LAR Surgery on Thursday

Good Luck Robin!
And now to the entrees...

"really 5 - 7 days in hospital?"

Yep - and maybe more...it takes 5 days or so usually for the bowels to even wake up...they will put you on NPO, no food by mouth...you'll start at the bottom of the food chain with refreshing ice chips, which BTW, never tasted this good:) They will work you up to liquids and then to some kind of solid. When you have a BM, that will be a sign that it's about time to go home.

"how long til I can return to work?"

I'd write off 12-weeks right off the top. This is a big surgery and there is alot of associated pain and unexpected things can happen...like a trip back to the ER for a twisted bowel or a fever or infection or something like that. This is a time to rest. Also, your bowels will be upset, because they don't like to be tinkered with, so even with an ostomy, there are going to be some troublesome times where you'll be glad you are at home.

"what is diet like post surgery, how quickly do i progress back to normal food?"

This is an individual thing since we all vary with our results and our recoveries. Start out slow and simple. They say that fruits and veggies are what's good for you...BUT, for a colon cancer patient who's just had their wiring re-done, those types of edibles will eat you up in a heartbeat, because your bowel has not had the proper time to retrain itself - it's urges and how it process things. Keep in mind that we've had some of our insides removed - parts that used to do the things we needed them to do - takes time for the bowel to relearn and compensate correctly. I ate some vegetable soup not too long after I was out - it had barley, corn, and other good stuff. I suffered miserable for awhile after that one.

"will i have a naso gastric tube for feeding? Urine cathreter?"

You'll have the tube in when you wake up and probably for about 2-3 days...it's busy sucking the stomach acids out so they don't have to pass through the colon - they want to keep that are calm for several days out of the surgery.

Urine catheter? Absolutely! And in all honesty, it makes it so much easier and I hate those things. But, having to get up from that big slice and move around to get up and pee is a lot of work in the early days....they will probably pull it a couple of days after surgery, unless its needed.

"does the hospital send me home with stoma supplies or should i stock up?"

Ask for a stoma nurse who specializes in this and she will get you where you need to be.

"tips on what i should take to the hospital?"

Whatever makes you feel comfortable...

"will i be sble to manage the stairs in my house (bedroom up, kitchen down)?"

My best advice is to take this on a baby step basis...not for the first couple of weeks anyway...you're going to find that while you're pumped up on the morphine at the hospital, you'll think you're a sprinter at this year's Olympics...you'll be buzzing people as you walk the halls... BUT when you get home, and the morphine wears off....reality.

You'll be in a lot of pain - my best advice is for the first couple of weeks at least, to walk with a pillow around your stomach and walk slightly bent over....this will help cushion the blows of just putting your feet one in front of the the other.

Trying to climb up or down stairs is not something I'd recommend, until you are walking on flat ground pretty good....it's a big strain on the groin areas and such.

And you got it, walk as much as you can...my only other tip to you are two words - Time and Patience.

You'll need both of them - don't set the bar so unrealistically high for yourself...this is major trauma and it takes time and patience to recover from this...

I had this surgery - and it was by far the hardest one of the so far. you're liable to wake up and see some ugly scars and stuff - you may see the outside of yourself all stapled together and resembling Frankenstein. Its normal and a couple of weeks after surgery they will be removing them. I actually had one come loose and caused me some bleeding issues, but they got it back out with an impromptu scope.

There's just no telling what you will face...the bowels themselves will be your biggest challenge...no timetable for when that will be right....I did not have a temp ostomy and I see now why they do them. Not having one gave my intestines no rest as they were used all the time from the radiation through to the surgery.

I lost 2-years right off the top where all I could do was go to work...and come home....lots of days where I had to leave work...and many days when I could not go to work...I had alot of bleeding and pain issue from anal fissures and all sorts of junk.

It was about 4-years for me before things really stabilized and got to where the new me was going to be. And there are still times and days where things get unhinged and I have a bad day....they are not as frequent but every bit the adventure they used to be.

It's the gift that keeps on giving.

Hate to overload you, Robin...but I prefer letting someone know about possibilities, like I wish I had been afforded the opportunity when it had been my time. All the best and believe me, you'll have more questions:)

"Has anyone ever experienced this?"

And the answer is yes, we have:)

take care - Craig

Hi Robin...
My husband had LAR surgery last Jan. He did spend 7 days in the hospital. His appetite took a few weeks to return and he did lose weight. It's best to start out with "light" eating, frequent smaller meals, to build yourself back up. No feeding tube but he did have a catheter for a few days. The hospital did send us home with some colostomy supplies but he was fortunate enough to have a visiting nurse when we came home. She walked us through and ordered supplies that were much better than the hospital offerings. Stairs were a no-no for a few weeks and he did use a walker to get around. When the doc gave the OK, he started back on the stairs a few steps at a time. He also had his little pillow that he would clutch to his belly when needed. The incision site was very tender and I would clean it everyday and put on a new gauze bandage because it was weepy. Don't lift anything too heavy! My husband has not gone back to work, because of other health issues not related to the surgery. He hopes to get back to work one day! He still has his colostomy too. We're still not sure if it is reversible but his quality of life is so much better that he doesn't care if it is permanent.

And yes, the pain meds helped greatly!

Best of luck with your surgery! Take care!

Ellen

Surgery
Sorry for responding so late, but all the above answers should help you. I'm hoping that all went well for you today and that your recovery is speedy. Let us know how you are feeling.

Kim