Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
General health

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Original poster

How well should a post op patient be before going home?

30 replies

FinnyStory · 22/08/2020 13:27

Me again, sorry!

DH had a kidney and large tumour removed on Weds. Conventional surgery, not key hole.

It took them two days to get his pain under control and he's now on a self administered Morpine drip. Still very sore but more comfortable. He still has a catheter in.

They've told him the catheter and morphine will be removed today, switching to intravenous paracetamol and that they hope to send him home tomorrow or Monday because the hospital is very busy. He was originally told he'd be in 7-10 days.

So far he has managed to move from the bed to the chair, which seemed like great progress to me, but he hasn't opened his bowels, eaten any solid food, had to walk to the toilet, had a shower. He's feeling nauseous and he can't reach his phone where it's charging and has to ask for help.

Obviously we'd like him home but he sounded like he wanted to cry at the prospect. There's no way he could get up the stairs, we have no downstairs bathroom (do have a tiny downstairs loo) or bedroom, or anywhere to put a bed downstairs.

No visitors so I can't see what state he's really in but after being surprisingly chipper yesterday he sounds awful today.

Is this the doctor just wishfully thinking he can free up a bed or will they really send him home in this state?

What do I need to do?

OP posts:
Squiffany · 22/08/2020 13:31

Well after a Caesarean section you would go home the next day.

I’m surprised they’d let him go home without opening his bowels though?

If he is —slightly— mobile, eating and drinking he will probably be happier at home tbh. Also, with Covid he will be safer at home rather than on a ward. Just make sure they give him decent pain relief to bring home.

Discuss your concerns with the hospital staff though.

MintyCedric · 22/08/2020 13:35

he hasn't opened his bowels, eaten any solid food, had to walk to the toilet

Last time I had surgery (keyhole to remove an ovary/tie my tubes) I had to do all of those things before they discharged me.

Admittedly I was doubled over like a little old lady and had only been conscious for about 3 hours, but still...

Have you explained the logistics at home to them?

Original poster
FinnyStory · 22/08/2020 13:38

No, no one at the hospital is talking to me, this is all coming via DH, I'm not allowed in the hospital.

OP posts:
MintyCedric · 22/08/2020 13:48

I'd suggest calling and speaking to someone on the ward...might it be that your DH has misinterpreted something if he's still quite unwell and on a lot of drugs?

You definitely need to have your mind put at rest and a chat to a senior nurse or doctor on Monday perhaps.

Its such a bugger these things always happen over the weekend. Hope you manage to get it sorted Flowers

premiumshoes · 22/08/2020 13:51

he hasn't opened his bowels, eaten any solid food, had to walk to the toilet, had a shower.

This is why they are 'hoping' to send him home rather than saying they will be sending him home.

AyeCorona1 · 22/08/2020 13:53

Deffo call up and speak to someone directly. My mum was off her face on liquid morphine!

JinglingHellsBells · 22/08/2020 20:12

He needs to be able to open his bowels, walk a small distance, and eat. Is he getting any kind of nursing/ physio help there to help him move about? He really needs to be up and moving to prevent blood clots. In all honestly, I doubt they will be concerned about no bed downstairs and would argue that you should have thought about that (I don't agree by the way!) He may also find it very hard to get in and out of a car to get home- how far away are you?

DianasLasso · 22/08/2020 20:19

Another one saying "call the hospital and talk to an HCP."

(The comparison with a C section is way off too! I've had both a C section and key-hole abdominal surgery - the C section was a breeze to get over compared to the key-home surgery. Apparently - so the surgeon told me - there's less stuff to cut your way through with a C section. And open abdominal surgery takes at least 3 times as long to get over as key hole.)

mineofuselessinformation · 22/08/2020 20:22

Definitely call the ward and ask to speak to his doctor.
If they can't speak then, ask for them to call you back. Express what your DH has said, and your concerns, which are very understandable.
It doesn't sound like he is ready to be discharged yet.

DianasLasso · 22/08/2020 20:48

BTW if he hasn't managed any solid food, make sure they check his potassium levels. Mine nose-dived after several days of not eating, I got dodgy heart rhythms and ended up an extra day in hospital on a potassium drip.

LittleMissnotLittleMrs · 22/08/2020 21:05

14 hour brain surgery - operated on from 10am Monday. Out of ICU by 12pm Tuesday. Discharged the following Monday. They would have discharged on the Friday but hadn’t got the discharge notes ready. No requirement to be able to walk or manage stairs. Never had to get dressed or get out of bed (so didn’t!). Only requirement was that I could make a cuppa with the right number of sugars in and make toast, oh and turn 360° (As slowly as I wanted!) It all seemed a bit quick tbh!

Trumpton · 22/08/2020 21:18

I had mastectomy with skin saving implant on the Tuesday . Discharged to taxi to airport hotel on thurs morning and flew home with wheelchair assistance and drains on Friday morning . Wheelchair from plane to car straight home into bed and 2 weeks isolation . I crawled up stairs and into bed.
Tbh I was so glad to get out of hospital it was worth it . Home felt safer and although I ended up in A&E with blocked drain ( agony) it was the right thing to do .
The main thing is to make sure there is a care plan in place .
The prescription they sent my dad home with years ago could not be filled by chemist only hospital pharmacy . That’s one to check .
Good luck .

BG2015 · 22/08/2020 21:39

My DP had his kidney and tumour removed on Monday morning at 9am. He was home by 2pm Tuesday.

