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Surgery in a month...some questiong about preparing

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Posted 10/5/2011 6:41 PM (GMT 0)
Hi all,

I've got my surgery in about a month, and while the days seem to drag by right now, I know it will be here before I know it. The waiting is really hard and I've been doing lots of staring into space and tv watching these last few days and I'd like to be more productive. I figured I'd start getting things ready for surgery. I thought of a couple of questions and was hoping maybe someone will have some advice:

-what did you bring to the hospital? Is it worth bringing shower stuff or do they not let you shower while you're there?

-How long after your surgery did you start to wear regular clothes again? It will be colder out when I have my surgery, and I haven't worn jeans comfortably in a couple of years due to my distended stomach. I am hoping the surgery will remedy that. I know I should expect some swelling...but for the most part, if you had bloating before, did the surgery help it go away? I really want to throw away all of my "pregnant looking stomach" clothes.

-I currently bloat to where I look pregnant after eating. I could eat a sandwich or something small like a couple of crackers and I look and feel like I just overdid it at Thanksgiving. It really never goes away until I can clear out my bowels. Did anyone else ever have this, and did you feel better after surgery?

Just looking forward to feeling better.
Posted 10/5/2011 9:27 PM (GMT 0)
Hey Alibee.. really glad to hear you're getting sorted finally. If I remember rightly you're having a total colectomy but no ileostomy? is that right? In answer to your questions..

Yes you should be able to shower after a day or so.. take some nice fresh smelling stuff! that first shower is heaven

If you're having laparascopic surgery, you'll be bloated with the gas they pump into you. It can be pretty uncomfortable and lasts at least 5 days. You'll still look and feel pregnant. BUT it won't last hopefully. Hang onto those 'pregnancy' clothes for now as even when you leave hospital you'll still be very bloated and swollen and sore. Loose tops and stretchy jog pants etc.

I know exactly what you mean about jeans - I was the same for about 14 months before my surgery.. could only wear leggings, jog pants and smocks! guess what I'm sitting here wearing??? a pair of tight skinny jeans ;-))) and you will too.. in time. But not straight away. I was also the same after eating.. felt and looked 8 monnths pregnant all the time. Horrible! Not now though :-)) it's wonderful.

Give yourself plenty of time and don't expect to wake up without the bloating. It will go eventually though. You won't want to eat straight away either.. start with tiny amounts of things like jelly, custard etc and after a day or so, move onto slightly more solid stuff. But take it very slowly.

I didn't have a total colectomy so I don't know for sure how that feels, but I've had 4 surgeries over the last year all very different experiences.

I'm now 10 weeks post surgery and just back home from a 5 mile run with my running club!

Good luck and keep us all posted. Do lots of things to keep your mind off things over the next few weeks - the waiting is tough.
Posted 10/5/2011 9:47 PM (GMT 0)
Some stuff to bring to the hospital:

Your own slippers and maybe robe, pajamas (I had so many tubes etc that I was in a johnny the whole time after surgery) You'll want to walk, walk, walk, when you can, good to wear something more substantial than hospital socks. Warm socks.

Toiletries (even if it's a sponge bath, nice to use your own stuff), air freshener you like (output is nasty first few days), and deodorizer for the pouch (maybe can get at the hospital, but 9 or hydrogen peroxide work best, and they didn't have them when I was there), lip balm, lotion (very dry in hospital)

Something for music and/or videos, headphones and charger. Ear plugs and eye mask. Some little things from loved ones....

I wore fleece pants for a while after my surgery...but I like them.... took me two months to wear jeans, but I probably could have a bit earlier

good luck!
Posted 10/6/2011 4:03 AM (GMT 0)
I just answered a post to Ju330 with some info you might also find useful.

Definitely you want loose comfortable stuff to have in the hospital and for the trip home as you will be tender from the surgery.

Once you are off the various tubes/drains you can shower. As a girl you will want to bring some of your stuff...hubby didn't care...lol.
Posted 10/6/2011 10:13 AM (GMT 0)
I was nervous at first about wearing tighter fitting clothes so I went for the elastic wasted pants, they were very comfortable, but a few months after surgery I was happy to wear my firmer fitting jeans, shorts etc. Definately bring along your own toiletries its always much nicer to have your own, I also bought my favorite perfume with me as I love to smell good all the time, and every time someone walked in the room they always commented on how nice it smelled :-). My beautiful neice also bought me a cute Teddy Bear that I had by my bedside table. Also if you have a lap top bring that along too also don't forget your phone charger. The hospital supplied me all my ostomy needs including deordorizers but I am in Australia and not sure if its different where you are. I had a shower the next morning after surgery as I felt pretty good. Good Luck and let us know how your going, take care
Doreen
Posted 10/6/2011 5:51 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks so much everyone - I was so ready to get rid of them but I'll hang onto my looser clothes for a bit longer. Sarah, you are right - I'm having a total colectomy but they are reconnecting, so no ileostomy. Right now I am just living in elastic waist running shorts and sweatshirts! I walk/jog most days so I can kind of get away with it but when the cold weather comes I look ridiculous. So I hope by Christmas time I can be comfortable in normal clothes, that is my wish!

Thanks for the advice everyone, it's great to have a place to come when I need advice like this :)
Posted 10/6/2011 6:05 PM (GMT 0)
hi Ali,

i know how hard the waiting part is, but hang in there, it will come soon!

things to bring to the hospital:

- magazines, i pod, cell phone.
- toothbrush, toothpaste, brush, shampoo, hair softener, a small towel.
- comfortable clothes for when you get discharged.
- diappers, just in case, cuz for some the first bms are not controled. the hospital's ones are so uncomfortable. i bought me a pack of diappers that are worn like underwear and were very comfy.
- baby wipes - when you start going to the b/r, you'll be going a LOT, you're bumm gets irritated and TP is just not gentle enough, so you'll need wipes.
- some kind of butt cream, to treat the irritation from going so much.
- slippers.
- a jacket/sweater and some socks - it sometimes can get really cold in those hospital wards.
- some ppl bring their own pillow.
- after you can drink on your own, make sure you bring a big bottle to fill it with water and put it next to your bed. when they take you off of the iv and you start going a lot, you have to drink lots of water so you wont get dehydrated.

i showered next day after surgery. no problem even with all the tubes - iv, catheter and ng. when i developed the infection at the surgical cut, i was told to shower 3x day. so not only they let you shower, but it's recommended.

after a surgery like that you get swollen. i had real bad edema. i was over loaded with fluids all over, about 40 lbs of only fluids. my legs were like two thick trunks. i wore the hospital's pajames the whole hosp stay. the sewlling started to go down 2 weeks after surgery and was completely down by 3 weeks after.

i get a bit bloated only if i pig out lol. but usually i don't and as long as i eat normally, i don't get bloated. having your large intestine removed doesn't mean you can eat more than ppl with a colon. we still have to eat with reasonable limits. if i don't watch what i eat, i'll gain like crazy.

feel free to ask any further questions!!
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