Recovery after debulking surgery

[Belindajw]

hi all, I’m 59 and I was diagnosed with stage 4 in May and after 4 cycles of chemo thankfully a good response and I’m pretty fit otherwise so debulking surgery including peritoneal stripping planned. Can anyone advise on what to expect after the surgery and recovery time? There will be another 2 cycles of chemo 4 weeks post op. My worry is that I am currently fit (apart from the cancer!) and very active I want to to know if I’ll be able to get to my current fitness. Thank you.

[Saintgermain]

HelloGlad your feeling well and ready for your debulking I was in good shape also had my chemo after my debulking the surgery went well the first night I needed a better pain pill but the next morning I got myself out of bed and was walking around the floor when I got home went up and down stairs no difficulty at all I did buy a wonderful post op abdominal binder from Amazon to use.

[Belindajw in reply to Saintgermain]

Thank you so much, that’s reassuring, I didn’t know about 5he abdominal binder but will invest in one! Thanks again, I hope you keep well.

[Saintgermain in reply to Belindajw]

Please let us know how you do.

[Belindajw in reply to Saintgermain]

Thanks, I will do. 😊

[Yorkiepudd]

Hi, I had surgery before any other treatment so in a slightly different position. However I’m sure you’ll find it not half as bad as you imagine. The physio got me out of bed the following morning and they show you how to do that safely, I was then able to sit in the chair and have a wash and put my own nightie on (don’t take PJs, loose nighties are much better). I had the day after with a catheter and when that was taken out, you’re encouraged to get up and wander-that shower and hair wash was the best ever!! You will get tired but little and often with rest is the trick. Also big knickers are the one, possibly even a size larger than usual. I didn’t use a binder and my wound wasn’t dressed which seems to differ between hospitals xx

[Belindajw in reply to Yorkiepudd]

Can’t go wrong with big knickers! Thanks for replying, much appreciated.

[bamboo89]

I think it depends on the hospital what happens immediately after surgery - I came round after some hours to find I was connected up to a morphine driver and a saline drip, had a catheter and a drain. The wound was dressed for 48 hours only. On the third morning, they removed the drain and catheter (morphine driver had been removed 12 hours earlier) and took me off for a shower, when they took off all the dressings. I was stapled, not stitched, from sternum to pubis - dressings were not replaced, we just had to shower every morning. No question of wearing an abdominal support with staples in place - they were removed 14 days later by my GP surgery. I was not told to wear a support at all - I rather wish I had though, it might have prevented my getting such a large incisional hernia... but I could not have worn one anyway for at least 3-4 weeks, first because of the staples and then because the wound periodically seeped liquid between week 3 and 4, though it was not infected.

[Newbie_2020]

Excellent news that you have responded. Hopefully, they'll also be able to extract all visible signs of cancer.

I'd give it 6-8 weeks. At times, the body reacts to such an extensive surgery by taking its time to heal. The wound could ooze for a longer period than expected, gets infected or you could feel some pain. Going up and down the stairs shouldn't be affected and walking for shorter period of time is also doable.

Sleeping and getting out of bed can be tricky, the first couple of weeks. Get yourself a small stool to put next to your bed.

Amongst the prep for hospital, have a dress with you for when you are discharged. It is easier to slip in rather than wearing trousers etc.

Once the post chemo treatments are done, you are likely to be put on PARPS inhibitors for maintenance. All depends on how you'll tolerate them. It may take 3 months for the body to adjust and cope with their side effects.

I hope all goes very well for you and you'll get all the benefits of the surgery and the follow-up treatments by being NED for a very long time. Catching up on fitness will most certainly follow.

[Belindajw in reply to Newbie_2020]

That’s reassuring and some good ideas. Many thanks 😊

[Fluffyjumper]

Hi. I had debulking surgery late 2021. I was up the day after surgery and encourage to take short walks around the ward. I was in hospital for 3 nights with a catheter for around 2 hours. Once home I was walking up and down the stairs and taking short walks in the garden. Within a week, I was walking 10 -15 minutes several times a day. I did pelvic floor exercises once I got home from hospital. I had a stool by my bed to help me get out of bed. I returned to Pilates and Barre classes eight weeks after surgery but just did what I was comfortable with. I went skiing in late March but took it easy, went on a walking holiday in May and have since been on a camping and cycling trip. Swimming was restricted during chemo and you will be advised not to lift or push anything heavier than a kettle or light pan for around 8 weeks after surgery. Your fitness will return but you may feel tired. I didn’t wear an abdominal binder but did wear big knickers. I wore loose harem type yoga pants and a pull on sports bra to feel comfortable after surgery. I was surprised how well I felt after surgery and didn’t need painkillers once I got home.

[Belindajw in reply to Fluffyjumper]

Wow that’s really impressive and reassuring, I’ve invested in big pants, a loose dress and baggy dungarees! 😁

[SASSY196]

I was 53 when I had debulking and had been very fit at diagnosis, I did the Great North run the day before diagnosis. Like you I had 4 chemos before surgery. Before my surgery I tried to do quite a lot of walking so went into surgery pretty fit. I think it depends on how extensive your surgery is. I had 11 hour surgery, including spleendechtomy. I was in intensive care a few days and hospital 11 days. I had two drains and a catheter for several days. I was out of bed in a chair whilst still in icu and up doing corridor walking after a few days.

After 3 weeks I walked a 5 km sponsored walk but steadily rather than speedily.

I have never got back to my high level of fitness but I have hardly been out of treatment for long as I recurred before I finished avastin and have since had two further occurrences within months / weeks of finishing treatment Also covid limited exercise due to shielding. However I do think it's achievable if you get a decent break from cancer and chemo.

Good luck, hoping it all goes smoothly. Sending love

Sara

[Belindajw in reply to SASSY196]

That really encouraging, and inspiring. Thank you so much. X