Surgery Tomorrow

[debbei]

Hi Jimbo,

I'm glad to read your update--you have been on my mind. I'm sorry that the surgeon found surprises in there. HOpefully you won't need additional surgery.

I agree that too many visitors is tiring in the hospital--and even once you're home. I remember once I was home, people would come to visit and if I was too tired, I'd say I had to take a nap while they were still there.

It's all about what you need now. Take care of yourself, and keep us posted.

[loves to skate]

Hi Jimbo,
Congrats on being on the other side. It is tough for awhile, but does get better. Aren't you the lucky one with good food and all in the hospital. Good food definitely will help in the healing process. Take care, you are in my prayers.
Sally

[mbeckoff]

Hi Jimbo

Great News on getting thru your surgery

Sounds like you are making a good recovery

Melissa

[JenniferG]

Hi Jimbo,
Just echoing other's replies. Great to hear from you, you were in my thoughts for days, wondering how it went. Looking forward to seeing your x-rays. Sorry to hear about the complications but this will sort itself out.

Meantime I'm glad to hear you're walking so well, because that's sooo good for you. That plus sleep plus good food, is exactly what you need right now.

Hang in there, you're on the side now where it can only get better.

[ADMoul]

Great to hear from you and that you can at least eat, shower and walk. I am 3 days away from my surgery and hanging on to every word (good and bad) from the newest post-ops. Hang in there, rest and let yourself be pampered. We're all pulling for you.

[Doodles]

Aren't you thrilled to be on this side? Plus you know it basically gets a little better every day. Congratulations on this success, take care, and get tons of rest. Janet

[JenniferG]

Jimbo, I see elsewhere you are in bad pain in hospital. I went through a time like that in hospital. The meds never seemed to be enough, and I was calling for morphine injections before my next lot were due. That went on for two weeks and they wouldn't let me home until I'd gone 12 hours without that extra morphine needle. Finally, on day 19, I was allowed home and I went, filled with trepidation at what would happen to me in the night, being unable to call for that needle when it became unbearable and my meds weren't due. Turns out, the minute I got into my own bed, my spine relaxed totally, and I absolutely KNEW I was going to be ok. And I was. My bed was so much more comfy than the hospital bed and I was so happy to be home, I wished I'd come home a fortnight earlier. It might have saved a lot of pain.

And sleep! No noise or interruptions, it was wonderful. I hope you have a comfy bed waiting for you. It makes a huge difference.

Once home, my oral meds were enough to keep the pain at bay. I blame a very hard hospital bed with lumps and valleys whereas at home my bed was flat and with a foam topper to sink into. Plus that psychological thing of making it to the comfort of your own home.

I hope your pain is sorted, one way or another, very soon.

[titaniumed]

Jimbo

You hang in there. Let us know when they release you from the hospital and go home.

Laying on the incision site is sure is tricky in the beginning.... The foam topper helps with that issue.

Take care
Ed

[Jimbo]

i am feeling much better today. I walked nearly 1km without my walker!!

But then the bowel pain started again, oh dear that is so bad. my belly swollen right up. they enema'd me, I held it in for 1/2 hour, eeck. I then let it rip and it helped. I was then given a yellow viscous goo to drink and I ran, gown fluttering behind my exposed buttocks, to the bathroom and exploded like a can of baked beans in a fire xD

That was a few hours ago now. I went to for another walk to maternity walk to see the wee ones

I was transferred into a MASSIVE room all by myself. I swear it is the size of a large hotel room. I think they thought I needed a little gift as I was having it very rough.

I have cut down to half my oral morphine tablets and am more relying on COX 2's and valium.

I am still quite concerned about my bowel though. There is still no peristalsis and I fart constantly. Kinda sucks. I just dont want that pain to return and my bowels to return to normal!! anyone know how long it could take?

[JenniferG]

Good to hear the news of your big improvement Jimbo, I was still cringing about your pain.

Sounds like you are doing just fine now. Regarding the big BM, I think it's different for everyone so impossible to advise. I think for me, it was around the 3 week mark that I became regular again. The walking you're doing should help. Meantime, fart away! (Easy for me to say now - at the time I was dying of embarrassment!)

Just for my own curiosity...when did they put you on solid food? I had it from day 2 or 3 (fuzzy) and I think it was too early because I didn't have a BM for 9 days. I think it turned to concrete because nothing was moving in there. Get someone to bring you in a box of Nulax. It was the only thing that worked for me, but don't have too much. (I didn't read the instructions, just hoed in, then damn near exploded.)

[Jimbo]

JenniferG I was put on solid food the day after my op

[JenniferG]

Ah! Then I have this theory, based on nothing more than my own experience and a hunch. It's too soon to be having anything more than liquid foods - clear soups etc, because our gut hasn't yet awoken and got moving again. My surgeon gave me the ok to eat a full diet, but I think he was wrong in this one instance. Too late now, but I wonder if this isn't the reason why you're having problems. Regardless, it does normalise before too long - usually just before you think you're going to die from it!

[Vali]

Jimbo, I was only allowed to eat yoghurt, clear soups and stewed fruit. The Head Nurse said 'no full diet until we hear bowel sounds', however i needed some substance to be able to walk my first steps,so....drastic times call for drastic measures... i asked for a 'Fruit Box' uugghh and some prunes.. it worked..day 3 post-op... relief! I did strike problems when i got home and our Pharmacist said that i should take one Coloxyl tablet everynight at bedtime while i'm on the Endone and this worked. Day 15 post-op, i came off all pain meds and started adding Flaxseed Meal to my Protein shakes and regularity came back real fast! Best wishes to you, apart from some steps back, you seem to be moving forward quickly.