Perineal Wound Management

Hi Steve,

You're well on the road to recovery now, and you're right about the perineal wound healing process. You need to be building up your sitting time, and that does take time, but you should get to a stage where you can sit normally like before. You should think about contacting your colorectal nurses just to check with them that everything is ok. Do you get the district nurse coming in to see you? If so, they can reassure you about any damage or infections in that area. Are you not still on some kind of painkillers? You shouldn't be in pain, so definitely speak to your colorectal nurse.

Hope this helps a wee bit.

Linda :-)

Hi Stevejhb

I have just read your post and sorry I'm unable to give you any advice as I had colon cancer, but I'm sure someone will be in touch very soon who has had similar experience.

I can understand that you are worried, you have had major surgery and it does take a while for the body to heal, and it's so difficult to know what's best but as I say I'm sure someone else will be in touch very soon.

I see that you haven't yet filled in your profile, please do as it helps us to understand a little more about you, and you can also keep a record on there as to who things are going.

I've been off the site for a little while, but I feel that this may be your first post, if so welcome  - if not I'd like to say hello.

Take care and stay safe

VickiLynne

Hi Linda, thank you very much for your message.

Sadly probably because of Covid-19 restrictions, nobody's come out to see me. I did go to see a doctor 2 weeks ago (as things suddenly felt different ) who checked external part of wound which looked OK. I've been in touch with my colorectal team who say I should listen to my body and rest when it's had enough, but in reality (and bearing in mind I need to work through the discomfort) I don't know what point that is to be honest. I do take paracetamol and ibruprofen but at times it's not quite enough.

Anyway, I thank you again, and for your thoughts on upping sitting time, will do that. :-)

Kind regards

Steve

Hi VickiLynne

Very much appreciate your message thank you, and hello to you too :-)

I'll look at filling in my profile.

All the very best

Steve

Hi Steve,

I had my op in the September and found it very uncomfortable to sit for any length of time, but by Christmas I was able to sit properly through Christmas dinner, which was a huge milestone for me. I returned to work a few weeks later to an office job, and built my time up at the desk over the course of the January. But I'll be honest with you, I did have a lot of discomfort the longer I sat at the desk. But now, over 7 years on, and I'm sitting perfectly normally and have been doing so for many years! Yes, listen to your body, and just work your way through this and you'll get there.

Linda :-)

Hi Lida

This is really useful feedback thank you so much. It gives me a perspective on things. No wonder 6 weeks after surgery I'm still in discomfort. :-)

May I ask, when did you come off strong painkillers? I'm just taking Paracetomol and Ibuprofen but sometimes wish I had something a bit stronger.

Thanks again, and best regards.

Steve

Hi Steve,

I can't exactly remember when I came off painkillers. I do remember that I left hospital on tramadol and had no idea that they are addictive, and had a terrible job coming off of those on to paracetamol. But I would think that I started coming off the tramadol around 4 weeks after surgery, and after that I was able to slowly reduce my reliance on paracetamol. I always tried to go without the medication as time went on, and tholed the pain as much as I could - some days were better than others! But my goal was to reduce the painkillers to the point that I only took them if I really needed. 

Remember, we are all different, and have our own pain thresholds. If all you're taking is paracetamol and ibuprofen and thole the pain when it's a bit worse, then you are doing really really well. 

Hope this has helped you a bit!

Take care,

Linda :-)