Last minute tips for ileocecetomy (6am Dec 6)

[BayAreaChronie]

So this forum has been super helpful.
Probably read around 50 different threads by now.

With all the tips going around, have any really helped or hurt?

A few a could think of but any tips you think would be helpful to mention that usually have not been discussed:

Did you eat before surgery or go on a liquid diet the day before - I was informed I can eat anything until the last few hours before surgery - seems like this would lead to full bowels that could complicate things?

Did you rush to eat soft food like Doc's try and recommend to start the digestive track working harder - or did you try to go as slow as possible to avoid irritation?

Did you press a pillow against your stomach when getting up or going to the bathroom?

Did you rest on your back with an angle so you are not entirely flat?

Tip on how to move around - get out of bed - to reduce pain and future hernia.

Do you do anything with the Catheter or is it always running until the nurses remove it? Is it pretty visible or is it safe to bring young relatives to the hospital with it on and covered?

Did it hurt the fast time you could go to the bathroom on your own - urinate or otherwise?

Any flight pain after surgery?

If you were trying to go Gluten or Dairy Free or on a special diet like SCD, what did you eat after the operation for soft foods, or did you go back to eating normally until you felt better to restart your special diets?

Advise on surgery scars? They recommend to not wash or add creams. Did you use a antibacterial bandaid, moisturizer, or just let it be dry?

Anything you guys an think of in general would be great advice. Read a lot and had questions answered on the pain, possible permanent diarrhea, stay time, etc.

 

[UnXmas]

I haven't had the same surgery, but I can give some answers about surgery in general.

Did you eat before surgery or go on a liquid diet the day before - I was informed I can eat anything until the last few hours before surgery - seems like this would lead to full bowels that could complicate things?

The main reason not to eat before surgery is because you are at risk of vomiting while under anaesthetic, and while unconscious is can go into your lungs. (Hopefully I understood this right!) I've never gone on a liquid diet, as I've never been advised to do so my doctors. Not eating (or drinking) on the day of the surgery is the most important thing.

Did you rush to eat soft food like Doc's try and recommend to start the digestive track working harder - or did you try to go as slow as possible to avoid irritation?

I find soft foods better for me anyway. You don't want foods which are difficult to digest irritating the intestines in the places you have been operated on. This usually involves avoiding fibre. But doctors will usually give you advice specific to your surgery.

Tip on how to move around - get out of bed - to reduce pain and future hernia.

Get a nurse to help you get out of bed. After my ostomy surgery I was told to hold my stomach when I cough or sneeze to help avoid a hernia. After abdominal surgery you'll be desperately trying not to cough or sneeze anyway.

Do you do anything with the Catheter or is it always running until the nurses remove it? Is it pretty visible or is it safe to bring young relatives to the hospital with it on and covered?

The nurses will tell you what to do with the catheter, and they'll probably be following the advice of your doctor. To be honest, if you're worried about young relatives seeing things that are gross or disturbing, bringing them onto a hospital ward at all is not a good idea. However, the hospitals I've been in have day rooms, lounges, cafes, etc. so if you're well enough to get out of bed and don't want your relatives to have to face the realities of a hospital ward, you might be able to meet them off the ward.