Surgery

[Jayniiee]

Hello lovely ladies,

After 5 rounds of chemo, my stage 3c primary peritoneal cancer is finally deemed operable and I'm scheduled for debulking op this Wednesday 19th. I'm told there is very little disease left (although - I don't know if anyone else felt like this - I have trouble believing them) Fingers crossed I get a negative covid result and op can go ahead! Does anyone have any words of wisdom/advice? What should I expect on coming round? Trying to pack a case for every eventuality. Also how long have you ladies had to stay in for? My daughter is due to have my second granddaughter on the 23rd and I'm hoping she will be able to keep cooking her until i have my freedom back! 😊

[anna_z]

That's great you're having surgery on Wednesday. My experience was 6 nights stay in Hospital. Expect to have your first walk within 24 hrs of surgery. Eat sloppy food only for first few days. First poo is traumatic (but you know this from childbirth!). They won't let you go home until you pass wind and do a poo! Try to walk and move around as much as poss. And tell the nurses if you're in pain. You should aim to be pain free. Good luck. It will be ok. Chemo is more mentally traumatic than surgery. xxx

[Jayniiee in reply to anna_z]

Thank you Anna for your reply, ive been thinking the poo thing would probably be a trial 😂 have been thinking of sneaking in some gentle laxatives 😊was planning on taking in a big flask too and asking if they wouldn't mind filling it when they come round with hot drinks, so can get extra fluids in, thought that might help move things along..keeping fingers crossed it's not too awful... Am so very grateful to be having the surgery! 😊

[anna_z in reply to Jayniiee]

You won't want to take any laxatives until day 4 I think. But the nurses will have loads for you, even suppositories! You'll be fine. You won't be able to do much during the first week back at home. And you won't be able to hold a kettle or a full cooking pan for weeks. And then little by little you'll get stronger. You'll need something at home to help you pull yourself up to get out of bed. They cut through my stomach muscles so I had no core strength. Look up this in amazon "Safety bed rail mobility aid adjustable in height with useful storage pocket" I found one really useful placed at the top of the bed where the pillow is.

[Jayniiee]

Thank you so much Anna.. It's so good to find out all this now to be able to get prepared... It's a surprise to find out how much it affects you... It's good to know.. It'll make it easier to rein in my impatience with not being able to be so active xx

[Robbo16 in reply to Jayniiee]

Hi - I ordered a raised loo frame (also on Amazon) to go over the loo. I really didn’t want to get one but was so glad I did. It really helped getting up and down without hurting my tummy. The district nurse also got me a cushion to go under the chair cushion so easier to get up.I used both for a few months so don’t worry it’s not forever 😀.

The one thing I would say for hospital packing is take some squash. You have to drink a lot of fluids and I think having squash would have helped but my hospital didn’t provide.

Wishing you all the very best x

[Jayniiee in reply to Robbo16]

Thank you. That's a good idea.. I'll look into that and will remember the squash. x

[Morini]

I had my debulking op on 4 January. They told me I would be in hospital 5 to 7 days and I came out after 5. They helped me up and to walk on the first day and after day 2 I did lots of little strolls up the ward with rest in between.

My digestive system is all over the place and I am on a restrictive low residue diet but sent out with laxative to help.

Maybe take a mobile/tablet you can use to video call your daughter, just in case your granddaughter makes her appearance when you are in there xx

[Jayniiee in reply to Morini]

Thanks for your message. wow, 5 days is really good x hope that's me.. wishing you a speedy recovery,, yes I am taking in a tablet xx

[MarleyZ]

Went in on a Friday left by the Thursday for first op follow the instructions... First thing is to get up and mobile, look ahead let the carers handle holding you, don't look down, move as much as you can, this will help with the 3 Ps...pee, poop and phart what can I say my surgeon had a good sense of humour 👍Mr Barton 😁 once you complete those your half way home and to recovery, the rest is baggage lol I took stuff that I didn't use, focus unless there I barely looked at the book, phone was used again most times slept or nodded off.... Wish you all the best for a smooth op and recovery.

[Jayniiee]

Thanks Marley 😊i was told this morning at the preop that i should be on a low residue diet, after which i promptly mistakenly ate a bowl of brown rice.. Fingers crossed it's not going to affect the op or the post op 3 ps x