Rectal Cancer Surgery expectations and reality.

Hi MBeanicus I’ve just replied on your other post and sent you a couple of links.

I was in hospital for a week after a Low Anterior Resection but probably was fit to leave after 5 days but the stomach nurses don’t work weekends and they need to be happy that you’re fully happy with managing your stoma.

I had an epidural in for my first night but it came out at some point so was on oral painkillers after that. I had open surgery but dont remember the actual pain being that bad really. They like to get you up and about as soon as possible which gets easier once some of the tubes and drips come out. 

The bowel does not like being manhandled and I unfortunately developed ileus which results in projectile vomiting. This was managed by nil by mouth then water then liquids then soft food etc. so my advice would be to take it steady on the good front and light meals to start with. 

The stoma nurses visited every day and the nurses will help you empty your pouch for the first couple of days until you’re up and about. Once you’re happy cleaning and changing your pouch then they’ll let you go home.

Once home there’s no lifting anything heavier than a kettle of water with 1 cupful in for 6 weeks and no driving. I managed short walks each day and built up gradually.

Feel free to ask if there’s anything in particular that you’re worried about. I’m going to tag Nevermind because I know he had a stoma and might have some useful blokey advice. He’s not a Northerner but he’s still ok  

Take care and hope you get a date soon

Karen x

I am a Northerner in fact , Karen -from Liverpool  A Northerner that escaped to sunny Somerset.

@MBeanicus, glad to offer you any advice. I had a LAR of a rectal tumour in Dec 24-stayed 10 days in hossie because like Karen, i had the dreaded ileus..that would be my first tip-try to avoid ileus. To do so, you need to encourage your intestines to think food, as soon as you wake from the Op. I'd recommend sugar free chewing gum- your aim is to stimulate the vagus nerve into thinking that food is coming and you do that by chewing, making saliva.

Painwise-very little. When I woke from the Op i had a urine catheter and a drain from the wound ,a morpine painkilling gizmo. and overall I felt pretty good even with the stoma bag. That does take a bit of getting used to , not a huge fan myself. I've just had the operation 2 weeks ago, to have the stoma removed and the bowel joined up again and that offers up a whole lot of new challenges! 

Main thing is DON'T WORRY, there is absolutely nothing to fear -you'll be fine 

Many thanks, that all makes sense and thanks for being candid. The bag doesn't phase me, it was what to expect after the surgery. I feel loads more positive now

Thanks Nevermind and apologies for calling you not Northern ️ x

I had a 13cm colorectal tumour removed several years ago. I was in hospital for nine nights and - like Nevermind - had the drains, morphine, etc. plus a few cannulae in the back of my hand. I don't recall any pain but can recall several instances of hallucinations (not unpleasant) which I put down to the morphine. Hospital is the worst place to get a night's sleep although I was regularly monitored through each night. Didn't eat much but then I wasn't hungry so I stuck to soup, jelly and ice cream and kept rehydrated. I didn't get out of bed for several days until I felt that I should; follow your instincts on this. Everyone I encountered at the hospital was first class and couldn't be better. I didn't know what to expect but the experience was nowhere near as traumatic as what you might be thinking at the moment. If the anaesthetist offers you an injection in your lower back before entering theatre you might agree to that. I was doubtful at first but my comfort might have been a lot less without it. Oh, and peeing into a papier mache bottle is a challenge in the middle of the night!

Dulac

thank you, soup jelly and ice cream sound perfect