Operation set date

Hi Mystena 

I’m glad you’ve got a date now for your op. I know I’ve told you before about my particular circumstances, so I won’t repeat myself…but have you got something in place for care for your son? 

Sarah xx

Ive been referred to adult social services and hopefully they can help and my son accepts it. I mean my daughter can help but she lives 2 bus rides away and hasnt always got the money to come over and i have no other help. X

I really hope adult social services can put something in place for you to get help. You will certainly need it when you are discharged. When is your op? We are currently going through social services to try and get help for my in laws and things are taking a frustratingly long time to be sorted out.

Sarah xx

The op is 19th december so ill be out of action over christmas. Im hoping they put something in place too. Ive just got all the medication I have to take the day before the op and all the drinks. There is a lot. Im terrified and its 3 weeks away. Xx

At least with a surgery date, social services have something to plan towards which will hopefully help. 

I didn’t have medication to take before my own op, so don’t have experience of that. I wasn’t sure what you meant by the drinks you need to take? Is that the bowel cleanse preparation or the pre op recovery drinks? I didn’t require to do the bowel cleanse, which was strange as I needed 2 stomas formed from my bowel, but I had pre drinks to aid in recovery

It’s very natural to be scared-this is major surgery for you to go through, and it is quite a thought. I kept my focus on having a good outcome from mine, rather than what was involved in surgery itself, because that was too much to think about. 

Sarah xx

Yeh i have drinks for bowel cleanse as well as other drinks not sure what they for. I also have anti biotics to take and have to give myself an injection before surgery. Theres a lot to remember I just hope I dont forget anything. Xx

I had I think 6 little bottles of a lemon flavoured drink to take the evening before my op and the morning of surgery designed to help with recovery by giving you vitamins etc. they were best chilled in the fridge but not unpleasant. I didn’t have antibiotics until after my op, and with my surgeries I have also had to self inject for a month afterwards. Well, my partner did them! These were blood thinning injections to prevent blood clots (I had a pulmonary embolism from my chemo some time before). 

I’d just take things step by step and make a list of what has to be taken and when so it helps to remember what to do-I like to have a plan! 

Sarah xx

Hi Sarah. What did you take into hospital with you? Like towels, pjs, shower gel etc. How long were you in hospital for. They are saying I could be in for up to 14 days. Xx

Hi Mystena 

I took night shirts, not pjs as it’s easier for nurses checking you. However, I actually just wore hospital gowns the whole time and I was in for 13 nights. Easier if I was sick etc, as they could be quickly changed by the nurses. I did bring clothes but never got dressed once. 

Lip balm, some body spray, wet wipes, shower gel and shampoo, toothpaste/brush, deodorant, hand cream, body lotion-my skin gets very dry in hospital. Small bottle of Robinsons concentrated squash to add to my water, headphones, iPad, long charging cable(very useful as the sockets are often behind the bed and difficult to access). Sweets to suck for dry mouth/sore throat after surgery. Ear plugs, eye mask-hospitals are so noisy and bright. I didn’t take my own towels for that surgery, but for my most recent surgery in September I did as they were difficult to get for some reason. I took a small blanket for round my shoulders if it got colder. 

I didn’t have the concentration power to read or do do puzzles-I was very sleepy a lot of the time, but I had a portable dvd player. Now I would just download some stuff onto my iPad or phone to watch. 

Sarah xx

I have a tablet I will try to remember to download stuff from Netflix. I have new pjs and underwear. Ill take towels in as well as shower gel and body wash. As and when Im allowed to shower. I know Ill be bed ridden for a few days in critical care. I cant wait for it to be over. I had 4 injections yesterday and have to have some post surgery. Im not looking forward to it xx