Preparing for possible surgery

[bowelpain]

I am finding out on thursday if i need bowel surgery. If i do its possible i am admitted there and then. Obviously need a degree of preparation in case this happens. However, i dont want to spiral in case it doesnt.

Any ideas of items which are useful for hosp but not a waste if all is ok?

Endoscopic balloon dilation? Is it a stricture?

Meeting will be the MDT where all the different disciplines discuss your case and decide the best way forward for you.

Is there a reason that keyhole isn't an option? That's the usual preference if surgery is required.

Yes its an MBD. They didnt really say what it was more that its not cancer. @gapattachment The consultant said he generally does keywhole but things are too close to a major bloodvesil at the mid line.

Ah I see. It's a shame they're leaving you in the dark but good they've told you they're not concerned about cancer.

I just wondered if it was a stricture (narrowing of your bowel due to scar tissue or inflammation) because off the top of my head I couldn't think what else could potentially be treated by endoscopy and open surgery.

Fingers crossed you get a positive update from them soon about the way forward.

@gapattachment I now have a bit more info. I have a sharp fish bone that is stuck in the bowel. I dont know when i have swolloed this They say its possible its been there for a while.

I was due tohave the colonoscopy on thursday. However became unwell on nonday night and was admitted on tuesday with a localised perferation they did the surgery yesterday morning.

Thankfully they did it key whole am feeling rubbish with the infection but on iv antibiotics and pain being managed

Sorry to hear you became unwell, hope you are on the mend now.

I am currently in hospital & the thing I have been most glad of during recovery has been my wireless headphones & Netflix & Borrowbox on my phone!

@bowelpain a stuck fishbone , you poor thing.
Thank goodness that bits over . You can recover now and get home!!
Good luck xx

My two pennyworth for aqanyone reading and looking for tips
I found the long charger lead hard to manage , found it got tangled up .
Wish I had taken a power bank with inbuilt connector leads.
Surgery involving the torso makes getting in and out of bed a challenge even when home.
A bed lever or even a rope fixed to end of bed helps.
Not all hospital food is t rubbish - big shout out to St Thomas's in London.
I think they have mini kitchen facilities on /near wards so not everything delivered from a central kitchen. Even ice makers to make the fortisip and fortijuice drinkable.

https://www.completecareshop.co.uk/bedroom-aids/safety-rails/grab-safety-rails/folding-easy-fit-bed-rail?sku=P42809&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwyL24BhCtARIsALo0fSCzjk_s2nbJqXp2F8J_JJFgiwlcS-x2YGhPiQWTjBcDxw4a99Ts7tEaAnI0EALw_wcB

Oh , and if your phone , like mine , is too clever for it's own good, and has learnt when you normally charge it , you might want to adjust it's settings so that it charges at any time .

Sorry you're feeling rubbish but glad you could have keyhole surgery and are on the mend.

The early hours and days do feel rubbish but hopefully you will start to notice small signs of progress in the coming days. Your body's done the hard part, it gets easier from here.

Take it easy 💐

Thanks all. I have been home for about a week now. Its amazing how much less pain relief have needed at home. Am able to move arround fine but interspearce activity with rest.
Eating has been difficult just dont feel hungry.
Also get pain when i open my bowels despite everything being soft.

@Onagoldenautumnday i had a long charging wire witgh me but one of the nurses taped it to the bed which was useful.

Thanks for the tip on charging the phone being too clever for its own good was a thing i noticed.
Agree a powerbank is helpful especially when There arent enough plugs.

@bowelpain what a pathetic person I am ,I feel ridiculously pleased that you've acknowledged my post 🙅.
So thank you for taking the time!
I do hope you're soon feeling even better.
Don't hesitate to tell someone if you have concerns. A stuck fishbone sounds so unusual and the infection a worry.

@Onagoldenautumnday glad that it made you feel good to have the post acknowledged. Its the least i can do when you took the time to share experiences.

Yes am feelng a bit shaken from the whole experience. I honestly don't know when this happened and all the drs have said super unusual. Fortunately iv antibiotics managed the infection.

I am finding eating tough not sure how much this is psychological and how much bowel not being used to food.

I think general anesthetic can also suppress appetite.
Eat little and often is always the advice, and I'm sure you're doing that.
Feel better soon

It took me weeks after my surgery to get my appetite back. I also had keyhole surgery and put it down to them pumping air into my abdomen as part of the process.

Thanks @Willowkins I have had keyhole gynae surgery before but didnt notice the affect on appetite. I wonder if the digestive system takes longer to send the right signals. I.can literaly have a boiled egg and mint tea in the morning and nothing for the remainder of the day if I dont force myself to

People keep saying itsa good diet but dont think promotes healing.

Am taking a multi vitamin and focusing on protein.

Best thing you can do is eat top notch protein this makes your body easier to heal when it was me I ate eggs for breakfast lentil soup for lunch and steak for dinner