Surgery Friday

Hi AJW84 Yes of course it’s totally normal - I’d never been in hospital prior to my operation so was pretty nervous but it was a lot easier than I thought. The anaesthetist came to check everything through with me and then a member of the surgical team did the same. After the op I was in recovery for a while then taken up to the ward. The nurses look after you really well and make sure you’re not in any pain. If you do have a stoma then they will empty and change it for you and then the stoma nurses will visit you to make sure you’re ok with everything.

Youre encouraged to get up and about as soon as possible so try short walks up and down the ward. You’ll have a few lines and tubes attached but these are removed over the first few days then you’ll be home in your own bed before you know it.

At the  end of the day you will be getting the tumour in the bin so focus on that and I’m sure you’ll be fine

Take care

Karen x

You are so normal. It's quite natural to worry and stress prior to surgery. 

If you end up with a stoma, I can assure you that it will be hard at first but quickly becomes easy. I needed a more radical surgery that left me with 2 permanent stomas and it's fine. I adjusted very quickly. 

Friday will be here soon, so not too much longer to wait. 

Hey there. 

im having the same surgery as you on Thursday.  Stress and worry is normal.  We’ve obviously been down the same path for the last few weeks.  Not knowing was sheer hell  

I was going out of my mind with blind panic, but since my meeting with the surgeon I’m ok and feeling happy.  I’ve enjoyed the last few weekends know what’s wrong and feeling like I’d won the lottery because for me it’s operable and hopefully after this it’s gone.  My 

plus as someone who’s never had a general anaesthetic in my life I was scared about that but then I spoke to everybody I could and everyone has said the same thing before we know it we are out then we are being woken up probably not feeling the best but the cancer is out.  

so I’m sending positive thoughts to you and I hope you can enjoy a couple of days and just remember how talented and knowledgeable these medical people are and they’ve got an arsenal of painkillers and tips and tricks to get us home and healthy.  Xxx

Hi

I had the same surgery 2 years ago, I hadn't had 'serious' surgery before and had decided not to do any research via doctor google etc and simply followed advice by the team.  One thing that did surprise me was having an epidural as well as GA, it was not an unpleasant experience even though it was done by a trainee (I had consented) under supervision and took a few attempts lol

I was so happy when I woke up to find no stoma, though mentally I was prepared to accept what came.  Recovery was longer than expected (potassium issue) but it is really important to get up and about as soon as you are able.  A morphine pump was already installed though I found I didn't like it and asked them to remove it after a couple of days and I just used paracetamol for the pain which was manageable, unless I coughed (they give you a rolled up towel to press against your abdomen and it does work!)

I had a really big tumour but, following tests my cancer was downgraded and I didn't require any chemo.  To the horror of my surgeon I turned up for my follow up check 2 weeks later carrying a rucksack as I was off to Wales for a few days walking, I felt well and had to force myself to slow down and take it easy.  As my surgery was done 'keyhole' I didn't realise how serious it was.

its normal to stress and panic but my advice is to re-direct your thoughts (theres a technique called 'Thought Stopping', don't allow yourself to go down any rabbit holes, listen to trusted sources, and only deal with issues as they arise rather than think about different scenarios that might happen.  I found CBT really useful, luckily working as a psychotherapist I had access to lots of therapy, plus I had previously worked in palliative care so I could practice what I preached lol

2 years on, so far so good for me, I allow myself times to worry, I do the what if it comes back? what if its somewhere else and I don't know?, but for no longer than 5 minutes once in a blue moon.  There are lots of support groups, my PCT ran in-person groups for people with a diagnosis of cancer, maybe something to explore??

C

Good luck for Thursday. I am sure we can share success stories next week. I'm not normally the worrying type. I guess that is usually because I don't have anything to worry about. My wife always says I would make the worst type of patient as I've never experienced anything that requires hospital stays so I guess it is my time to prove her wrong.

I've avoided Dr G himself, the treating team have been fantastic and have sent loads of useful reading material which I've reviewed and consider myself well versed now. I guess its the unknown that scares me, but as you say, the medical team are professionals and do this all the time so trust them to make things right.

This is good to know. I love how you felt you could go walking in Wales within 2-weeks. To be honest I don't like sitting around doing nothing so will probably do the same, although suspect my family will be forcing me to take it easy for once.

My main aim is to be up and about, albeit in limited capacity so that I can enjoy Christmas at home with my family and my daughters birthday on NYE (hopefully cancer free).

The medical staff know we are going to be nervous.  There is always a friendly face and a hand willing to hold ours when our families are not there   I think we will both be in very safe hands  

I googled loads of stuff before the colonoscopy and it was all wrong and taking me down scary  rabbit holes   I then sacked Dr Google he’s rubbish   

I’ve sorted out the important stuff like loading loads of tv onto my iPad!! 

Xxx

Best wishes for your op on Friday.

I also had an anterior resection done (no stoma), and on a Friday (19th July) .

Agree with CarolG that getting up and walking is the best, and perhaps only exercise, you should do immediately post-op. But start small and then gradually build up. And you may need to keep a eye on where the nearest toilets are at first. Try not to do any weight lifting as you can risk getting a hernia.

My target was to still go, six weeks post-op, on my (unaccompanied) walking holiday in Austria, which also involved taking luggage using the train to get to the airport and then two buses at the Austrian end. I did buy myself a lighter suitcase first. I managed the trip OK, including a summer toboggan ride, and also started swimming again at about the same time. Resumed cycling on my return and restarted rowing (sculls) after 3 months.

Not bad for a 73 year old.