Hi Tstar, I have had that op (APR).
It is a big old op but you’ll not know you’ll be fast asleep 
My advice is just go with the flow. Don’t worry about it. And the old adage taking each day at a time.
You will soon recover and like me - three years on - it’s a distant memory.
Stoma and new bum both doing perfect.
I gave the responsibility to the surgeon, my job was to relax, eat and sleep well. I kept my side of the deal and my surgeon did his bit perfectly. That’s all you can ask
In terms of whether or not to go ahead, if that is what you are asking, I didn’t for one second consider not doing. I had stage 3b bowel cancer so the surgeon wanted to ensure a good margin and from that pov - and all others - it was a success.
There is a mountain of info I could give you but tbh like I said take each day and the recovery will come.
But if you do want some practical tips and tricks please just say.
When is your op, any ideas of dates?
cheers
Hello thank you so much for reply it so helpful to talk. Think they trying to do op in December how long were you off your feet for I’ve got lots of support and not really worried about colostomy just the operation as is quite major 
Ok, so the op itself is obviously major but because of that you are tip top of their list. As the anesthetist said to me: this is him going to work now, this is something they do every day, they are a well rehearsed and close team, it’s our job now you can relax. So do not worry about the operation itself.
Waking up is fine. You’ll not feel any pain. You’ll have a morphine button and you can press it when you feel like.
The nurses will initially change your bag.
So really you have nothing to worry about.
Depending on your age you’ll stay in hospital for 3 to 5 days, more is ok too. I stayed in for three. It depends on your passing wee and other checks.
A nurse will ask you to go for a walk with to ensure you are stable.
Again, depending on age may depend on timings but I was told six weeks until 80% recovery. And the remaining 20% will take you to six months.
Then when you get home you can choose to sit or lie. I stayed in bed for six weeks. It was tough, boring, but whatever you go through just know the magic does happen at six weeks.
Obviously if we really had the choice we’d not choose it, but all things considered you just have six weeks to cope with.
And I can’t emphasise enough that what you are feeling now, and just before the op, and after, will be exactly what we have all experienced. So just relax knowing you’re acting like we all did.
My practical tips
- When at home walk little bits, it aids healing
- Buy ahead of time plenty of pillow for support - I bought a massive maternity long pillow
- Take your meds as often as allowed
As an illustration, I ran a 10k at exactly six weeks! After six weeks in bed I needed something non-bed related to do 
Not suggesting you do this but it should hopefully give you confidence that six week time is the magic time.
But speak with your team, they’ll tell you all the same according to your age etc.
Good luck, relax and 2022 is your year 
