How much pain are you in after surgery

Hi Clickoff My op was back in 2016 but I was pleasantly surprised by how little pain was involved. I had an epidural in from the op but that unfortunately came out in the night (not noticed by the nurses) so it had to be removed. I think I had a bit of morphine in a syringe at one point but more or less got by on codeine then paracetamol. The nurses check with you regularly to see if you’re in any pain and always say not to chase the pain. You’re encouraged to get up and about the day after the op and take short walks up and down the ward.

From experience I would take it easy on the eating front. Maybe stick to soups and easy food for the first couple of days and then low residue for a couple of weeks after that? The bowel does not like being manhandled and can go on strike for a couple of days so be kind to it and have easily digested food. 

Nothung trivial about your questions - we all like to know what to expect - so please ask if there’s anything else that’s bothering you?

Take care

Karen x

I had a laparoscopic (ie keyhole) high anterior resection on 19th July, 35mm tumour T3, Dukes a, no spread to Lymph nodes, no stoma or chemo required.

For the op I had a spinal block injection to numb my lower body and a light anaesthesia to put me out. I didn't feel a thing. After I come around they gave me a morphine jab, but after that they just offered paracetamol and ibuprofen. I actually stopped taking these pretty quickly as I found I didn't need them, but I'm aware that's just me, I have had similar lack of pain with previous ops.

What did hurt at first was if I moved e.g sitting up or turning or having to get out of bed when I was putting  some strain on the operated area inside my tummy.

I did eat, however at first I was sick a couple of times. One was after they tried to get me up and walk. Thinking back this may have been a side effect of the morphine.

I stuck to a low residue diet (as you are asked to go on before the op) as I wanted to kkkep it easy on my gut . I was not passing solids until my last day and they keep me in an extra (6th) day until I did. I'm really a high fibre person so that was not so good. I rapidly switched back to high fibre over the week I got out out hospital. They kept asking me to take the same carbohydrate drinks that they had given me before the op (Ensure?). They are not very nice. I found I could only just about tolerate the vanilla and banana ones.

Hi Clickoff,

Had my laproscopic right hemicolectomy on Friday 13th September (yeah, I know). Pain was not really bad on waking, more like uncomfortable and mainly from the tummy muscles and trapped wind: not the actual internal treatment. I had to start with sips of water, then clear fluids (diluted apple juice), then soft stuff (like custard) then an omelette, yoghurt etc as things started moving along. 
My bowel took a little while to start moving again (ileus) and I was really nervous in case I popped it open. I think I was being a bit daft there. Until I felt safe to eat, I didn’t feel hungry at all. Once my bottom started working again, I was really nervous about pooping myself, which made me a bit reluctant to eat. Incontinence pants were an absolute lifesaver at first because of this.

Once my poo was under control I was able to go home. I really managed on paracetamol, morphine made me have absolutely terrifying nightmares and didn’t feel as if it had any effect on pain- just messed with my head. At home, I was given codeine, but I didn’t need them.  It only got painful if I overdid the movement because I forgot. 

I would keep an eye on the trapped wind rather than anything, that’s what caused me the most stress. Wind-eze tablets and ginger tea helped. 

3 months later, and it has been ages since it gave me any stress at all! 

I had absolutely no idea what was going to happen to me beforehand because I only had a few days to prepare, so I hope it helps you to hear this. It wasn’t very nice (obviously) but I would say that for me, it was more discomfort and sleep disturbances than pain.

Take Care,

Nic

My surgery was different and more extreme. Yet I had very little pain. I was given hydrocodone and acetaminophen (I believe you call this paracetamol). I quit using the hydrocodone very quickly. 

The pain was mild unless I moved the wrong way. Coughing was the worst, use a pillow or rolled towel and press against your abdomen when you need to cough. 

I started on liquids then soft foods (low residue). I stuck with that about 6 weeks then slowly started adding back other foods. My colon stayed active and I was having output from my colostomy the day after surgery. Not everyone is that lucky. So don't be surprised if you take a bit longer for everything to start working again 

You'll be amazed at how much relief you get from just having the tumor out. 

