My operation will be in about 8 weeks time.
I'm having part of the bowel removed, it's grade 2 and hasn't spread. So no Chemotherapy.
I might need a temporary stoma. But they won't know until the day.
I have concerns! I wondered if anyone could calm my mind.
I wondered how do you feel after you come around after the operation.
Can you move without pain?
Do the pain killers actually kill the pain or just take the edge off?
Do you feel like eating? What kind of things do you eat in those days in hospital.
These things may seem trivial, but they bother me.
To add to all these lovely people. I had lower as Teri so resection and a stoma about a month ago. I had morphine on a pump, which I used a fair bit to start with, more through fear of pain I think! It gave me some weird dreams and made me itchy! The pain when moving was like when you exercise too hard and your muscles hurt. The stoma (ileostomy) means my diet is limited at the moment. Lots of starch and very little fibre, but that varies with what you have done. It is also the hardest thing to cope with, mentally rather than physically. You need to find the right bag for your body. The stoma nurses are brilliant and will sort you out! I have tried several to get the right one. After a month, I am starting to feel back to myself and going out with more confidence. You are having major surgery and shouldn’t underestimate the toll on your body, but it isn’t too painful and the staff have seen it all before and are there to make sure you are ok and comfortable.
Hi
I felt exactly the same before surgery. Loads of questions. Loads of worries.
First of all, every body is different & react differently post op. Obvious point to make - but important to highlight, to avoid comparisons or feelings of disappointment just in case your journey differs from mine or others x
I had a laparoscopic right open hemi-colectomy & node clearance under general anaesthetic & spinal 10 days ago. GA & spinal scan last upto 48 hours post op - so there are high levels of pain relief circulating in the system initially…once this wears off, you start feeling abdominal pain.
Few days post-op, I was given iv fluids, iv Paracetamol & iv morphine.
I had a bad reaction to the GA - vomiting for 48 hours. So the iv drugs & fluids continued until I could tolerate oral fluids. Once tolerated, I continued with tablets - paracetamol, nurofen & oramorph. Not everyone keeps vomiting - I was special! lol!
Everyone is different. I wish I reminded myself of that, because I was putting a lot of pressure on myself to reduce my painkillers consumption. There was no need for me to do so.
In hindsight, I should have just kept up with the drugs.
Keeping the pain at a “tolerable” level allows you to move, sit, stand, walk, etc… my Consultant told me to keep taking my pain relief to allow me to mobilise as much as possible.
Now I’m at home. I find the colic due to trapped wind intense and I find wind settlers & peppermint tea does really help. I take Paracetamol & Ibuprofen when I need. I was given Oramorph just in case, but I have only used it a few times.
Im amazed by those who have suffered minimally post-operative. I’m not one of those people. I have struggled with pain. I own it & take my pain relief when I need it. I know that there will be a pain free light at the end of my post-op tunnel.
So don’t compare yourself to others.
Take and ask for whatever you need to help you feel comfortable. I asked for extra Omeprazole (tummy protection) and I’m glad I did.
Good luck & happy to provide support whenever needed!
I felt itchy with iv morphine as well! I thought I was having an allergic reaction - but it was just a generalised itch with no rash!
I’m glad to read that you’re feeling more confident about going out… I’m still reluctant (but it’s early days for me)
I was in hospital for 10 days as I had à UTI and I’ve antibiotics. I am now 5 weeks on from surgery and went out to meet my parents for lunch an hour from home last week. I was incredibly anxious on the way their, but took spare supplies and a change of clothes ‘just in case’ I found the loos at the garden centre we were at, and checked out the disabled loo as soon as we got there. We had a lovely few hours shopping, chatting and eating and I now feel much more confident about going out.
Such amazing news!!
Every trip out will fill you with even more confidence! It’s only a matter of time when you’ll be popping out on trans-Atlantic holidays!!
I applied for a digital disability toilet pass from the Bowel & Bladder Society. Do you have one?
It’s free and can be added to your phone wallet. Allows access to disabled & staff toilets (for venues that lack adequate customer facilities). It’s my security blanket for when I start going out.
I haven’t heard of this. My stomach nurse gave me a Radar Key, which is again, a bit of added security. I was afraid I might get challenged using a disabled loo, but decided I’d just offer to show anyone who asked, what my disability is!
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