Any tips on preparing for debulking surgery?

[Caro25]

[doreenharwood]

Hi Caro,

I had my debulking surgery in October this year. All I can say its not as bad as I though it would be. I went in on a Monday at 2pm by 3.15 I was having my surgery it lasted about 4 hours. I came out on the Friday and had a further 9 weeks off work. The only tips I can give you are take it easy for at least the first six weeks let everyone else do the housework and shopping. Get plenty of books and mags to read and maybe a few DVDs to watch. I did some knitting nothing great just blankets for my grandchildren but it passed the time. I started walking to the shops after six weeks but I had a shopping trolley which was great as you cant carry shopping. I also found wearing support knickers a great help as I found when anything rubbed against my scar it was sore. I am know for my support knickers I am still wearing them now as I did put on a few pounds while I was off work.

I must say I now feel great and realise the operation was for the best and I am glad I took ten weeks off work. I am sure a lot of other ladies with give you good advise, all I can say to sum up is remember its worth having the operation and the time soon goes.

All the best keep in touch with us here

Love Babs x x x

[Whippit]

Dear Caro

Having read your profile I think all of us are in denial in some form or other and then when you get over that head in the sand is another good tactic. I take the view that if I'm feeling well for the time being and can enjoy life I'm not going to spoil today worrying about tomorrow.

You've got through the first steps by having completed your chemotherapy. I really do hope you feel more energetic as the weeks/months go on - but the debulking surgery will probably also take it out of you so you'll need to think about complete rest and being looked after by your two lovely children and husband.

As Babs said, it really isn't at all bad. I was fascinated how they could take so much out, stitch you up and have you back on the ward within a couple of hours. I went into surgery in the early afternoon and by visiting time when my husband came I'd washed, changed into a fresh nightie and was up for a very short visit.

The ward, and all the staff is most likely to be a specialist one which does this sort of procedure as a matter of course and you should find it all goes very smoothly and the nurses are wonderful. I also found good companions amongst the patients and we looked out for one another.

For the surgery you really only have to lie back and relax ... and the rest is done for you. If you haven't had an anaesthetic for some time you might be surprised you can be given iced water to sip when you wake up and you'll also be encouraged to get up just as soon as you can. You'll have pain-relief during the op. Some nice morphine and a gadget you can press for more if you have any discomfort at all. I didn't need that.

The only thing I found was that you get full of wind. Apparently oxygen is pumped in as part of the surgical procedure and it does seem to get stuck in the nooks and crannies which made me uncomfortable at night. The nurse told me the only remedy for wind is to walk and I can vouch for that. On about Day 3 I took myself off down the corridor to the staff canteen and whoooooo it was like letting go of a semi-inflated balloon. I was perfectly comfortable after that. The nurse also gave me peppermint tea in the middle of the night which was helpful.

One thing I really missed was a regular hot drink. The tea trolley seemed to come once in the morning and once in the afternoon and served strong brown tea which I'm not too keen on. Had I prepared better I might have looked for one of those gadgets that plugs in and heats up a cup of water so I could have made my own ginger and lemon or peppermint tea.

Babs gives good advice above for the recovery period. You must've lift ANYTHING! It's time to be spoilt and for people to come and visit you and amuse you. My husband got hold of a kettle by the bed so I could just press a button to fill a cup of water - tea is featuring big in this thread.

I'd also think about what to wear after the op. Luckily my daughter warned me I would have a catheter for the first night and got me a nightie as she said PJs would be uncomfortable. That was great advice. Just as soon as they see everything's in working order they'll take out the cathater.

Really none of it is a big deal - it just seems a bit daunting. Make sure you ask lots of questions at your pre-op visit.

I'm going to wish you luck with this and hope they manage to get out all the unwelcome visitors. Let us know when you're going in and we'll be thinking of you and wishing you well.

Love Annie xxx

[wendydee]

I cannot add much more to Annie and Babs' hints, but I found using arnica tablets helpful, before and after the op. they say it helps promote healing and avoid bruising but I don't know! I was told they cannot do any harm and may just help. Also, after the op, peppermint tea is really good for soothing and refreshing and releasing that trapped wind. I found I got quite addicted to it I still love it. Big baggy knickers for afterwards and loose nighties, oh and trousers with elastic waists when you got home ....all horrific to contemplate but all make life more comfortable. This month's Woman and Home has an article about having a hysterectomy and a lot of the hints are applicable here, so maybe you can have a look.

