Bad night.

Sorry to hear you had a bad night, but understandable as there is a lot going on for you.

My op was abdominal so I was in hospital for 3 nights. I had diarrhoea the second day, which meant I ended up the last two nights in a room on my own being isolated in case I had an infection. Thankfully no infection, but was a result in terms of getting sleep.

i was sent home from hospital with pain medications and also senokot, in case I had constipation.  I also had Imodium at home in case of diarrhoea which I didn’t have once over the day 2 episodes.

Also little walks as soon as you are able helps.

good luck for next week

Hi

Sorry to hear you've had a bad night. It is tough waiting for the surgery, but not too much longer now. I think also the pre op for me, made it seem very real. I also get a dodgy tummy when anxious and lose my appetite. It's not great. 

I didn't have a lot of issues tummy wise after the surgery. I had a bit of gas but it went fairly quickly. I didn't go for around 24 hours but once I did, there was no diarrhoea or constipation. I think it helps if you can keep moving and eat regularly. I bought stool softeners (recommended by CNS) and when I did go, it was comfortable. I took these for about a week. Drank plenty of apple juice. 

It's natural to worry about these things but I am sure you will be fine. If you do find your bowels are affected then all you need to do is to give the ward a call- there will be a number on your discharge paperwork- and they will be able to suggest the right meds and offer advice. 

I actually found the surgery the most straightforward part of my treatment. I had little pain, stayed in for one night and went home the following day. I recovered quickly. I was really anxious before the surgery but I think the thing to remember is that although it is a massive thing for us, for the surgeons it is a very routine op and they have done so many. 

I wish you well for next week and in the meantime if there is anything you need, then please do ask.

Jane

The day before my op, I had my main meal at lunchtime, and then just had fruit and yogurt in the evening, the idea being that I’d have a poo that evening and have my bowel reasonably clear before the op, minimising wind from “start up” post op. On the morning of my op (had to be there at 7.30am) I had nothing except the pre op drink they’d given me for the previous evening and the morning, and water up till 6.30am. After my op, I couldn’t face a meal, so on the consultant’s advise just ate jelly with fruit in it - the nurse managed to find a couple in the ward fridge - plus some snacks that I’d brought from home. Came home the next day, and kept my diet very light - just protein and fruit, no complex carbs - for a few days. I’ve no idea if any of that did anything but I didn’t have any wind and just had a poo naturally on the morning of day 4. 

This last few days before surgery is challenging and I'm sorry you have had disturbed sleep. i think I distracted myself (a bit) with thinking of what to pack in my overnight hospital bag and some food ideas for when I came home. Quite a few people take snacks of some sort in with them and maybe sweets to suck which can help any wind. I was sent home with a stool softener I think and constipation certainly featured in the information I was given and my first few days of recovery but we're all different. I lined up some fibre options for afterwards plus keeping up the fluid intake.  It's a good opportunity to think up a treat for afterwards too. 

Best wishes for next week.