Rectal cancer

Good luck Bob, hope your surgery goes well! 

Thank you

Hi Bop, Helen.

I had a LAR in 2019. Have they said if you will have a temporary ileostomy while the bowel joint heals? I did so woke up with a bag. I also woke up with a drip for pain killers and saline, neither a problem. I had it done keyhole so I had a small stitched wound from the scope and another wound, slightly larger where they had removed the offending parts through, this had a drain to get rid of post surgical liquids.

Pain which wasn't bad was controlled easily in the ward.

I was made to get up the next day by the physios and have a little walk and told to increase the number of steps each day.

I should have been in for five days, ended up with eleven as my small bowel went to sleep. This is quite common but not every one gets it, and it depends on how things are working as to what you might be given to eat. To begin with it will just be liquids and possible fortified drinks such as Fortisip. I was also told to do deep breathing exercises each day to try to avoid any lung infections.

The pre op was fine, I was walked to a room on the side of the theatre, had an epidural and an injection and the next thing I knew I was waking up in the recovery ward.

All operations have risks attached but they are small so with a bit of luck you will be home again inside a week.

Best of luck, I hope it goes well, John

Thank you for your support hope you are keeping well x

Hi Bop answered on your other thread