Guest guest Posted July 4, 2004 Report Share Posted July 4, 2004 Thanks Kris. I will be seeing a " stoma-therapist " next week to get the marking for the ostomy. I am afraid to even ask questions about this until I have to. Karima Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 4, 2004 Report Share Posted July 4, 2004 Great info Kris. Thanks so much. Karima -- Re: pre-surgery Karima- The first thing that my surgeon asked me when I went to visit him for my pre-op consult was how was I doing, the next was whether I was exercising. He feels that the better cardiovascular shape you are in, the better you are able to tolerate anesthesia. I took him to his word and tried to walk 1-2 miles daily as well as doing some light weight lifting. I do believe this helped. I was out of bed and doing laps (slowly) around the nurses station within a few days. Getting moving as soon as you can after surgery is important too. Blood can clot in the veins in the legs when you are immobile bed. These can cause serious problems if they break off and travel to the lungs. They gave me elastic stockings to wear and also had a devise that inflated and put intermittant pressure on my legs to help move the blood. I had had an obstruction of my intestine prior to my first surgery and so was on TPN (IV total parenteral nutrition). My nutritionist said that in people not able to take in much nutrients orally glutathione supplements (it is an amino acid that isn't in TPN) seem to be helpful to the intestine. I tried this for my first surgery, but not my second, since I was able to eat before that surgery. My second surgeon said that good balanced meals and a regular multivitamin were the most important things. There are a large number of nutritional supplements that are out there. Remember just because they say they are " natural " does not mean that they are safe for you. Some can interfer with other medications, and some may be good for some conditions and detrimental for others- so talk with your doctor about anything you are thinking of trying. Surgery is a scary thing.... but you will get through this! Just getting out for a little walk brightens my day. You may want to check with social workers/ oncology nurses about support groups. Just talking things over with others can help out a lot and make you feel better. As I suggested before you also may want to tentatively arrange for some post op help-even if it is someone to just come over, fix a few meals for you, and wash some dishes and keep you company for a little while, it can be a big help so that you can have a bit more energy to do things that you enjoy. Best wishes, Kris > > > > Hi, > However, my daughter is very relieved that I am on this list and she asked > if anyone could suggest what they did to prepare for surgery. Mostly she is > talking about building the body with supplements. I have so many and have > always taken them including the coral calcium but I just haven't right now. > I think I am in a " what's the use " frame of mind. > > A friend who was operated on in February for uterine tumor suggested > exercise for the legs (???). Now I do live alone and my family is selfish > and not very helpful. This is the most frightening aspect for me. > > Any insights? suggestions? I would appreciate them. > > I have a consult this morning with a pulmonary guy to get me cleared for > surgery; next the cardiologist, then giving my own blood then visiting the > stomatherapist. I am worn out. I'd like to sleep for days. > > But then it is 4th of July but who knows what that even means anymore. > > Karima > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 4, 2004 Report Share Posted July 4, 2004 Great info Kris. Thanks so much. Karima -- Re: pre-surgery Karima- The first thing that my surgeon asked me when I went to visit him for my pre-op consult was how was I doing, the next was whether I was exercising. He feels that the better cardiovascular shape you are in, the better you are able to tolerate anesthesia. I took him to his word and tried to walk 1-2 miles daily as well as doing some light weight lifting. I do believe this helped. I was out of bed and doing laps (slowly) around the nurses station within a few days. Getting moving as soon as you can after surgery is important too. Blood can clot in the veins in the legs when you are immobile bed. These can cause serious problems if they break off and travel to the lungs. They gave me elastic stockings to wear and also had a devise that inflated and put intermittant pressure on my legs to help move the blood. I had had an obstruction of my intestine prior to my first surgery and so was on TPN (IV total parenteral nutrition). My nutritionist said that in people not able to take in much nutrients orally glutathione supplements (it is an amino acid that isn't in TPN) seem to be helpful to the intestine. I tried this for my first surgery, but not my second, since I was able to eat before that surgery. My second surgeon said that good balanced meals and a regular multivitamin were the most important things. There are a large number of nutritional supplements that are out there. Remember just because they say they are " natural " does not mean that