Just discovered I’m now qualified to join your group Diagnosed last week with one Tumour but no spread. Going for surgery in three weeks Any tips or advice for the journey
Hi Twocans and a warm welcome to the board from me. No spread is good news and it sounds like you’re going straight to surgery? I’ve attached a link to a booklet about surgery and there’s some quite good tips on things to take in with you - the most popular being an extra long charging cable! In hospital they will be keen to get you out of bed and walking up and down the ward. Be cautious with your diet for the first couple of days - the bowel does not like being manhandled and this can result in severe vomiting called ileus - hopefully you will avoid that.
In the meantime try to keep as fit and healthy as you can. You might want to think about making sure you have the cupboards stocked for when you get home. I ate a lot of soup and crackers or toast. You won’t be able to lift anything heavy or drive for 6 weeks when you come home so just look at getting your strength back and taking short walks that you can build up from. https://bowelcancerorguk.s3.amazonaws.com/Publications/YourOperation_BowelCancerUK.pdf
I shall give you may usual advice of staying away from google - it is out of date and misleading. If you have any specific questions please feel free to post - there is nothing too daft or embarrassing on here!
I had bowl surgery 4 weeks ago yesterday! Although it was scary and worrying I was fortunate enough to come through it well. I came home on day 4 as I was doing well. My advice is eat healthily and get into the habit of drinking plenty of water. The water def helped my bowl after the op! My other advise is to ensure you have loose clothing. I am still unable to wear anything tight around my waist as it feels uncomfortable. I had taken some part elastic trousers into hosp to wear home and I found them very uncomfortable!!
Although things went well for me during and after the op they have unfortunately found some blood vessels which they are unsure of whether there are microscopic cancer cells in there so I am now waiting for chemo in the next few weeks! Something I was hoping not to have but Oncologists have recommended it and I welcome their advice with a hope to an end.
Thanks for your reassuring comments, as someone who has never been in hospital for anything before I think I am finding the whole thing quite daunting. Glad everything went so well for you and hope the chemo goes as well
I was exactly the same. The only time i'd been in hosp was to have my two children for minimal time!! It is daunting but. I found the staff did their best to put me at my ease! You soon get used to how things go! I found it useful to have a note book with me at all meetings to write things down so that I could reread it when I got home to remind myself what had been said!
Hi there, firstly, I would say try not to stress too much within these weeks awaiting operation. It is hard not too, but I did find that I was worrying way too much, when things sometimes actually turned out better. I had a tumour removed from my colon on Jan 11th this year. I spent 6 nights in hospital and throughout, I stayed in a loose and comfortable hospital gown! I did not use any of the clothes I packed as they were not comfortable. The first 2 days after the operation were a painful haze where I really did not do much at all except eat tiny amounts of food and take pain medication. On day 3 I was able to sit up in bed and felt a bit more 'with it'. My pain medication was altered as I was experiencing a sensation of pins and needles in the night from the morphine I was given, which was rather unpleasant. It is good to have an open and honest chat with the person in charge of your pain meds. Once the meds were changed, I felt better.
Lifting any items, even the heavy teapot, I found difficult. It was crazy to feel so weak but by day 4, I felt my strength start to slowly return. I also managed to go to the toilet on day 4, after feeling very gassy and full. The doctors will be asking you all about your bowel movements, every day, so let them know how you are feeling. On day 4, I really made the effort to sit out of the bed and then to slowly start to walk around the room.. I got up opened the curtains and the door for some fresh air in my room, and found this helped me feel so much better. Mentally, I tried to stay positive and focused on getting better and getting home to my 2 young boys.
I am now on precautionary oral chemo and doing great. Wishing you all the best! Keep us posted and take care.
