pressures & capacity). 

This forum has given me a break from my job, my role…and allowed me the freedom to explore my feelings as a patient xxx I’m so grateful for this

Extra long charge cable. Tick. 

Thank you for your advice & support xx 

Knowing that “the road to recovery” is coming soon eases a lot of my inner worry! 

That will be one step done & then I can focus on the next step thereafter! It’s all about those baby steps! 

 SoniBee I also had a toilet grab bag! The urge to go can come on suddenly so I had a bag with a few essentials in like spare knickers, wet wipes, sudocream, quilted toilet paper, panty liners/pads. I was a regular sight doing my rapid walk clutching my sainsburys carrier bag (other supermarkets are available) 

Yes baby steps are the way forward then see about the next stage when and if you get to it x

I think your fears are totally understandable and justified. Might sound a bit grim, but your poop will be like babypoop to start with and you won’t necessarily have any control over its arrival. I d a few mishaps, but the hospital staff treated me like a queen and removed everything, including my embarrassment. If you get the wind like I did, you’ll be so glad to fire it out that you’re boundo find it’s sometimes not just gas! The poo pants were a lifesaver (made my husband get them from Lidl ) 

Your evening sounds perfect. Make the most of the bath! I think the worst bit from a comfort point of view was I couldn’t get to the shower for a few days and although the bed-baths were fine, it was my hair which felt horrible.

Hindsight tells me it was just over a week that I don’t want to ever have to repeat, but it doesn’t last forever and before you know it you’ll be home and feeling a bit Christmassy and reminding yourself that YOUR BODY has to come first for 5-6 weeks. Everything else has to wait. Literally. Your family love you and they’ll get it and this Christmas will be a bit different.

You spoil yourself girl. If you get recognised by anyone, they will make extra sure you are cared for perfectly I’m sure. 

Don’t lose your sense of humour-that’s what kept me going when it was a bit bleak! 

Nic x

The humour is so essential isn’t it?

Luckily, I have a rather crazy sense of humour which has helped me through a lot of things! 

I downloaded my EMERGENCY TOILET PASS from the Bladder & Bowel Community which I intend to flash around when I start going to restaurants, cafes & shops… like a police badge - I’ll be flashing my poo pass everywhere!! 

I’ve used it around the house (practicing) & making my hubby swiftly exit the loo! lol!! (He didn’t appreciate it … as the toilet time is ‘his’ time for some R&R!!…)

It’s interesting to read more about how bowel function is affected by surgery. 

it’s so nice to read that you were treated with utmost dignity by the staff…I think that’s so important because bowel stuff can be embarrassing especially when it’s got a mind of its own!!