Post surgery

[Eriksendi]

Well it's now 4 weeks since my TAH and bowel resection. Recovery seems slow to me but everyone keeps telling me to slow down. I had my 5th chemo on Thursday and am feeling very nauseous - taking all the drugs I can. I am breathless too but chest X-rays show clear for fluid. Hanging on in there at the moment!!

[January-2016-UK]

It is important not to overdo things after such major surgery for you can unwittingly do internal damage which will end up increasing the overall length of time to recovery.

Hope the nausea subsides soon.

All the best!

[Eriksendi in reply to January-2016-UK]

Thank you. It's just frustrating but I am resting lots too. I think the whole surgery experience was just a lot bigger than I expected. Just praying and hoping for good results at the end of treatment. X x

[Juliette35]

Hi Erica,when I was on chemo I remember I did get short of breath . Don't try to do to much and maybe try some different sickness tablets if you can . I was on cyclazine. They helped me. Take care xx

[Eriksendi in reply to Juliette35]

Thank you for your reply - I do have some cyclazine in the cupboard so will definitely try some to see if they are better and help x x

[Hidden]

Hi

Give yourself time to recover - it's major surgery and you need to take good care of you! I think it took me about 4 weeks before I even began to feel anyway close to normal - but try to keep in mind that every day you will feel a little stronger and it will get better!

Take care

Juliet

[Katsmum]

Hi - I too was very breathless after the 5th chemo and was pretty anaemic which may be the cause. The onc said it was to be expected as chemo is cumulative so make sure you are taking it slowly and get plenty of rest. Hope you feel better soon! Xx

[Nicky100]

This is very early days after such huge surgery. Do take it easy and I hope it gets a bit better soon.

Nicky xx

[Cropcrop]

Hi lovely, I know just how you feel but it really will improve it’s still early days for you, the surgery is a whopper and it really takes quite some time to recover from this surgery + factor in chemo which takes such alot out of us as well and you have the reasons you’re feeling so out of sorts. I think the best thing is to listen to your body, if it says it’s tired then rest, if it’s nauseous take the drugs and if you’re breathless slow down a little. It will get better but only slowly, don’t try to do too much it can really set you back. You will get there, honest love 😊. ❤️Xx Jane

[Eriksendi in reply to Cropcrop]

Thank you - feeling rubbish today. Stoma was blocked from the chemo as well. Took laxatives last night and this morning at least that has now cleared. One less thing to worry about!! I'm trying to rest and get through these rubbish days, hopefully will feel a bit better in a couple of days. Chemo was started exactly 4 weeks after my op so perhaps I was still weak and that's why I feel so bad x x

[thomas62]

Major surgery and chemo - no wonder you feel rubbish. Try to take it easy and have plenty of rest. Gwen xx

[Hidden]

after interval debulking including TAH I was driving after 4 weeks and back to work after 6 weeks.

breathing problem is side effect of chemo, nothing to worry about.

ask for more different types of anti sickness drugs. I never had nausea from chemo before surgery but after it and after 4th chemo, it was quite bad, I was popping different anti sickness pills every 2 hours. it eased off after 5th round of chemo.

a colleague with colorectal cancer stage 4 just like me, was back to work after 4 weeks after his surgery. but everyone's different, don't rush it

[Eriksendi in reply to Hidden]

I am 4 weeks post surgery and definitely could not be back at work. This last chemo, number 5, (I had 4 before my TAH due to a bowel perforation and stoma fitted after number 2) has really weakened me so I am resting lots. I like you did not suffer from much nausea before my op but it has been bad this time and eating is difficult. It's day 5 after chemo today, so hoping I will be coming out of the other side soon x x