Pre-op nerves

Hi

I fully understand your worries and have been through it myself. I was told before Christmas 2020 that I needed surgery to remove two tumours. Radiotherapy and chemo were not options due to the siting of the tumours and so I had the shocking dilemma of major surgery or a messy end. I'm a positive and pragmatic person and told myself that life with a stoma (I call him Eddie Stomart) and no rear end was very bearable. My family and I have adopted Eddie and he causes much hilarity, whilst my new girlfriend (I'd split from my fiancee two months prior to diagnosis) has taken him (and me) for what we are.

I believe in the power of positive thinking and have recovered very well, I'm fit and strong again and am enjoying life.

Be positive, you will come through it and be stronger. Its a hard journey but the love and support of your family will help.

I wrote some defiant poetry in the few weeks after my op and can share these if you like. 

Good luck

Richard 

Hi Richard, thank you for that and I'd love to see your poetry...  I am trying to think of a good name for my stoma, haven't hit on anything yet but I'm sure I will.  My regards to Eddie

Lindsay

The cancer that ate away at me

Now gone

Questions about my mortality

Answered

A new beginning of 

Hopeful futures

Without sutures

A return to feeling strong

No more feeling "wrong"

Never doubt your strength

Never question your will

We can defeat

Put into retreat

What will will seek to kill

I'm not afraid

Nor shying away from the fight

I will survive and flourish

As I banish you into the night

Cancer you have no place

You have no right to presume to invade

I'll never give you the chance

Of your victory parade

The day of my op

Now history

The day they removed

The source of the mystery

The thing inside me

That was causing me strife

The hideous thing

That may have ended my life

Now the thing has gone

The future is bright

At the end of the tunnel

There's light

The recovery 

(Though not without pain) 

Is going well

And so much to gain 

Each day strength returns

The wounds heal a bit more

Each day my bum

Is a little less sore

Each day I sit

A little more easy

A little less tired

A lot less queasy

And finally........ 

Let me introduce you to Eddie. Eddie Stomart. Eddie's a good old boy, he sticks with me through thick and thin, always by my side no matter what. He happily carries his share of the load and never kicks up a stink.

I can understand how you feel - I had a lefthemicolectomy last year. I saw both my parents die of various cancers so I knew I would be caught one day. I put myself on the bowel screening tests in my 50's and came the day at 70 when I got the call... No symptoms that I noticed but I was due on the table within 8 weeks. Somehow I persuaded myself to put the whole episode in the wardrobe & lock the door on it. I told myself that it was 'life' or 'death' so 'choice' was not an option and as I say to put it in the wardrobe.  I think it must have been as it had been hanging over me like a dark angel for so many years. Is finding a project - something to keep your mind off the subject too easy a thing to say? My get out clause was because there was NO OPTION so no choice. I'm sure all will go well with the op next week - the surgery offered is marvellous

Thank you for this, I do have a few hobbies especially reading, but my mind wanders after a few paragraphs and then I realise I have been reading but not taken in a thing and have to go back!

Hi OrinocoFlow

I'm sorry to read that you're in this position and, as someone who had a Low Anterior Resection 12 months ago and who is a total woose when it comes to hospitals, I know how stressed out you must be feeling.

To cope with the stress beforehand I did a lot (and I mean a lot) of walking.  Luckily, we're in the countryside so there was plenty to see and it was peaceful but I'm sure that walking anywhere - round a park or even through streets - would be just as helpful.  Anything to switch off for a wee while.  Also, exercise is really beneficial before the op.  Like you, I also tried to read but couldn't concentrate.  Magazines were better.

Come the day though you will be absolutely fine, honestly.  I had visions of myself making a break for it before I reached the operating theatre but I was actually quite calm and thought to myself just shut your eyes and when you wake up it will be all over and that tumour will be gone.  Afterwards there was a great sense of relief and I was up and walking, albeit slowly and dragging various tubes and "stuff" behind me, within about 12 hours.  The worst pain I had was in my back which I got injections for but my abdomen and the stoma was ok.  I was home within 5 days and didn't need any more painkillers.  The recovery was slower than I had imagined but, looking back now, I realise that I was too impatient.  After about 6 weeks I was back to walking around 3-4 miles and feeling a lot more normal.  The stoma itself is perfectly manageable and doesn't prevent me from doing anything I did before.

I hope that it all goes well and you'll be back on here soon to update us.

Take care x

Thinking about my own experience in May '18 - Looking back, I think I was in shock & numb for those three weeks after diagnosis to my OP. (Left Hemicolectomy.) I remember not wanting to see friends - & to just be alone. However, I watched lots of stuff on Netflix - whilst the post about my Op. mounted up. Yes, I read & absorbed all! I can well remember that day - being driven by a friend for the 15 mile journey. Giving her a hug - & entering the hospital with my small suitcase - but then, having signed in, the procedure was very quick & effficient.Gowns, tablets, wheeled up, then injection to knock you out. Woke up some 8 hours later on some ward - where I stayed for 4 days - & felt so very good - that it was all over!

Thank you for this, I shall go for more walks on the lead up to Thursday.  Your experience sounds similar to mine.  Definitely the doing a runner!  I think I’m struggling most with feeling so well, don’t having any symptoms but about to put myself through this drastic surgery….  I am giving myself the ‘talks’ about what will happen if I don’t have it but as the day comes closer I’m becoming more anxious, I shall be glad when it’s this time next week and I can update you on 5 amusing things to do with a catheter