Anterior resection high risk!

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I have had my pre assessment appointment today.

I asked why I was down for my operation as high risk! They said everyone who has this operation is classed as high risk. 

Has anyone else been told this? 

Also the low residue diet is much more limited than the pre colonoscopy prep.

No pasta was a disappointment,  that would have been my go to for dinner. 

I can have mashed potato. Or 4 tbsp rice. 

So I guess I will be having chicken and rice or chicken and mashed potato.  Not very thrilling.

How has everyone else managed with the diet? 

  • Hi

    There's a certain element of risk in any large operation I think.

    Yes the diet is quite restrictive, mine was even more so as I don't eat meat.  I don't remember not being able to have pasta though. Is this before you begin your pre op prep? 

    I had my operation last August and am coping  well with the stoma. I avoid onions and nuts and fruit with skin but still manage a varied diet.

    Hope all goes well for you.

  • Thank you for taking the time to reply.

    Yes, not having pasta is pre operation. 

    It must have been very difficult to find things to eat without meat. Bless you.

    I'm so glad your recovery is going so well. May you be totally back to normal soon. 

  •  I was high risk and they gave me the percentage risk of dying on the table!

    I survived and am 7 years in remission thankfully.

    Onwards and flatwards (don't do hills) and keep walking if you can!

  • Best wishes for your op. have they given you a date?

    You don't say if you are to have a lower or a higher anterior resection. Mine was a higher one (the cancer was small (3.5cm) and in my sigmoid colon and I didn't get told it was high risk. I also had a CPET exercise test beforehand and although I'm 73 I'm quite fit and the anaesthetist put my risk of dying on the operating table as about 0.5%.

    As to the low residue diet, that's a real bummer (I'm normally very much a high fibre type of person).

    My general low residue diet list did include tender meat poultry and fish, cheese and tofu as well as white rice, white pasta, egg noodles and polenta and well as skinless fruit and root vegetables.

    Of course the last 24 hours before surgery was be much more limited: my last solid low residue meal before the day of my op was breakfast and I had a cheese omelette. After that it was just liquids (Water, Tea/Coffee, Honey & Lemon, Apple-Grape-Cranberry-Pomegranite Juice, Consomme) and the Ensure energy drinks, because I was also having to take the Picolax and antibiotics so it was coming out as fast as it was going in. I found the Banana and Vanilla Ensures drinkable the other flavours were really disgusting (I got given these post-op too).

  • I'm so happy you survived.  

    I hope you enjoy all the life ahead of you.

    Bless you. 

  • Interesting about the banana flavour being easier to drink.

    I've got the mango. I think I had lemon before my colonoscopy and that made me feel sick. 

    My operation is on the 12th of Feb. So not long now. 

    Mine is the lower anterior resection. 17mm 

    Is there anything you wished you had taken into hospital but didn't? 

  • I assume you are having a stoma. After my op I was on ice cream, jelly, yogurt and fruit juice for ten days. I would arrange for tasty versions of these foods that your visitors could bring in as the hospital versions are boring. 

    Take plenty of wet wipes, body sprays anything that will add to your feeling of well being, as you need to feel slightly pampered. I couldn't wash my hair but Boots sell filled hair wash caps so you can wash it in the bed.

    I would take nice cotton nightdresses as the gowns are awful. A comfy cardigan. A pick up stick so you can reach things is very helpful. I was attached to 4 things (drains and cannula etc) so my mobility was very limited.

    If you're a reader, audible and earphones are better than trying to read as hospital is so busy and it's hard to concentrate on the written word.

  • Hi

     Thank you for your help.

    There is a slight chance I might need a temporary stoma but I am hoping I won't need one.

    They said they would like to get me mobile as soon after the operation as possible. 

    I hadn't heard of the shower caps, they sound good option. 

    I thought I would be able to have a shower and wash my hair after 3 or 4 days, is that not possible? 

  • Dry shampoo is a good alternative

    Kath

  • The ward I was on had a shower and as far as I'm aware they would have let me have one  and washed my hair in there after a few days.

    Unfortunately I suffered from ileus after the op and so for most of my stay I was nil-by-mouth and attached to a drip, ng tube, drain and catheter which made moving about very difficult, and I only got to the stage of going to the toilet myself the day before they discharged me