No expectation to empty his bowels just urine output and to eat. He was given a bottle of lactulose and 4 blood thinning injections, no painkillers at all. We bought our own pain relief (cocodomol)

I think he's recovered much better at home. Our living room, bedroom and en-suite are all on the same floor so we're lucky in that respect. He lay on the bed for 2 days but has since switched between the bed and sofa. He's doing really well.

You must be so worried and frustrated that you can't see him.

JinglingHellsBells · 22/08/2020 21:56

Personally, I don't think that good practice @BG2015.
Most hospitals won' t allow anyone who has had a major op to leave without bowel activity because they need to know that the whole digestive system is working after a GA and that there isn't any blockage. After a kidney removal all the intestines have to realign to fill the space and find a new position, so it's essential they are in working order.

Original poster
FinnyStory · 22/08/2020 22:04

@BG2015

My DP had his kidney and tumour removed on Monday morning at 9am. He was home by 2pm Tuesday.

No expectation to empty his bowels just urine output and to eat. He was given a bottle of lactulose and 4 blood thinning injections, no painkillers at all. We bought our own pain relief (cocodomol)

I think he's recovered much better at home. Our living room, bedroom and en-suite are all on the same floor so we're lucky in that respect. He lay on the bed for 2 days but has since switched between the bed and sofa. He's doing really well.

You must be so worried and frustrated that you can't see him.

Was that keyhole surgery though?

DH's tumour had invaded (?) the main vein to the heart so a vascular surgeon was involved too. He was in surgery for 8 hours, they were very clear beforehand that this was a major operation (the biggest they do in the dept) with a long recovery and would need at least a week in hospital.

It seems the ward doctor wants the bed but the surgeon has other ideas. No idea who holds the power!

OP posts:
BG2015 · 22/08/2020 22:07

Funnily enough we were talking to my parents about this. My dad has had 2 knee replacements, prostate removal and a couple of other surgeries and he's said he was told that hospitals don't expect you to open your bowels anymore after surgery.

I too had a hysterectomy in 2017 and was only in hospital for 24 hours, I didn't open my bowels and if I'd had to stay in for that reason I'd probably still be there!

DP opened his bowels this morning so I suppose taking up a bed for 6 days just because you haven't been for a pooh isn't the best use of NHS funds.

BG2015 · 22/08/2020 22:10

Finny he's got a largish incision under his bellybutton where they removed the kidney but 4 other smaller incisions too so I don't know if it's classed as key hole or not?

Obviously your DH surgery is much more serious hence why he's still in hospital. I know my DP said he would have preferred to stay in another night. I think he was scared of the pain.

Hope you get some answers.

Original poster
FinnyStory · 22/08/2020 22:17

DH's incision is apparently 27cm Shock

Yes it's keyhole if there are multiple "holes" but obviously one of them needs to big enough to get the thing out.

It's the prospect of giving up his morphine pump that's bothering him most I think.

OP posts:
missyB1 · 22/08/2020 22:31

You need to speak to the nurse in charge of the ward. Tell them your dh’s concerns and your own. Ask if possible could one of the medical team speak to you.
It’s no use anyone else comparing their experiences because every patient is different and will recover in their own time. And yes there is constant pressure on medical teams to discharge patients to free up beds. My dh is a consultant and he gets emails from management every day urging him to discharge as many patients as possible. It infuriates him!

BG2015 · 22/08/2020 22:33

When you go to fetch him, take some pillows for the journey home in the car. My DP felt every bump. I'd get him upstairs and make him lie on the bed for a week. As long as he's got access to a toilet and bathroom. The DR told my DP to do nothing.

My DP and I just lay on our bed watching TV and reading. I had to help him get out of bed as he couldn't manage on his own. I don't think he realised how hard it would be.

Maybe they will give him some much stronger painkillers.

Emrysmcdogface · 23/08/2020 07:20

In our trust there are discharge nurses, who can assess on issues you've raised.

We also have volunteer team who can be asked to go into the home to move furniture to create bed space downstairs if needed. We are now back providing the service after pausing at the height of lockdown...

JinglingHellsBells · 23/08/2020 10:51

@FinnyStory That's a big incision! Someone I know had this done and their keyhole incision was about 6 to 7 cms, with 2 smaller ones of 1cm for the instruments and drain. The usual size for a full incision on the side/ back is between 9-12 inches ( up to 30cms.)

JinglingHellsBells · 23/08/2020 10:55

@BG2015 I'm not sure that lying on the bed all day is the best advice. Someone I know who had this done was told to keep moving a) to avoid blood clots and b) to stop muscle wastage. They were made to get out of bed within hours of the operation, and also given surgical stockings to wear at home for 2 weeks. This was a top London hospital.

Original poster
FinnyStory · 23/08/2020 10:55

Well, he's coming home today. They switched to paracetamol last night and he says he feels 100 times better for it. Took the catheter out yesterday and he's been up and down for the loo all night Grin

Sounds a completely different person this morning, able to walk around and is looking forward to coming home.

I'm just amazed by the whole thing. The fact that the surgery is even possible, the care he's had, the level of attention to detail and the rate of recovery (so far, obviously a long way to go)

OP posts:
Original poster
FinnyStory · 23/08/2020 10:56

Yes, I understood advice is usually to keep mobile, that's what DH has been told.

OP posts:
Swipe left for the next trending thread