Day 25

The doctors are pretty happy and, provided I can keep food down again today, my PICC line will be removed and I may be discharge tomorrow.

I’ve managed half my cheese sandwich so far today but my tummy is aching so I’m taking it very slowly. I’m going to try and tackle the other half later this afternoon.

The pain is bearable but it can be a bit much so painkillers are still being offered. I’m trying not to ask for oralmorph because I don’t want to become dependant on that but I will if the pain gets too much. They did say I can have a bottle to take home with me if need be but I’d rather I only needed codeine and paracetamol.

It’s been almost a month since my surgery so I am really looking forward to being back home again. I miss my bed, my computer, and, most importantly, my partner and my rats. I know he comes to see me every evening but I still miss him just being there during the day.

I’m not getting my hopes up too high but I’m staying positive. I hope everyone is having a good and safe weekend.

Day 24

Generally feeling pretty good today. I’m still a bit sore around the middle but that’s to be expected. Food-wise, I’m still eating small amounts of soft food but I’m going to try a sandwich tomorrow and see how my gut reacts to something more solid than soup.

The doctors are hoping to send me home this week but we’ll see. It’s been almost four weeks since my surgery and I think I’m mentally ready to go home but my body isn’t quite there yet.

I need to make myself a meal plan for when I get home to ensure I don’t overeat for the first month or so. If I actually get around to writing it down, I’ll be sure to share it.

Day 23 – update

So, the soup and jelly have stayed down. I’m not going to be too adventurous tomorrow, probably stick with soup and jelly again, but I might try some mash potato for dinner (I know, exciting stuff).

The blob has been fine today, a little watery but he’s getting there. He’s also looking a bit healthier.

I’m not going to get my hopes up but I think this could be the way to go, at least for now. This weekend will hopefully be the turning point.

Day 22

I’m currently a bit fuzzy from having anti-sickness via my PICC line so I apologise for any weirdness/lack of sense in this post.

Anyway, I feel a bit better today. I slept a bit better last night but I still feel tired today and keep dosing off now and then. The pain is significantly better today and my stoma has started pumping out lose stool through the day. I still feel pain when I move but it’s under control with IV paracetamol and oralmorph.

I’m nil-by-mouth at the moment with just sips of water allowed. I hope this is only a dip and nothing else serious. I might be having an xray later but we’ll see.

Day 21

My stomach cramps kept me awake last night so all I’ve been doing today is dose. I haven’t eaten anything because I’ve been throwing up. I’ve been advised to sip water for now but they’ve also given me IV fluids because I’m dehydrated.

The doctor said he doesn’t know what’s causing the pain but he wants to wait and see what happens over night before ordering an xray. I think they’ll do one anyway but not until the morning.

Right now, the pain is fairly minimal but it’s been coming in waves so it’s difficult to tell if the painkillers are actuality doing anything.

Day 20

Well, I jinxed myself. Sadly, my stomach cramps have returned in full force and my stoma appears to have stopped working. They’ve given me paracetamol, codeine and oralmorph which has only numbed most of the pain. I’m really worried it’s a blockage of some kind. I haven’t eaten anything that could cause one so it might be scar tissue.

And I was feeling so much better yesterday.

Day 19

The TPN is finished! I still have the PICC line just in case but they’ll likely take that out tomorrow. The doctors are happy and are looking at Wednesday as a home date. I just hope nothing happens in the meantime. I do get the occasional ache in my gut but it’s bearable and paracetamol numbs it.

Day 18

Feeling pretty good today; I slept ok last night (it took me a while to actually get to sleep though) but because it’s Sunday, they let us sleep in a bit later than during the week. (Meaning lights on was at 8am instead of 7am).

I’ve been eating solids with no problems and my stoma is looking a little healthier now. The stitches, which gave it a sort of spider-on-its-back kind of look, are dissolving and it’s not quite as flat now. The skin around it is pretty sore but I think that’s because of all the bile that was coming out of it before. I am using my barrier cream which sends to be helping a bit.

I’m still on TPN until tomorrow evening but hopefully that’ll be the last of it. I’m not as achy around the middle as I was after my first surgery so I can walk a lot easier, however, I’m going to take it easy still incase I accidentally hernia myself.

Day 16

I didn’t sleep as well last night but I did sleep at least. I haven’t needed painkillers all night or at all today, and they’ve finally removed the NG tube. I’m now on free fluids and, so far, no pain nor vomiting. The doctor seems pretty happy and he said I might be able to try solids tomorrow but we’ll see; I don’t want to do too much before I’m ready.

Day 15

I slept much better last night so I am feeling a lot better today. I’m still on TPN and it looks like they’re going to continue that over the weekend (the nutrition doctor said they want to up the calories I’m taking in). They’ve closed off the NG tube but it’s still in just in case. Nothing is coming out of it but it’s making my nose run so I’m going through tissues like a mad woman.

Overall, no pain so far today, not even when my stoma is doing stuff. I haven’t had a IV paracetamol since this morning because I didn’t feel I needed it this afternoon.

I’m currently enjoying not being on the ward and am sat in the lobby of the hospital. It’s pretty warm here but not overly so. I can also smell all the food from the M&S cafe and Costa that this hospital has (it’s like a mini shopping centre). It’s a shame I can’t eat any of it but I’m sure I will be soon.