Pre-surgery anxiety

Hey there.  So sorry your sister is going through this.  I had the same operation 3 weeks ago.  although I don’t know my stage. 

for me the worst part was the bowel prep.  I took the antibiotics and they made me feel sick.  I struggled to drink the bowel prep.   I had felt really positive until the day before.  I think this is just normal anxiety but I’m not good with nausea but it was all ok.  

for the actual operation I can’t praise all of the medical staff highly enough.  I told everyone pre being admitted on the morning of the operation how worried I was.  They took amazing care of me.  

post surgery I was given a button to press if I had pain.  I’m f I’m honest I pressed it before I had pain so I had zero pain.  Obviously getting in and out of bed was difficult but the nurses helped me.  I had an epidural and general anaesthetic so they got me up the morning after my surgery.  I had been told the quicker I got up and about the quicker my recovery would be.  I spent 4 days in hospital.  The second day my bowels started to work and I had no control.  For me this was the worse part.  I had read that someone on here had tthe same thing but nothing prepared me for this but again the nurses wiped my tears and my arse and were amazing.  I did have to wear essentially a nappy for the rest of my stay in hospital and I orders some online so I had them for home.  After two days of being home I was confident enough to ditch them.  

pain wise now I just take paracetamol if I feel uncomfortable but I can honestly say I’ve not had any pain at all   For my last 2 days in hospital I was just taking oral paracetamol and these worked for me   

when I left hospital I was given blood thinners to inject every day which my partner is doing for me.  I have been on a low fibre diet for the first two weeks and now I’m slowly adding my normal food and my bowel is working normally.  For me I just take longer in the bathroom partially out of fear and partially because I can.  I did get thrush but this is now resolved.  

I was able to go out shopping on New Year’s Eve and I’ve been on a few dog walks since coming home but I’m not rushing anything because I don’t need to.  

so from my experience your sister will be fine and back on her feet quickly.  Obviously having someone at home to do the cleaning cooking etc makes everything easier.   I was told to listen to my body and this was probably the best advice.   

I should also say.  My partner and daughter were allowed to see me as soon as I came down to the ward after being in the recovery ward.  I was also given anti sickness medication every time I felt sick but for me this only happened twice.   I think at first I asked for it because I was so scared of feeling sick/ being sick. 

I got myself an I pad so I could watch rubbish tv to pass the time in hospital.  My partner came every day but after an hour I was tired.  

Thank you so much for your detailed response and your honesty, and well done for facing your recovery with such bravery. I hope you continue to recover well and get stronger. 

One more question: how long after your requested arrival time at the hospital did your surgery happen? My sister has been told to arrive at 9am but not what happens after that or when the surgery might be over. We’re not sure whether to expect to visit that evening, or the day after? 

Thank you. This answers some questions I was writing while you were writing!

For me I had to be at the hospital at 7am to be admitted.  

My partner dropped me off and I told him to leave me because I knew there would be lots of  sitting around   My default setting is panic but for some reason that I don’t understand I was able to face the wait on my own.  

I had to meet a surgeon and the Anesthesiologist and various other staff.  I asked both if I was on the morning or afternoon list but they couldn’t tell me.  I had it in my head that I’d be afternoon so I wouldn’t stress.  I was then told to get my gown on because I was going in.  I was ready to go in by 9.30-10am.  When I came out there was a clock and I spent an hour trying to work out how long I’d been in surgery but my morphine fuelled brain couldn’t work it out but I know I was out of recovery by 4.30-5pm.  The surgeon said my surgery took approx 90 minutes.  If I’m honest if my partner and daughter  didn’t come to see me till the morning I would have been fine. 

it’s normal to be scared s make sure your sister tells the staff if that’s how she feels because there is so much they can do.  I was given drugs that made me relaxed before the epidural and I don’t even remember being knocked out.  When I came around I felt so happy the cancer was out.   I feel like I won the lottery.  Im still waiting for my test results to see if anything was in the lymph nodes.  Even without knowing I know I’ve been so lucky. 

I hope everything goes well.  I’ll be thinking of you both xxx

 Scoutabout - I love the fact that you wrote that you felt that you’ve won the lottery knowing that your cancer is out!  I feel the same x I had my surgery early December so I think we are at a similar post-op stage.

When do you get your results? Mine, I think will come in by the end of this month.

 HopeSoul - sorry to read about the journey that your sister has had so far, and I wish her a super speedy recovery.

I had a right hemi-colectomy- so my ascending colon was removed. Unlike the left sided bowel op, I didn’t require bowel prep, not did I struggle with incontinence (which is normal for many post-op).

I bought and used incontinence underwear - bought a large size so it was not too tight around the tummy.  I used it once my catheter was out and this helped me when I was trying to make my way to the toilet (once I was fairly mobilised, at a snails pace). 

I was on a concoction of painkillers. I used and asked for the lot. The iv morphine was great, and took the edge off, and allowed me to move. 
I also took anti-sickness medication and an antacid. 

I vomited a lot for 48 hours post op which was due to ileus (sleepy bowel)…once again normal but scary due to the projectile nature of it. It eventually settled, and as soon as I was settled on orals, I stopped all my iv stuff & asked for my venflon to be removed as it was hurting my hand. 

My family stayed in hospital. I was in theatre for just over 2 hours and in post-op recovery for around an hour. Coming back into my room with my hubby and kids there was reassuring, but I don’t remember much & apparently I was talking a load of crap which my kids thought was hilarious. 

It all happened in a blink of an eye. One minute I remember asking the Anaesthetist pre-op about his holiday plans over Xmas, the next minute, I’m back on the ward. So surreal. 

Most important- the tumour is out! Hopefully soon, your sister will be in the same, tumour-free position. That’s the end goal x 

Please message me if you have any other specific questions x 

I’ve no idea when I will hear.  I was originally told 31st December but on my discharge notes it says Jan 25.  I’m hoping no news is good news and I’ll just be called in when there is an appointment free because the amazing NHS is giving priority to people who need it.