Post recovery from LAP rectal surgery, ileostomy

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ocstacy
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Post recovery from LAP rectal surgery, ileostomy

Postby ocstacy » Sat Oct 28, 2017 10:46 am

Hi all,

I posted a similar thread a few days ago and it got deleted somehow so I am posting again. My mother had 3D LAP rectal surgery with temp ileostomy on August 17th and was in the hospital for 6-7 days. I am seeking some advice on this thread to other's who have this similar surgery. This was my mom's first surgery and I do not expect her to bounce right back after a long and extensive surgery. Post surgery she did okay in the hospital. She stayed Tues-Mon (6-7 days total) The nurses at the hospital managed her pain meds daily, and her pain was well controlled and she had somewhat an appetite with healthy output. Shortly after discharge, while at my home healing, her appetite decreased a lot and I do believe it's from the medication. She was taking Oxycodone every so often and Tylenol 600 mg every 4-6 hours. I think the Oxy is too strong for her, makes her have no appetite which makes it hard for her to eat and drink fluids. She almost became dehydrated due to not drinking or eating and almost had to take her to the E.R. I had her drink a few glasses of Gatorade and that seem to have helped her with feeling better. The night before she became dehydrated I had her take 1 Ativan so she could get some rest. She ended up sleeping okay but I think it made her more sick. Home health nurse comes twice a week, physical therapist two times per week. She will get a reversal in 5-6 months. I get worried about my mom cause I know she is in pain still. Her abdomen is very swollen, almost looks like a possible hernia, but the nurse mentioned that it will go down soon. First it was her Butt in pain, now it's the ileostomy site.

Here are my questions:

1. How long did it take you to recover from LAP surgery?
2. What med did you take to control pain?
3. Her ileostomy site is pretty swollen still, gassy, she fears of a hernia. It's hard for her to eat, less appetite, is this all normal? She complains that when she swallows food, it sort of hurts going down. Anyhow, any advice would be great! It's been a very stressful, emotional week and I am experiencing caregiver burn out. My aunt is going to stay with my mom and care for her for a week so i can take a much needed vacation with my husband. Although, I feel awful for leaving my mom, I know that she will be in good hands.
Last edited by ocstacy on Sun Oct 29, 2017 3:48 am, edited 1 time in total.
Caregiver/daughter to dear mother age 78, dx 5/09/17 because of me!! :wink:
Rectal CA Stage 3 low-grade adenocarcinoma- 6 cm
Neoadjuvant start 7/10/17 ended 08/16/17
3D Lap. surgery @ Keck USC, Dr. Sang Lee 10/17/17 temp ileostomy
11/1 hospitalized abscess/hernia - home 11/06/17 antibiotics
NO LYMPHS INVOLVED! NEAR PATHOLOGICAL RESPONSE! YAY! :shock:
Took her last chemo med 05/10/18! Ileo reversal 07/24/18
1st BM after reversal 07/25/18 Anal Fissure 8/15/18
Me:1st Colonoscopy age 38. 08/17 Benign polp.

NHMike
Posts: 2555
Joined: Fri Jul 21, 2017 3:43 am

Re: Post recovery from LAP rectal surgery, ileostomy

Postby NHMike » Sat Oct 28, 2017 11:52 am

Hello Stacy,

From the accounts that I've read, four days is normal and that's my planned stay time in the hospital next week. I know three people that had it done in the past month. One was in for five or six days because of some complications and the other two were in for four. One of the people that stayed for four days is an older person and her recovery at home is slower.

My understanding is that the pain meds that they give you can cause constipation. Dehydration is a risk - they recommend drinking a lot of water.
6/17: ER rectal bleeding; Colonoscopy
7/17: 3B rectal. T3N1bM0. 5.2 4.5 4.3 cm. Lymphs: 6 x 4 mm, 8 x 6, 5 x 5
7/17-9/17: Xeloda radiation
7/5: CEA 2.7; 8/16: 1.9; 11/30: 0.6; 12/20 1.4; 1/10 1.8; 1/31 2.2; 2/28 2.6; 4/10 2.8; 5/1 2.8; 5/29 3.2; 7/13 4.5; 8/9 2.8, 2/12 1.2
MSS, KRAS G12D
10/17: 2.7 2.2 1.6 cm (-90%). Lymphs: 3 x 3 mm (-62.5%), 4 x 3 (-75%), 5 x 3 (-40%). 5.1 CM from AV
10/17: LAR, Temp Ileostomy, Path Complete Response
CapeOx (8) 12/17-6/18
7/18: Reversal, Port Removal
2/19: Clean CT

Aqx99
Posts: 403
Joined: Fri Mar 31, 2017 7:28 am
Facebook Username: aqx99
Location: Pfafftown, NC

Re: Post recovery from LAP rectal surgery, ileostomy

Postby Aqx99 » Sat Oct 28, 2017 1:23 pm

My surgeon wrote me out of work for a month following my surgery. He said that was what he normally did, though he could have extended it if I had needed it. I probably could have gone back in sooner, but I was grateful for the extra recovery time.

I used hydrocodone to control my pain for the first few days at home, then basically did not need anything after that. My main problem after surgery was getting my abdominal strength back. I couldn't get up off the couch or out of bed without help for the first 10 days or so.

