Hi :) Happy New Year too :) 

Stay positive! I’m all good - just started to have some fatigue recently and will get my blood counts result tomorrow morning so fingers crossed ;) Also started to plan my way back to work from the office - since June I do that from home... other than this - looking for a house to buy new school for my little boy and 20000 other things at once hahaha also getting crosstrainer burn every day now ;) 

re operation - mine was an emergency but I guess there is no diff of how it looks like after ;) 

So - I had mine late afternoon on Tuesday and this ended up with sepsis which is very common as there are lots of bacterias in the bowel which could get to the blood track... I have been able to stand up from the bed next day morning - so lovely nurse could wash me up. you will have physio guys to help you and ask you if you are ready to give it a go ( I didn’t want my little boy to see my with blood etc all over me ;) ).

I was lucky to get my own room the same day and you will get morphine attached so you can use “happy click” whenever things will start being too painful. On 3rd night I was able to sleep on right side - considering I had right hemicolectomy. Meantime I was trying to get out of the bed on my own etc. In the end I was let to get back home on Monday so not even all week after surgery ;) but remember do not overdue yourself! Do everything you think you will be able to - this is not a race but your life you will fight hard for :) 

I was surving on netflix, books and I do crochet also chatting to other patients and go around the hosp for a walk (not long ones ;) ) .

I will keep my fingers crossed for you :) 

Good luck and remember you are already very brave! You put the boxing gloves on and started to fight! Keep it going

Mal xx

Hi Jessie

firstly, I’m so sorry to see someone so young having to go through this, it’s rubbish, however, use your youth and fitness to your advantage and you will recover quickly. 

Im currently in hospital I have (or hopefully had) stomach cancer which was removed on Wednesday, I was full of anxiety, tears, fearsthe nearer it got but I managed to have the best Christmas and New Year, don’t let these few weeks be dampened too much. I would allow myself half an hour or so to work through it all a day and then actively banish it from my mind, literally if negative thoughts pop up I’d tell them to F off!

my pre surgery tips are...eat, you’ll lose weight so eat well and plenty of protein to help maintain muscle, I’ve lost my stomach so fattening up was important to me and I’m glad I did it, obviously you’ll be able to eat but your appetite will be affected and lack of movement can affect your fitness. With that if you are able to exercise keep doing it up until surgery, it will help in recovery, having strong arms and legs are needed for pulling yourself up, I’ve done really well with my mobility, I was up the day after surgery and am walking the corridor a few times a day, it’s very important to be mobile as laying still can cause fluid on your lungs and lead to infection. 

Tips for staying in hospital... the days are long! Be prepared, books, magazines, Netflix downloads, amazon prime video and all those can help pass time. Earplugs, a few pairs, wards are very noisy most of the time, eye mask, lights are never turned off! Nightie instead of pjs, I found wearing pjs wouldn’t be comfortable around my scars so nighties have been a blessing, short sleeved ones because you’re likely to have a few cannulas in at first. Comfy knickers with a soft low waist, again because of incisions I got bigger sizes because I’m quite swollen with all the fluids they give you, usual toiletries and a towel. I just brought one change of nighty and underwear and someone brings me fresh when visiting the following day. 