Let us know when you're going in. I found it was all a lot better than I had feared.

I am sure you'll cope much better than you expect to. We'll be with you!

Love Wendy xx

[Hidden]

Still laughing at some of Annie's comments... Oh the wind...! And yes, not much to add here other than a thought for you: your kids are at pretty demanding ages and you must get them to understand, and also understand it yourself, that things will need to change quite a bit. No doing the fetching and carrying, no doing the washing, no bending and stretching, no standing for long periods cooking, absolutely no tidying their rooms...! I reckon maybe a good family chat about how they can actively help is not only advisable but may also help them feel they are really helping out and could be a really positive thing. It won't just suddenly return to normal a few weeks after either - slow rebuilding essential and possibly some things just to change for ever...

Love, Sue xxx

Ps I have no kids by the way - do ignore if it sounds stupid!

PPS much more importantly: do the EXERCISES! Pelvic floors starting immediately and breathing exercises immediately you wake too - and keep doing them even if you don't feel you need to. I got a small but v painful collapse of some alveoli in my right lung after, which is not uncommon after long, major abdominal surgery. Not all hospitals give guidance on this, I find. Deep breathing gets it all working again and can stop it happening at all - it hits a couple of days AFTER surgery...

PPPS (?) morphine made me itch like crazy, common but had not been mentioned!

[citrine]

Hi Caro, I think you've now been given all the good advice about lifting, resting, pelvic floor and breathing exercises,comfortable clothes and entertainment. Like a lot of people I did suffer from constipation for a long time after the op. If it does happen to you, do ask for something to relieve it, I think I left it too long and suffered unnecessarily. My mum in law did provide me with a very small very light travel kettle which weighed nothing but do be careful. If in doubt, don't.

Wishing you all the very best

Love Mary xx

[Archiebanana]

Hi Caro

I see you live quite close to me, are you having your surgery at Maidstone? Babs and I both had our ops at Maidstone `Hospital, and I'm sure she would agree with me in saying that the staff on the ward there are brilliant. My surgeon was really good and I had such good care from everyone, nothing seemed too much trouble. It's amazing how well you do recover and it really isn't nearly as bad as you think. As for advice don't think I can add anything, but would totally agree with what the other ladies have said.

Keep us posted.

Love Linda xx

[Madz]

Hi Caro all the above advice is good, the main thing is to get moving as soon as possible afterwards as it will aid recovery and don't be shy of asking for and taking pain killers just watch out for getting bunged up. The worst is wind and for me going to the loo after a few days post-op, worst best kept secret of surgery.

As for being in denial there is some research that suggests denial is a good state of mind to be in if it suits you, you and your brain know what is best for you to manage your condition.

I also have stage 4 but had surgery first and have just started chemo so am the opposite way round!

Let us know how you get on - it really was ok

Lotsa hugs Amanda

[Caro25]

Thank you everyone for their comments. I hope I reach you all this way.

It really does help to know you're all out there, and reassuring to hear it's not as bad as you all feared. For you Amanda, I can say that chemo was not as bad as I feared, my wig is nicer than my hair was, saves loads of time in the morning, tho time I now need to spend on make up but hey ho.

Op is 9th January.

So I have a shopping list prepared:

baggy knickers

a loose nightie

peppermint tea

arnica

trackie bottoms

...and a plan to get moving in every sense of the word, no doubt breaking wind as I go.

A glamourous new year ahead!

[wendydee in reply to Caro25]

There are threads of conversations way back on here that it may help you to have a read, one is about constipation ....its a frequently recurring topic, there's also one about talking to young children about cancer. Just type a few key words into the search box at the top right of the page

All the very best to you, and your family. I am sending you wishes for a good Christmas. You'll never forget this Christmas, but I bet there will be lots of happy memories. There's nothing like this beast for bringing those lovely moments into sharp focus

Love Wendy xx

[Hidden in reply to Caro25]

Pop "great finds" into the search bar above right and you will find a silly string which listed some of the little gems we found too... Not v serious but some good ideas in there still for getting through this bit of life!

[Madz]

Good list Caro xxx