First Surgery to Colon

Once you get the OK from your surgeon, probably the same day, walk as much as you can.  Its hard getting out of the bed, pulling on the incision and all, but oh, it is so worth it.  It will get the blood flowing, the brain working, and most importantly, the bowel moving. 

I know that I had to stay in the hospital until I had had a good couple of bowel movements or even food. 

Grab your IV pole and move. 

I wish you all the luck on Thrusday. 

tru

They forced me to walk 3 times a day after my colectomy.  They took about half of mine, but, fortunately it was at the cecum, and the surgeon was able to put everything back together.  

Took about 2 months for me to feel "normal" again, but stupidly, I started a new job 2 weeks after.  Still had the staples in and was driving 600 miles a day and unloading eggs.  Not the brightest thing I have ever done.

But yes, walk, walk, walk.  It does wonders.  And hang in there, it does get better!!!!

Alan

Did you have your surgery already, Ugur? Once you had your surgery, like everyone above said, definitely walk. You will be very sore and the first day will be very hard to even get out of the bed. Don't try to do it on your own, have someone to hold on to you and assist you. Another thing very hard to avoid is sneezing and coughing. Try to hug a pillow if you have to cough or sneeze. Hope a quick recovery for you!

Ugur said:

Still in IC Unit

The surgery had been successful, and I'm at intensive care unit since Thursday. 
As you all told me, doctors and nurses make me stand up and walk a little everyday. 
I wish I could say every day I'm getting better, but unfortunately today I feel all fatigue and had to vomit in the morning. 
Please tell me this will end soon, and I'll be back home. 
I feel so tired.

i hope that you begin to feel better soon, and are home within  a few days. Thinking of you!!

Ugur said:

Still in IC Unit

The surgery had been successful, and I'm at intensive care unit since Thursday. 
As you all told me, doctors and nurses make me stand up and walk a little everyday. 
I wish I could say every day I'm getting better, but unfortunately today I feel all fatigue and had to vomit in the morning. 
Please tell me this will end soon, and I'll be back home. 
I feel so tired.

Took me awhile to regain anything close to some strength. My hospital stay was 7 days total. Just inch forward the best you can. I remember seeing the surgeon and his team. They reminded me just how much the procedure involved. He described it as rearranging and bruising me internally. Rest and walk as far as you can. Have you had many visitors? I enjoyed seeing people. I also felt a profound joy every morning I woke up. Grateful to be alive. Godspeed! You can do this. It just takes time. 

Ugur said:

Still in IC Unit

The surgery had been successful, and I'm at intensive care unit since Thursday. 
As you all told me, doctors and nurses make me stand up and walk a little everyday. 
I wish I could say every day I'm getting better, but unfortunately today I feel all fatigue and had to vomit in the morning. 
Please tell me this will end soon, and I'll be back home. 
I feel so tired.

Nothing beats going home.  It can be a great motivator to get out of the hospital.  Keep pushing your doctors to let you know what you need to do to get released.  I hope you will be home soon.

Like others have stated, just walk.  It might hurt to get up and move, but just do it.  As far as recovery it all depends on you, your weight, determination, physical and mental attitude and just wanting to get better and move on.  The more you push to get your life back to normal, the easier you will handle recovery.  Wishing you the best.

Kim

Ugur said:

6th day in ICU

Yeah, it has been 5 total days in intensive care, and I can't say it is going easy.

Anyway, no whining. The worst enemy here is time. Time flows so slow that sometimes I stare at the wall-clock to kill the time.

First days were really hard on me. Second day after surgery on Saturday, I had too much vomit that they had to put NG tube from my nose till stomach. So far, that was the worst day here for me.

3rd day I was really alright. Although I hate this NG tubes, I must admit that they help to stomach a lot with releasing gases and upsetting fluids. So I was feeling much better and I needed to go to toilet very often that my nurses are not happy to plug me in and out 10-12 times a day including the night. During this time I had to walk to toilet and back, so it was a good exercise too.

