Thank you

[Manchesterlady]

Thank you all for your support , I keep reading your reply’s when I’m having a wobble . Is there much pain after the operation ? I’m so glad I’ve found this site . I still can’t believe what is happening .

[Seasun36-uk]

Hi ML, do keep re-reading the replies....everyone is so helpful here.

After the operation there is some pain.....but lots of pain relief medication! Do drink (lots of sips of) water, move about & watch your bowels (but take the pain meds!). You will get through, as we all have 🙂🌸🌺🌷

[Marieloiuse]

Hi Manchesterlady,

From my recollection it was more discomfort rather than pain though I do remember having a very welcome shot of morphine on the first couple of nights. But the pain was not as bad at all as I had been expecting. However I think I was so consumed with worry about the results that it dulled whatever pain there might have been. I recall though going for my op as a fit and active (albeit one with a huge cancer!) 34 year old and feeling,when I woke, like an old lady! An operation is a huge assault on your body and pain aside you suddenly can't move very easily and your body sort of shuts down.

Everyone on here will remember the post op constipation! Hopefully nowadays there will be great meds to cope with both the pain and constipation. I know after my operation I was never going to be the same again. But you do recover and you must allow your body to do so.

[Marieloiuse in reply to Marieloiuse]

Sorry touched reply before I'd finished!

Was just gonna say I'll be thinking of you this week and one great thing about waking up from the operation is they will have done their very best to rid you of this horrible disease. Onwards and upwards from then!

Take care.

Catherine X

[Ossett]

I didn’t have any pain from the operation I was dosed up on pain relief the only pain I had was slow bowels and as soon as I could I was walking about and it soon went, it really wasn’t as bad as I expected it would be I was still so scared though I am the worst scary cat and I did it so please try not to worry. Easily said

Trish xx

[Irisisme]

Hi Manchesterlady,

For me too the pain wasn't bad. Yes, it will hurt when you try to roll out of bed for the first time, but it won't last. Get a rolled-up towel and hold it - top to bottom- to you stomach, it helps to support the muscles (which need to heal),

Do try to move about, it will get you out of hospital quicker.

Yes, as said before, keep your fluids up, take the pain meds - AND the laxatives if offered.

I didn't have a stoma etc but I did have post-op ileus (paralysed bowel). It wasn't fun and delayed my discharge but even that was merely an inconvenience compared to knowing they had got the melon-sized tumour and lots of other lesions out of me!

Have things you can do and fall asleep doing (!) so you'll be distracted, move about, drink fluids, take your meds - and plan for the future!

Good Luck.

Iris xx

[Lizz49]

Hello there,

Sorry you’re facing surgery and I know it’s daunting but you will recover, its surprising how quick we bounce back! I had the op 8 weeks ago and was discharged on day 4. You will naturally feel anxious but for me I was glad I was finally getting these worrying things removed so was glad to finally have the surgery.

THey give you anti sickness meds when you come round and when on the ward I had morphine that I controlled myself through a pca machine, it was great at relieving the pain. When at home I had tramadol for 7 days and I’d say take all the pain relief they give you. It’s a struggle initially and after they remove the catheter you have to shuffle to the loo but you do get stronger each day!

You’ll be in the best possible hands and before you know it you’ll be back at home recovering in your own bed.

Take care and sending you lots of best wishes for a speedy recovery,

Liz x

[Neona]

I had an epidural which was removed after a few days and replaced with a morphine pump. However I didn't need the morphine pump for long and soon went on to paracetamol. I was sent home with lots of painkillers which I never needed. The only time I remember having pain was when a careless nurse rolled me onto the CT scanner without warning me first. The scar healed remarkably quickly too and is now really feint. It was a nuiscance not being able to lift anything though.

[Nancy222]

Be gentle with yourself and don't think you're WonderWoman. Careful of hernias.

[Suzanne333]

I’m weird as I was excited about the op. I looked at it as a big part of getting rid of this beast in me. Yes there’s discomfort after the surgery but it’s not very bad atall. You’ll do it. You’ll be ok. We are all behind you. Before you know it you’ll be up and about. Xxxxx

[AndreeP in reply to Suzanne333]

I was looking forward to a surgery too. Thought they could just take everything out. Alas, I’m not a candidate for surgery. That was a bitter pill to swallow to know that the cancer will never go away, but we are keeping it stable and keeping progression away.

[Suzanne333 in reply to AndreeP]

I had surgery and mine came back within eight months. The important thing is that they keep it from progressing and they can even if you’ve not had surgery. Xxxxxx

[AndreeP in reply to Suzanne333]

Totally agree. I call it mini remission and have been there since August 2017. Follow up scan today and keeping my fingers crossed as I always do!

