Operation on Thursday

Hi 

Just want to wish you all the very best for Thursday and look forward to hearing you are safely in recovery !

take care ,

Court 

Thank you :) 

I wish I'd known not to worry so much in the month leading up to my Left Hemicolectomy.....because the aftermath & healing process was far easier than I'd expected.

Wishing you the same & all the best.

Marianne 26

Hi,

My advice would be to pack an extra long phone/tablet charger. Don't pack any nightwear as they like you to use the hospital gowns. You're having major surgery to remove a tumour so allow yourself to have some anxiety and upset. Having cancer can be a terrifying experience and we have to cope with it in a way that works for ourselves. Even if it's just putting our big girl/boy pants on for the day. This works for me although I do get some funny looks when people ask if I'm ok and I say "yes I've got my big girl pants on". I do have moments of crying and being absolutely terrified cos I might be positive but I'm not superwoman. When you return home, it'll be without the tumour so that's something to look forward to. Plan something nice for a few weeks time.

Cheryl x

Thank you.....good to know that recovery was easier for you than expected. Fingers crossed I'm the same :).

Thanks. I read on here about the long charger already lol. Hopefully I'll get into the mindset of putting my big pants on in the morning. Think once I get my son to school I'll be ok. Then I can just focus on getting through tomorrow. I have a family wedding in 4 weeks...so that's my goal :) 

Wish I'd known how hot hospitals are.  I was in in January and it was at 'Sauna plus+' setting  - lay with no top sheet, shorts and no top - not ideal for women, and I still boiled. Get some decent drinks arranged,  the g/f of one of my sons arrived with lemon fruit drinks (frozen) one day and a Costa-to-go the next; both wonderful.   As you'll be on a drip and not really eating drinks are really important.

Also I wish I'd known how quickly you get over the surgery.   Op on a Wednesday,  back home on Saturday and driving to a parking space, walking a kilometer each way and watching Liverpool destroy West Ham at Anfield a month to the day of the op.  

Wishing you all the best - the worst days are genuinely behind you, it's only upwards from here.

YNWA

Mike

Hi Glitterball63 May I wish you every success and look forward to a positive future. Stay strong 

Some more practical advice. I took in a nightdress....which is easier than PJ's to sleep in. All hospitals are different. Stwhitmsays he was so hot...yet I was freezing in May, & had to ask for an extra blanket. The wing I was on was old & draughty, & the window behind me was too stiff to be closed.

I was only in for 4 days (Should have been three,) but I had no one to collect me on the Sunday....& asked to stay till the Monday. For that time, I found one book & a book of 'Times Codewords' invaluable to wile away the time.

I was advised to bring in chewing gum...for possible bloating, but didn't have to use it.

The day after my Op....It stated 'Liquids only' above my bed, but I was ravenous...& asked nicely if I could eat. The meal that day was wonderful! I enjoyed the distraction that a tray of food brought every day during my stay...but the food just got worse by the day. However, Volunteers come round with a trolley everyday...& I bought chocolate. (Take a little bit of monies with you.)

The day after your Op. you will be encouraged to first sit in a chair outside your bed, then, when your catheter is removed (for me the second day,) you can walk to the loo - taking your 'drip thingy' with you. This drip is for pain relief mainly. I had Fentanyl for two days...then Paracetamol Tabs. for the next two days.

I found sleeping at night was really quite difficult...even though I took in an eyepad & earpads. The nurses' station was just outside my ward. There was continuous chatter & lighting. It wasn't till I got home that I was able to sleep properly. But obviously, this will all be dependent on the Hospital you have your Op. in....& no two will be the same!

Best of luck with your procedure tomorrow - & wishing you will

Marianne26 x

Alot of good advice from Marianne - food was an interesting one.  I was told to ensure I had only low residue food, the first thing I was given in hospital was splt pea soup with a wholemeal roll, the second was an omlette accompanied by sweetcorn. I hated morphine and stopped it the day after the op and had paracetamol only and believe .e my 'pain threshold ' is in minus figures.  Marianne was right hospitals are noisy places, my bed was by an open door - I could hear the music from two nurses stations very clearly.  Ear plugs seems such an obvious thing - pity I didn't think about it at the time.

This sounds like I'm moaning  - I'm not, I have nothing but thanks and admiration for the medical team that treated me.  Oh and when you go home you'll sleep alot - I went from a regular 7hrs to 9/10 hrs with frequent naps.

YNWA 

Mike