Bowel Cancer

Hi 

Just want to welcome you to the forum ! 
I will leave others to address the stoma aspect as I have no experience but just want to let you know we also have a stoma forum where you might be able to read others experiences too! 

I am so sorry to hear your experiences with some night staff ! That was very disappointing for sure ! Thankfully in the ten years I have been here it has been mainly positive on the surgical wards ! So I hope that puts your mind at rest but it must have been a very difficult experience to have been in a ward where you felt so unwelcome by the staff !

Our helpline staff would also be happy to chat through the mental health aspects as I see you have signalled some concerns regarding your own health . Your GP is a big part of your support team so I would definitely have a chat with them and please do phone our helpline staff 0808 808 0000. There may be local resources they can put you in touch with and Macmillan also has access to counselling resources! Then there is us ! A lifeline in the chaos to many people in the firsts throws of a diagnosis. Always here and ready to listen ! A lot of people report the sense of isolation lessens when they reach out to others going through a similar situation !

We have many people come through here pull of dread at the upcoming surgery and had that fear lessened when the see people still living a good life after treatment.

Take care ,

Court 

Hi  and a warm welcome from me too. My operation was my first ever stay in hospital so I was very anxious too but everything was explained to me at the pre-op and then I met with the anaethetist on the actual day. Yes you do wake up with a few tubes attached - I think I had a canula for fluids, catheter, epidural and stoma bag. The epidural was removed and painkillers were given in tablet or oral syringe form and the catheter was removed (painlessly) on day 2. They will be keen to get you out of bed and walking up and down the ward. The canula will stay in for the duration of the stay which is standard as it enables them to give you anything extra that you might need after the op - my bloods were showing a potassium deficiency so they were able to put a bag up to feed into me through the cannula.

The ward I was on had patients in a similar scenario to myself so the nurses were very understanding and experienced. They will initially empty the stoma for you and a specialist stoma nurse will come and show you how to empty, clean and change the bag yourself. It may seem a little daunting at first but it’s easy to get into a routine and there is always lots of support from your stoma nurse, bag supplier and on here.

I can understand where you’re coming from regarding the night staff - it always seemed to be agency staff and never the same one twice however you may not encounter the same staff as in 2015 and I found a lot of the Health Care Assistants to be very nice and friendly. At the end of the day you will probably only be in there less than a week so don’t let anyone’s attitude get you down (you can always let tip on the discharge feedback form!) and remember This Too Shall Pass.

Any medical issues that you have will be taken into consideration by the surgical team but please give the nurses on here a ring if you feel that you’re struggling mentally. The operation will be routine for the surgeon and there are lots of people carrying on with their lives with a stoma. We’re all at different stages of treatment/recovery on here but will be happy to support you through this and answer any concerns that you may have?

Take care

Karen x

Oh I’m so sorry!  I feel helpless to say anything comforting but couldn’t read your post and not respond.  The operation is just that- I would put yourself in your surgeon’s hands and try not to worry too much.  Our doctor said “prepare for the worst and hope for the best “ and that seemed to be the right advice for us.  My husband was ready for a stoma and hence delighted when he woke up and had none.  Yes,he had a catheter for the first couple of days but he actually found that to be fine - he enjoyed not having to worry about getting up or using a bedpan to urinate.  It meant he was able to sleep better than he does at home.  He found some nurses were amazing and some not so much - I hope you get great ones.  It can make all the difference during your recovery.  Depending on your surgery, you could be in several days to over a week… I think 5-6 days is average but really it depends on you.  It sounds like they’ve caught it early which may mean easier surgery and recovery than most.  Do try also to get some help from a counsellor or therapist… I worry when you say you have suicidal thoughts and you should get all the help you can in getting through what’s ahead.  Love and god bless to you…

Hotch.
I had the same as you. I was fast tracked for fear of spreading and blocking. My tumour was large and I needed  a LAR with keyhole and caesarean type incision to lift my Bowel and get the tumour out my op was six hours. I had to have a reversible ileostomy to allow the operation site to repair and heal

 I dreaded a bag and didn’t even know an ileostomy existed.

I had a catheter, drain and meds by button. 
the one thing I hadn’t really imagined was the relief I felt knowing the cancer was out.
I was out of bed, walking the next morning. The catheter was removed I didn’t even feel it and I was out of hospital in five days. Nights were very long however I asked for sleeping meds and they helped.
Now nearly eight weeks on I am recovering really well.
This site has given me loads of tips and my stoma nurses are angels.
My symptoms before the operation were much worse than after. The IBS and bloating went immediately and pain that the tumour caused. 
I had plenty of pain relief in hospital and at home.
The ward I was on I would describe as a rehab. Get em up and out. They were kind and knowledgeable about stoma care. 
You take one day at a time. 

with best wishes Artsie