Sigmoid colectomy - Stage 1

Hi Djtooty Recovery is generally about 6 weeks. The initial recovery from keyhole as opposed to open is a bit quicker but getting back to full strength is about the same. I had open and was told not to lift anything heavier than a kettle with one cups worth of water in for 6 weeks and no driving for a similar time or until I could safely perform an emergency stop. 
Hopefully someone who’s had keyhole more recently might pop in and I’ve attached a link to a booklet about surgery in general

https://bcuk.adidocdn.dev/Publications/YourOperation_BowelCancerUK.pdf

Hope the op goes well and don’t forget an extra long charging cable! x

Hi Karen, they found a tumour in my Sigmoid Colon and had key-hole surgery to remove it just under a year ago. They took the sigmoid and some of my rectum. I'm retired (now 74) so no need to drive or work in the office any more. However I was fit enough to swim 20 lengths at 5 weeks and go on a a walking holiday in Austria at the 6 week mark. Which meant I was having to lift 14kg and 8Kg cases onto and off of buses and trains at that stage.

Also once I'd had the op they biopsyed my surrounding lymph nodes, which they has also removed, and they were free of cancer so I didn't need chemotherapy. They won't be sure that's the case until after they do the op. If you need chemo them your recovery will be much slower.

But we all vary, so maybe you can tell your employers that you expect to be OK after 6 weeks but make sure your employers be aware that may not be possible. When you decide that you can drive again test yourself somewhere safe first. I used a supermarket car park out of hours to check myself out. You need to make sure that you can do an emergency stop.

Hi, 

I had robotic keyhole surgery for my sigmoid tumour (anterior resection which is the same as your procedure)  on 2nd May for stage 3 colorectal cancer but I also had a partial cystectomy as I also have a 2nd primary Urachal cancer, also stage 3 (Rare bladder cancer) My surgery took over 8hrs. 

Post surgery, cancer was found in my lymph nodes and blood vessels and they didn’t get clear margins on the affected lymph nodes. 

I’m due to start 8 cycles of CAPOX in a couple of weeks.

Everyone recovers differently after surgery, we are all individuals, so don’t feel pressured into recovering faster than you feel able. I have a busy lifestyle so I’m usually chasing around all the time. (Busy mum, full time carer to my 24yr old son who has quad CP and is medically complex and 13 yrs old son AuDHD) 

I developed an ileus after surgery and was constantly vomiting even with anti sickness meds and had to have an NG tube to drain my stomach for 3 days.

Other than that I recovered well, and went home after 8 days, but I went home with a catheter due to the bladder surgery which was removed 14 days post op.

I was signed off work for 8 wks, and not allowed to drive for 4 wks (check with your insurance company as some insurance companies differ) 

I was back to doing full housework after 3 wks including hoovering and mopping my floors, and went back to work after 4wks as I was bored, felt able to be working, and SSP is rubbish.

I work in a supermarket, breaking down the cages of delivery and putting stock onto flatbeds, putting out stock and on the till. 
My work had been fantastic, all very supportive and helpful.

my 1st week back I only worked crisps stock and till back up, which are light duties, my 2nd week back I was almost back to normal but not lifting the really heavy stuff like sacks of potatoes, though I was lifting cases of tins and cases of drinks ect 

I’m now 8wks post op and 95% back to my normal pre op state although I still won’t carry the sacks of potatoes as I can feel a slight pull in my tummy if it’s anything too heavy. 

I only work 3 four hour shifts per wk, and I still suffer dreadfully with fatigue. I’d been suffering for about 2 years pre diagnosis with dreadful fatigue and was starting to think I had ME or something, so getting the cancer diagnosis helped make sense of a few things tbh. 

I’m dreading starting chemo as my fatigue is horrendous now I have to nap several hours a day just to get through.

Your work shouldn’t be pressuring you to return before you are ready.

I wish you the best of luck and a speedy recovery. 

I tried to paste a link but it won’t let me, if you search on theses forums about work and cancer it brings up a page about your rights ect xx