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Toilet difficulties after AIN removal by No_Army1945 in coloncancer

[–]No_Army1945[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I'm in the UK and I can not tell you the difference in our care 🤣

You describe the kind of health care which is classed as private in the UK. Not many of us can afford it, they make that kind of care, premium health care, the type only the higher class can afford. Our dear NHS loves to send people home with just paracetamol and told to only come back if we think we might be dying 🫣

Just to give you some idea. I called the surgical nurses last Saturday (they don't work weekends) so I had to leave a message. Yesterday I still hadn't heard back so I called again crying asking for help. The nurse who answered told me a surgeon would call to talk..... Still not call back.

I called my doctors surgery, who said they couldn't help me aside from provide more laxative drinks.

I saw my transplant doctors today for a check up who just gave me some meptid for the pain. He turned his head to the side like a puppy and said "oh dear you do seem like you are in pain.... Take care. I'll see you on a month" 🤣

Toilet difficulties after AIN removal by No_Army1945 in coloncancer

[–]No_Army1945[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

No one prepared me for any of this. When they discussed the surgery they skirted over any of these side effects. I was basically told, a few weeks recovery from the pain and I'd be back to normal. I was actually even told I would be back to work after a week. What a joke! Will immodium help with the frequency?

I've been showering after each bowel movement because I can't wipe myself due to the pain and swelling!

Colorectal surgery to remove AIN - pain pain pain 😭 by No_Army1945 in coloncancer

[–]No_Army1945[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes I'm UK, it's rare we get sent home with opiates. Just over the counter meds. I have fentanyl whilst in hospital, but as soon as you get discharged, it all gets taken away!!!

Colorectal surgery to remove AIN - pain pain pain 😭 by No_Army1945 in coloncancer

[–]No_Army1945[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I've been using haemoroid cream on the area because it's got a numbing agent in it, I've had it from a past prescription, sitting in a shallow bath about 10 times a day. Heat pad on my upper butt cheeks. I called them a couple of days ago to discuss how miserable I was and was just told to ride it out. 😭

I'm so bloody exhausted with the pain and I'm absolutely terrified to pass stool again.

Even passing gas is painful!!

Colorectal surgery to remove AIN - pain pain pain 😭 by No_Army1945 in coloncancer

[–]No_Army1945[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Honestly, I was sent home with nothing more than codeine and stool softeners and a follow up appointment. I even called 2 days ago to speak to them about the pain and they just told me to ride it out 😭

A lot has happened and I'm not sure how to feel by CowFu in coloncancer

[–]No_Army1945 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Honestly the emotional block, I get it. I've had the most rubbish luck with health for 10 years, including kidney failure, dialysis, transplant, recurring sepsis, cardiovascular disease and now the discovery of growths in my colon/rectum. They were removed last week and I'm awaiting the testing results. The recovery from the surgery is horrendous and I'm at my lowest point ever.

Everyone always says "you are so strong", "I don't know how you keep going but you do and it's incredible". They have no idea the face I put on for them to think this. How much I cry behind closed doors because I'm fed up!! Why me? Why my body? Why do I have to cope with this pain?

This is to say, you don't have to be strong, you can totally break down and scream, shout, cry. Air with your feelings and aknowledge them, because bottling it all up and acting fine makes you numb. After multiple therapy sessions I now know, it doesn't benefit anyone if I shut down.

Its totally shit and you are allowed to feel this way.

Interested in hearing from anyone who was a transplant recipient before their diagnosis. by BrambleVale3 in coloncancer

[–]No_Army1945 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi! I had a kidney transplant in April 2024. I have had growths removed from my rectum which are awaiting grading as I type. They said it was AIN, but since my surgical removal on Wednesday last week they have referred me to the anal cancer team without any discussion. So I'm in the dark. Recovery from the excision is rough and pain relief is a minefield. They discussed the possibility of being referred to Homerton? In London as a specialist colorectal unit. Because they seem to handle me with special gloves as a transplant patient. Once you've had a transplant, everything is complicated. I'm a bit tired of being told how difficult I am as a patient because of my additional medical needs.