For me what happened on the day of surgery was I had to attend a waiting area at 7.30am, my hubby was allowed to stay because they had to secure the ICU bed but other people where not allowed to stay, I found this harsh for people going through major surgery but thought it worth mentioning because you need to be prepared if that’s what your hospital does.  Once it all got go ahead and intitial blood tests done I was given a gown and stockings and a bag to put my belongings in .  I felt surprised to be calm, I think we just surrender to the inevitable. I met with my surgeon and a few of the team and was told we’d be starting soon. After about 10 nervous wee’s a nurse came and walked me to theatre, all the team were there and so lovely and calming, I was told to get on the bed which had been warmed up for me and they started fiddling around attaching me to monitors, all chatting away and the nurse held my hand, after the cannuala was fitted I started to feel sleepy and the next thing I know is I’m waking up in ICU and they tell me al is ok and who will be looking after me. My family were allowed a brief visit but to b honest I don’t remember much of that night, I was given a morphine driver to press to keep pain at bay and whilst i wasn’t in agony I was a little uncomfortable, staff moved me a few times to stop me getting stiff. The next morning my husband came and surgeon to say all went well and that he’d expect me out in a week at most, before surgery he told me how important it was to move so that was in my mindset. I spent the majority of the day drifting in and out of sleep and having all stats taken, by the afternoon I was engaging in conversations with staff and was moved to a ward which is where the fun starts! Wards are always busy various staff coming to see patients of a morning, doctors rounds and tea and food and taking your stats every few hours, it’s busy but boring. I’m lucky to have been on a ward with some lovely women of all ages and the nursing staff are amazing. My second day I had the tube removed from my nose along with catheter and one of my drains making me more comfortable and we’re made to get out of bed first thing and not allowed back in until after afternoon visiting when we have a snooze then up again for a few hours, physio will visit and discuss getting you moving, you will have no problem doing so, I’m 46 and was very fit before my diagnosis and it’s been so beneficial, although many patients are older and are struggling but even then their strength to keep going is amazing. Believe me I can’t wait to get home and sleep properly but being in hospital doesn’t have to be a wholly negative experience, I’ve had a moment where I was upset and that was because they reduced my painkillers and I had a rough day but soon adjusted and was feeling better. I’m feeling stronger each day and should be home on Wednesday. There’s still a long way to go but I’ll get there and you will too. 

Goof luck, believe in yourself and have faith in your team xx

Hello,

thank you so very much for your brilliant message, it’s been so helpful, I went shopping yesterday with my mum and was able to get all of the things that you listed . I feel very organised and feel like I have a little bit of control (only a little bit ) . 

I am also going to really try and look at the surgery and hospital experience as a positive thing - I mean I am having the cancer removed so I should be thinking this way, just nervous I guess and I have never had any operations / surgery / anesthetic etc. 

I keep picturing travelling to London on the day of my surgery ... walking into theatre and I then find myself panicking  . It’s the unknown I guess! 

How are you doing ? I am so glad that you are actively well and recovered to leave hospital in good time. I am only little and am very active... I’ve been trying to put a little bit of weight on prior to my surgery as I have been told sometimes you can lose weight etc. 

Again, thank you so much !! 

Really enjoyed and appreciated your message. 

Jessie x x

Hi :) 

Glad you are getting all things needed for your hospital and surgery time. 

Think positive asn everything will be just fine :) Doctors know what they doing so you are in the good hands - I had C-section previously but was awake 100% of time then - surgery like I had with bowel was the first one under sleep I was scared but then I wanted to get cancer out :) 

I just checked my steps records I had second week after I came back home - so I was able to do about 3000 a day which is not bad I think hahaha 

obviously I was increasing it slowly - now I also do long walk plus 45 min on cross trainer a day (considering I wasn`t that much fit before surgery I think is really good as of now ;) ).

Few years ago a was a long distance runner - I`ve stopped like 6 years ago as there was no time between long travel to work and having baby and noone else to help so running had to stop - but when weather will start being more Spring like I want to try to get back to daily runs so fingers crossed. 

You are very young so I believe your recovery time will be very quick and you will get back to normal without having your eyes blinked :D

Have a wonderful weekend - I`ve just finished my work so I guess now hose cleaning time :) 

Chat me if you need anything :) 

Mal

Hi Jessie,

First of all I am sorry to hear you're going through this.  Horrendous at any time of life but moreso when you are so young.

I had a lung carcinoid removed a couple of years ago.  Anxious as anything.  Like you, I had never really had the whole operations and hospitals thing thankfully.  So it was all a very scary unknown.  However, the nurses, doctors and consultants alike were all absolutely amazing at trying to put me at ease.  They were also fabulous post op as well.

The keeping mobile tip is great as Mikeswife says a good walk along the corridor works wonders.  I felt it also gave me a certain amount of control.  Moreover, it was a social thing.  Everyone there has something in common so is an ice breaker.  I met some lovely lovely people on my journey.  For that I feel blessed. 

I also have a busy job, shift work, young kids at home, so actually used it as an opportunity to recharge a bit.  Although couldn't wait to get home to my family and bacl to work.

Finally, some good films to watch to pass the time!

I love that you see it as positive that you're having the cancer removed. 

Good luck and very besy wishes x