[Nicky100]

Im so understand your worries. I was terrified before all my surgeries ( even when I had it before already) but it is much more manageable than your fearcis tellingvyou. I promise. And your body will probably shock you at how fast it started to recover. You will probably be up walking the next day and gentle shuffling about. One thing I would say is don’t let the nurses push you too hard if you are not comfortable. It really makes a difference to wait 12-24 hours for resting.

You will have assigned a pain management team, all to yourself! Ask them and their advice! They are there to help you and get the right solution for you. I had to switch my pain medications around ( morphine) as it was not working much for me. They switched to another one which worked better. They are all there to help you.

My one main bit I’d advice is the ‘c’ word... constipation! The drugs may cause this, which can be sore, but if you ask the nurses upfront, you can get on to it early on in your visit. They’ll tell you anyway.

You will be in good hands and through it before you know it. Relax when you get home and don’t do too much! Just be gentle on yourself abd you will get better far faster. Rest, rest rest! Get some good books and magazines to read.

Lots of love to you and go gently. I’ll be thinking of you. Love, Nicky 💓💓💓

[Cropcrop]

Hello fellow Mancunian 😊,

It’s sore, it’s got to be it’s a big surgery but they give you amazing drugs that, if taken, really do help, I was on IV morphine for the first couple of days, it was tremendous. The pain is a reminder to you not to do too much so it’s good in a weird kind of way. It doesn’t last long though and it was no way as bad as I thought it would be. You’ll be fine, the biggest thing to remember is to be kind and gentle to your body and it will do the same for you. All the comments and info on the constipation need heeding, our bowels (a particularly favourite topic here😊) don’t like being messed with so they become sluggish, but take all the anti constipation meds they give you, keep well hydrated and eat lots of nice fruit and veggies and mobilise and you’ll be fine.

I don’t know if you have or have thought to get some nighties, pj’s are a no no post up, you’ll have a vertical wound and pj bottoms would be really uncomfortable. Have cushions for your journey home from hospital, one to sit on so you don’t have to get down too low in the car and one for your tummy to stop the seatbelt hurting. You’ll need extra pillows at home as it’s easier sleeping propped up initially.

Let everybody do everything for you while you concentrate on getting better. You can get through this I did and I’m a wuss 😂

Good luck lovely 🤗 ❤️Xx Jane

[Maus123]

Don't worry too much about pain.. it's very controllable. And I'm saying this as someone who didn't go to the dentist for 8 years at some point due to fear of pain, and who applies generous amounts of Ibuprofen or Emla plasters even before simple injections. AKA whimp!

For me, after 2 laparotomy operations (full debulking in 2015, and lymph node removal this year), the pain wasn't too bad.. it was more the various tubes/catheters, lazy bowels and some nausea that annoyed me.

What is important about the pain management though is to not let up on getting the pain meds too early, and not interrupt them. Whether you receive opiates or have an epidural catheter for the first few days after surgery, you should be able to control some of the administration yourself.. via a pump/button. Often, there is also a medical team specializing in pain control, who check in with you once or twice a day and will adjust your meds if needed. After a few days, standard household painkillers like paracetamol / ibuprofen / novalgin were sufficient for me to be comfortable.

As others said, the one thing to be aware of are self-induced pain spikes through movement (wrong technique when getting out of/into bed) and coughing/sneezing. Ask the nurses how to deal with those. I found it helpful to press a rolled up towel against my tummy while caughing, and looking up and to the side. Plus, keeping ginger drops in my mouth helped with nausea and with avoiding coughing, to a degree.

Accept to sleep in 'corpse position' (on your back) for a couple of weeks, to take time for moving and to not carry anything heavier than a tea cup.

The whole point is to prevent bad pain from the getgo.. and that works very well.

My preference would probably be the epidural catheter for the first few days, over the opiate based IV PCA (pain pump), because the opiates made my constipation worse, whereas the epidural didn't interfere with my digestion. Only the initial application prior to surgery was a bit unpleasant (feeling of pressure in your back while they apply the catheter, for a minute or so).

Movicol and dried prunes (in addition to some moving about and drinking litres of peppermint tea) helped with getting my bowels moving again. MCP and ginger dealt with nausea.

Again, I'm a massive chicken when it comes to pain. And yet, I immediately agreed to a second surgery for recurrence. So that tells you it's really doable.

Tip 1: Don't forget to complain quickly and loudly, if you need help with any specific issue, while in the hospital. Don't wait.

Tip 2: Take the recovery in stages.. don't think too far ahead. Make it through the first 2 days, then the first week... you should be feeling human by then and shuffling about like a champ.

You can do this!

Maus

[Sunfleury-UK]

Have you a copy of Target Ovarian Cancer's guide, 'What Happens Next?' Its for people newly diagnosed and is really holistic with lots of contributions from women who have gone through this... do have a look and order a paper copy as well. SX

targetovariancancer.org.uk/...

[Hidden]

Keep reading, yes no surgery is pain free so take as much meds as offered. Move around a little up and down the ward and next day up and down the corridor, You will get there don't worry