Had surgery today and zero pain.  They keep you pain free and you get a button to release pain killers. 

I had my surgery just under four months ago. 

I can honestly say that I didn't experience any pain - I was offered paracetamol at regular intervals and took some for the first few days, but didn't need to use the morphine dispenser I was hooked up to at all. I think I do have quite a high pain threshold generally though. 

As far as eating goes, I had an omelette and a yoghurt the day after surgery, but then during the evening my bowel froze (apparently not uncommon after major surgery) and I was violently sick, with them eventually having to put a tube through my nose into my stomach - not pleasant. I felt wretched the next day and was put back to nil by mouth, but gradually recovered with a liquid only diet and finally sloppy solids by the time I was discharged six days later. It took my a while to get my appetite back - I was eating small portions of soft food regularly throughout the day.

Hi Clickoff, I think these are very understandable anxieties and I had the same. I had a tumour removed via keyhole surgery last Thursday which was deemed pretty straightforward and all went well. No stoma. My pain was managed by a spinal anaesthetic prior to going into theatre and by ketamine afterwards plus paracetamol. Coming round was absolutely fine - quite nice actually! 

My main pain was when I was trying to get out of the hospital bed. Apart from that, just trapped wind on the Saturday and then by Tuesday I was off all painkillers. The hospital managed it all so well. They prefer ketamine (which my teenagers thought was hilarious) as it means the bowel 'wakes up'. So in summary: nothing scary or too hard to handle pain-wise. My stomach was bruised and swollen which was uncomfortable rather than painful. I went for a little walk yesterday to celebrate being a week on from the op. Absolutely fine. No pain. 

Food: I went from sips of water to soup and jelly then by Saturday, low residue diet so macaroni cheese and sponge pudding etc. I ate enthusiastically in hospital! I'm still on that diet but currently pooing a LOT. But it's very early days. 

I asked a lot of questions at my pre-op appointment at the hospital which made me feel really positive and well prepared.

I'm a week on now and physically much better. I found that I've not been great emotionally as I'd been so stoic and worked up to the op. I hadn't really allowed myself time to process everything. So be kind to yourself. 

Wishing you all the best 

Scrabble x

This was my first ever general anaesthetic and I was scared naturally.  I told the anaesthestist and they gave me something to relax me I’ve no idea what it was but it was lovely.  They put the epidural in which didn’t hurt at all then I was offered something to relax more of the good stuff.  From that I remember nothing until I was woken up in recovery and the effects of the good stuff make me feel pretty happy.  I was given a morphine pump which I pressed probably too much but I was told to not get into pain.  That was lovely.  Over my 4 days in hospital I had an I’ve line for paracetamol then I was happy for tge morphine to be taken away (only after I gave it a go to get rid of neck pain from sleeping in a funny position).  So I think for the last 2 days in hospital I just had paracetamol and that did the job.  I’m home and I’ve gone from paracetamol 4 times a day to 3 and I’m not in pain.  

I’ve got zero threshold to any pain and I was told by the doctors it’s best to keep on top of pain rather than wait to be in pain and manage it down.  

m I agree with scrabble getting in and out of bed was probably the worse part.  

ours sounds very similar except I’ve stopped pooping.  I’m on the low fibre diet but after the first 3 days of Molten larvae poop it’s stopped.  

you will be fine.  The surgeons doctors nurses and general staff take such pride in their work they want you well and healthy xxx

with regard to getting in and out of bed - my bed at home is quite high, and I was a bit concerned about getting in and out of it after the op. The Occupational therapist (?) in the hospital went through my household set up before I was discharged and arranged for a small bed rail to be delivered the day after I got home. It just slides under the mattress (I think there are different designs for different bed types) and provides a firm handle to grab on to to help get in and out. I used it in conjunction with a step stool that I 'walked up' to get my feet level with the bed and then just slid my feet across onto the bed. 

I love the idea of a step stool to walk your feet up. That would have been so helpful!

I have a bed rail like you describe and I love it. Very useful.