5 days to surgery ....

ok .. so now my surgery date is coming closer and closer I'm getting terrified :(
Ughhh .... I have SO much support and everyone is optimistic around me but I feel like I got rolled over by a truck right now.
I'm tapering my prednisone right now and on 25 and am feeling the tiredness, can't wake u in the morning, mucous in my stool .... I just can't wait for all this to go away already.

scared $hitless ... no pun intended

uc-kp
I hate the tapering process. I am going through that also. I am down to 15mg. Think of it this way... no more pred after you finish this taper. No more medications for UC.....

Try to focus on getting your hospital goodies together. Try to enjoy the days before surgery and getting your house in order.

My suggestions for home:
Get a heating pad- your back might very well hurt post op and it also helps with the gas pains

Get bottled water and ice pops for home. These helped me to keep hydrated.

Extra Pillows

Baby wipes to clean the inside of the ostomy bag

Water bottle to rinse out bag when you empty



These are just some things that I have learned in the past two weeks since my surgery.

uc-kp thanks. Not even packed my bag yet (oh dear running out of time) just packed the usual toiletries, some anti-bac wipes so I can wipe round my bed, etc, and some gel for my hands. Been told to take nighties instead of pjs, got my i-pod with me loaded up with some chillin music, also some magazines cos I've heard u cant concentrate to read a book. Also taking lots of good luck wishes from my family and friends (going to keep that with me at all times!). My 12 year old daughter gave me a card today with such a wonderful message on it that she had written so will def be bringing that in with me.

No bowel prep to take before I go in, but they have told me I will have an enema the night before and then the morning of surgery (nice!), but at least it will be the last enema EVER.

Which op are you having? I know I have left everything to the last minute thinking theres no point in doing it to soon and know I seem to have run out of time! Off to finish vacuuming (last time I do that for a while as well!). x

chelebel-you wipe the bed too? that's awesome! everyone always makes fun of me for doing that! do you clean the remote and stuff? and do you do it when you go to hotels?

uc-kp-this is the best way to get through the next couple of days...say to yourself, "this is the last thursday i will ever have to deal with this disease!" "this is the last episode of Lost (if you watch that) i will ever have to worry about missing because of this disease"
And keep that Pro and Con list on you at all times!

RE: prednisone

It's a drug with a double edged sword. you really need to be careful getting off of it.. Once I got down to 10mg, my doctor took me off it one MG at at time per week..

The first day I was off it.. 3 months after surgery.. I got a pizza and celebrated :)

Good luck !!

Just dropping by this thread to wish all of you going into surgery soon the BEST. No one has lied to you about post surgical pain... that is a given. But it CAN be controlled. Speak up and let them know if it isn't. Speak Loudly if you have to. Some of us were in so much pain before surgery that it takes a little extra boost to get it under control initially - does that make sense? Once you are under control... MOVE, walk, sit in the chair. It helps the overall healing process, as much of a pain that it can be and probably will be the first couple of times. Just hang in there, or as my hubby tells me, Just Suck it up - it will pass!!! Again, I have been in the new shoes you all are about to try on for the first time. It will be sooooo worth it to be healthy and actually living your OWN life again not controlled by the disease.

It would be nice to hear back from you all just as soon as you can, esp if you can take your laptop with you. We'll understand if the first message doesn't make a lot of sense -= pain meds and all!!! Or have a family member or friend log on and update us if you cannot.

I wish you all the best. Keep your chin up, and Keep a Positive Attitude. You all will be experiencing new things in the upcoming weeks. It's just a learning process and you can do it and will be mighty thankful that you did once you recuperate.

Best of luck !!!!!!!
We're all in His great hands.