they are safe for you. Some can interfer with other medications, and some may be good for some conditions and detrimental for others- so talk with your doctor about anything you are thinking of trying. Surgery is a scary thing.... but you will get through this! Just getting out for a little walk brightens my day. You may want to check with social workers/ oncology nurses about support groups. Just talking things over with others can help out a lot and make you feel better. As I suggested before you also may want to tentatively arrange for some post op help-even if it is someone to just come over, fix a few meals for you, and wash some dishes and keep you company for a little while, it can be a big help so that you can have a bit more energy to do things that you enjoy. Best wishes, Kris > > > > Hi, > However, my daughter is very relieved that I am on this list and she asked > if anyone could suggest what they did to prepare for surgery. Mostly she is > talking about building the body with supplements. I have so many and have > always taken them including the coral calcium but I just haven't right now. > I think I am in a " what's the use " frame of mind. > > A friend who was operated on in February for uterine tumor suggested > exercise for the legs (???). Now I do live alone and my family is selfish > and not very helpful. This is the most frightening aspect for me. > > Any insights? suggestions? I would appreciate them. > > I have a consult this morning with a pulmonary guy to get me cleared for > surgery; next the cardiologist, then giving my own blood then visiting the > stomatherapist. I am worn out. I'd like to sleep for days. > > But then it is 4th of July but who knows what that even means anymore. > > Karima > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 4, 2004 Report Share Posted July 4, 2004 Great info Kris. Thanks so much. Karima -- Re: pre-surgery Karima- The first thing that my surgeon asked me when I went to visit him for my pre-op consult was how was I doing, the next was whether I was exercising. He feels that the better cardiovascular shape you are in, the better you are able to tolerate anesthesia. I took him to his word and tried to walk 1-2 miles daily as well as doing some light weight lifting. I do believe this helped. I was out of bed and doing laps (slowly) around the nurses station within a few days. Getting moving as soon as you can after surgery is important too. Blood can clot in the veins in the legs when you are immobile bed. These can cause serious problems if they break off and travel to the lungs. They gave me elastic stockings to wear and also had a devise that inflated and put intermittant pressure on my legs to help move the blood. I had had an obstruction of my intestine prior to my first surgery and so was on TPN (IV total parenteral nutrition). My nutritionist said that in people not able to take in much nutrients orally glutathione supplements (it is an amino acid that isn't in TPN) seem to be helpful to the intestine. I tried this for my first surgery, but not my second, since I was able to eat before that surgery. My second surgeon said that good balanced meals and a regular multivitamin were the most important things. There are a large number of nutritional supplements that are out there. Remember just because they say they are " natural " does not mean that they are safe for you. Some can interfer with other medications, and some may be good for some conditions and detrimental for others- so talk with your doctor about anything you are thinking of trying. Surgery is a scary thing.... but you will get through this! Just getting out for a little walk brightens my day. You may want to check with social workers/ oncology nurses about support groups. Just talking things over with others can help out a lot and make you feel better. As I suggested before you also may want to tentatively arrange for some post op help-even if it is someone to just come over, fix a few meals for you, and wash some dishes and keep you company for a little while, it can be a big help so that you can have a bit more energy to do things that you enjoy. Best wishes, Kris > > > > Hi, > However, my daughter is very relieved that I am on this list and she asked > if anyone could suggest what they did to prepare for surgery. Mostly she is > talking about building the body with supplements. I have so many and have > always taken them including the coral calcium but I just haven't right now. > I think I am in a " what's the use " frame of mind. > > A friend who was operated on in February for uterine tumor suggested > exercise for the legs (???). Now I do live alone and my family is selfish > and not very helpful. This is the most frightening aspect for me. > > Any insights? suggestions? I would appreciate them. > > I have a consult this morning with a pulmonary guy to get me cleared for > surgery; next the cardiologist, then giving my own blood then visiting the > stomatherapist. I am worn out. I'd like to sleep for days. > > But then it is 4th of July but who knows what that even means anymore. > > Karima > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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