It takes a while for the ileostomy to settle down after surgery. It will change is size and shape because it is a fresh surgical wound. Measuring it every pouch change can help prevent issues with cutting the hole in the wafer the wrong size. Skipping meals makes the ileostomy gassier. Her body will continue to produce digestive juices whether she eats or not. If they have nothing to digest, they are going to make her gassy. If she is afraid of a hernia, have her keep a pillow nearby at all times. If she needs to cough or sneeze, she can press it against her belly. I was afraid of getting a hernia at first, as well. It's kind of hard not to when you have a piece of your intestine sticking out of your body. After a while I realized that as long as I listened to my body, and didn't push myself, I had nothing to worry about. I'm back at work full-time as a water treatment plant operator and have not had a single problem.

When I was first home, I found that I felt full very easily when eating. A half a sandwich felt like Thanksgiving dinner at times. Many small meals, chewed very well, throughout the day is best. I ate about 6 small meals a day.
Anne, 40
Stage IIIB Rectal Cancer
T3N1bM0
2/21/17 Dx, Age 39
2/21/17 CEA 0.9
3/23/17 - 5/2/17 Chemoradiation, 28 treatments
6/14/17 Robotic LAR w/temp loop ileostomy, ovaries & fallopian tubes removed, 2/21 lymph nodes positive
7/24/17 - 12/18/17 CapeOx, 6 Cycles
7/24/17 Dx w/ovarian cancer
9/6/17 CA 125 11.1
11/27/17 CEA 2.6
12/5/17 CT NED
12/13/17 CEA 2.9
1/11/18 CA 125 8.6
1/23/18 Reversal
3/21/18 CT enlarged thymus
4/6/18 PET NED
7/10/18 CT NED
7/11/18 CEA 2.6
9/18 Bilateral Prophylactic Mastectomy

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ocstacy
Posts: 264
Joined: Mon Jun 19, 2017 11:29 pm
Facebook Username: stacy

Re: Post recovery from LAP rectal surgery, ileostomy

Postby ocstacy » Sun Oct 29, 2017 11:23 pm

If she is afraid of a hernia, have her keep a pillow nearby at all times. If she needs to cough or sneeze, she can press it against her belly. I was afraid of getting a hernia at first, as well. It's kind of hard not to when you have a piece of your intestine sticking out of your body. After a while I realized that as long as I listened to my body, and didn't push myself, I had nothing to worry about. I'm back at work full-time as a water treatment plant operator and have not had a single problem.


Thank you Anne! That's great that you are working full time. My mom is taking longer to recover than normal. :-(
Caregiver/daughter to dear mother age 78, dx 5/09/17 because of me!! :wink:
Rectal CA Stage 3 low-grade adenocarcinoma- 6 cm
Neoadjuvant start 7/10/17 ended 08/16/17
3D Lap. surgery @ Keck USC, Dr. Sang Lee 10/17/17 temp ileostomy
11/1 hospitalized abscess/hernia - home 11/06/17 antibiotics
NO LYMPHS INVOLVED! NEAR PATHOLOGICAL RESPONSE! YAY! :shock:
Took her last chemo med 05/10/18! Ileo reversal 07/24/18
1st BM after reversal 07/25/18 Anal Fissure 8/15/18
Me:1st Colonoscopy age 38. 08/17 Benign polp.

Aqx99
Posts: 403
Joined: Fri Mar 31, 2017 7:28 am
Facebook Username: aqx99
Location: Pfafftown, NC

Re: Post recovery from LAP rectal surgery, ileostomy

Postby Aqx99 » Mon Oct 30, 2017 7:37 am

ocstacy wrote:
If she is afraid of a hernia, have her keep a pillow nearby at all times. If she needs to cough or sneeze, she can press it against her belly. I was afraid of getting a hernia at first, as well. It's kind of hard not to when you have a piece of your intestine sticking out of your body. After a while I realized that as long as I listened to my body, and didn't push myself, I had nothing to worry about. I'm back at work full-time as a water treatment plant operator and have not had a single problem.


Thank you Anne! That's great that you are working full time. My mom is taking longer to recover than normal. :-(


I'm sure age is a factor in her healing, as well as her health status before her diagnosis. You have to remember that I am half your mother's age. Exercise really does help with healing. Getting her to walk, even if it is just to the mailbox and back every day. I started back that slow, then eventually worked up to walking around the grocery store with my mom. It takes a while to get back in the swing of things. As long as she is moving some every day, she will continue to improve.
Anne, 40
Stage IIIB Rectal Cancer
T3N1bM0
2/21/17 Dx, Age 39
2/21/17 CEA 0.9
3/23/17 - 5/2/17 Chemoradiation, 28 treatments
6/14/17 Robotic LAR w/temp loop ileostomy, ovaries & fallopian tubes removed, 2/21 lymph nodes positive
7/24/17 - 12/18/17 CapeOx, 6 Cycles
7/24/17 Dx w/ovarian cancer
9/6/17 CA 125 11.1
11/27/17 CEA 2.6
12/5/17 CT NED
12/13/17 CEA 2.9
1/11/18 CA 125 8.6
1/23/18 Reversal
3/21/18 CT enlarged thymus
4/6/18 PET NED
7/10/18 CT NED
7/11/18 CEA 2.6
9/18 Bilateral Prophylactic Mastectomy


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