Yesterday, they unplugged all the pipes/tubes from my body and I was so relieved. They also started to  feed me with soft and liquid food slowly. However, during yesterday I started to feel nausea slowly. Before evening I had vomit again. I threw out most of the stuff I ate during the day. It wasn't much, but anyway I had not eaten much either. It seems like, my stomach doesn't want to work much. After vomiting, they put the NG tube again. But, since then I feel great. No nausea, no fatigue.

Today, I had a small shower and it was relaxing. I didn't have to run for toilet even once, interestingly. I have eaten one small mashed apple. As last, they closed the NG tube to see if my stomach will cooperate today.

I miss home madly. Due to complication during my last chemo, I had to stay at hospital unexpectedly long. Almost for two weeks I have been staying at hospitals without getting home. Luckily, they let me see my wife every day for couple of hours, those are the only pleasant hours.

Sleeping is another issue that I am with 3 hours of sleeping everyday. I just can't sleep, especially with this tube going out of my nose, it is really impossible to have a nice long sleep, even in the nights.

Sorry for long entry, I just wanted to update here briefly.

I keep my strong and positive attitude as much as I can, and I am wishing my liver mets to stay less aggressive till next chemo. I guess I will miss 2 weeks from my chemo schedule.

Please write me all your ideas about my situation.

Thanks very much to every and each of you for your kind messages.

And BTW, how long do you guys think I will have to stay hospitalized more?

I'll keep here updated if anything new comes up

Ugur

I took Ambien nightly in the hospital because I couldn't sleep without it.  Ask for sleeping meds.

Ugur said:

6th day in ICU

Yeah, it has been 5 total days in intensive care, and I can't say it is going easy.

Anyway, no whining. The worst enemy here is time. Time flows so slow that sometimes I stare at the wall-clock to kill the time.

First days were really hard on me. Second day after surgery on Saturday, I had too much vomit that they had to put NG tube from my nose till stomach. So far, that was the worst day here for me.

3rd day I was really alright. Although I hate this NG tubes, I must admit that they help to stomach a lot with releasing gases and upsetting fluids. So I was feeling much better and I needed to go to toilet very often that my nurses are not happy to plug me in and out 10-12 times a day including the night. During this time I had to walk to toilet and back, so it was a good exercise too.

Yesterday, they unplugged all the pipes/tubes from my body and I was so relieved. They also started to  feed me with soft and liquid food slowly. However, during yesterday I started to feel nausea slowly. Before evening I had vomit again. I threw out most of the stuff I ate during the day. It wasn't much, but anyway I had not eaten much either. It seems like, my stomach doesn't want to work much. After vomiting, they put the NG tube again. But, since then I feel great. No nausea, no fatigue.

Today, I had a small shower and it was relaxing. I didn't have to run for toilet even once, interestingly. I have eaten one small mashed apple. As last, they closed the NG tube to see if my stomach will cooperate today.

I miss home madly. Due to complication during my last chemo, I had to stay at hospital unexpectedly long. Almost for two weeks I have been staying at hospitals without getting home. Luckily, they let me see my wife every day for couple of hours, those are the only pleasant hours.

Sleeping is another issue that I am with 3 hours of sleeping everyday. I just can't sleep, especially with this tube going out of my nose, it is really impossible to have a nice long sleep, even in the nights.

Sorry for long entry, I just wanted to update here briefly.

I keep my strong and positive attitude as much as I can, and I am wishing my liver mets to stay less aggressive till next chemo. I guess I will miss 2 weeks from my chemo schedule.

Please write me all your ideas about my situation.

Thanks very much to every and each of you for your kind messages.

And BTW, how long do you guys think I will have to stay hospitalized more?

I'll keep here updated if anything new comes up

Ugur

Your experience sounds traumatic, but promising that you're experiencing some relief recently. Being able to walk to the bathroom and enjoy a shower... amazing what those small victories can do for your spirit. I sure hope they can figure out what's causing the vomiting soon. Or maybe it has subsided? Just know you have all of us thinking about and praying for you. Will be so great when you go home. I have aggressive liver mets too. It can cause loads of anxiety on top of everything else you're dealing with physically. Hang in and stay as strong as you can.