Feeling Anxious About Upcoming Hernia and Stoma Surgery

A week from today, I will be in surgery. Having hernia repair surgery and a possible stoma revision. It's an incisional hernia repair and a parastomal hernia repair. I am feeling nervous about it, but only about what will happen when I wake up from surgery. How much pain I will be in... will I have to stay in the hospital, and will I have been cut open on both sides of my stomach or just on the left? The plan is to go in on the left side, but I think it's going to take at least one cut on the right side. Also, if I need a stoma revision, that will be on the right side. I am glad I will be asleep for the procedure. After it's over, I guess I can deal with whatever happens. It's the before part that worries me. I am thinking I am going to drive myself crazy worrying about the what-ifs. I am trying to put my faith in the doctor and just let things happen as they may. I plan on not eating at all the day before surgery. That is because if she has to do a revision, my stoma isn't sterile, and I don't want to risk infection from my ostomy spewing all over my belly and down in my tummy. I hope one day of fasting will be enough. I do plan on drinking water because I can't become dehydrated. I have kidney issues, and I don't want to make them worse. So I don't know if that will ruin or impact my fasting idea. I know I have to pee when I get there for a pregnancy test, so I have to drink something. Otherwise, I won't be able to pee. LOL I had my last pre-op test today (besides the pregnancy test). I feel like all the cards are falling into place. I am still nervous, though. When I think about this surgery, I am hoping it won't lead to other surgeries. I tend to cough a lot, and I don't want to get another hernia from coughing after my surgery. I can only have so many surgeries, right? I hope I don't get an infection. I have heard those are very likely when you get mesh put in. I am having 3 to 4 pieces of mesh put in, so that is a lot.

Well, I have said my piece. Now I just have to leave everything in the surgeon's hands.

Good luck. All you can do is relax and go along for the ride.

I won't say, 'don't worry,' Lee, because I know you will. Lol! Sometimes saying it out loud, or expressing it to someone else, in this case a whole bunch of someone else, might help. Sending good vibes your way.

Terry

Hi. You've got this. Try not to overthink. It will be behind you before you know it. Everyone is here for you 🌈💪

Yeah, it helped me just to get it out of my head. I can't give it too much head space.

My Ostomy Journey: LeeAnne | Hollister

Thanks, I am trying not to overthink it. I want very much just to go with the flow.

And hope it's not a bumpy ride, given every bump is going to hurt my tummy. LOL

Interesting that they haven't advised you about food intake. I just had a revision 3 weeks ago, and I'm finally starting to feel back to myself. I didn't have the hernia repair as she didn't want to make another cut in my side, and I guess I lost a lot of blood just doing the revision, which made me pretty tired after my surgery. She actually asked me to eat normally up to the night before surgery, as she, in her own words, “didn't want it spewing all over the place when she was trying to work with it” 🤣 I hope all goes really well and the outcome is good for you!

Spewing. One of my favorite words.

Politicians spewing baloney.

Volcanoes spewing lava.

Faucet spewing water.

Stomas spewing... well, you know.

You should be on clear liquids and no food the entire day before your surgery and nothing to drink after midnight.

Infinity Castle,

Good luck for Thursday, the 15th - I will be sending my best thoughts and positive energies.

Stay cool - try not to be exceptional and just remain centered and as calm as you are able.

Best wishes,

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Jayne ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Infinity Castle,

I would be nervous too, as I think it's normal. I wish you the best of luck, hoping everything goes well. Keep us posted on how it goes.

How am I supposed to pee for the pregnancy test if I have nothing to drink after midnight?

I am sure going to try to remain calm and centered.

Thanks for saying you'd be nervous too. It helps to know I am not just out of my head.

Hug

x

If you eat normally up to the night before surgery, won't you be spewing the contents of your last meal?

I don't know. I only got the restriction of no Januvia 2 days prior to surgery.

Thanks, Jayne.

Good luck. Wish you the best, and just feel the way you feel. Surgery is never fun or the aftermath. But push through it. If I can, you can, and we're all here for you!!! 🫂

Every time I've had to go under anesthesia, I've been told no food or drink after midnight the night before. That's a general safety issue to prevent aspiration pneumonia caused by vomiting while under anesthesia.

If you are worried about the pregnancy test, see if they'll let you do it the day before surgery. That should be close enough.

I agree with the advice to do clear liquids the entire day before unless you receive different instructions from your doctor.

It is natural to worry before surgery. Our minds tend to create worst-case scenarios and chase them down rabbit holes. Lol

You will imagine 100 bad circumstances, but all of those will never happen. Take a few deep breaths and find something that distracts you.

We'll be here rooting you on.

I have meshed both sides from inguinal hernias prior to the ileo, no issues.

You will be fine, and I hope you get all you wish for.

I'm having surgery on the 2nd of June, so I'm in the same boat: rectal stump removal and butt hole sewn up (okay, that's an oversimplification, but I can't remember all the technical jargon).

Just trying to keep busy, but in moments like falling asleep, I find my own mind wandering into the abyss of the ‘what ifs.' It's completely normal and natural. I've found that listening to instrumental music with no lyrics (words have a way of increasing cognitive function, so it's best to stick with soothing music) when going to bed helps me sleep without my mind wandering too much.

Fortunately, you don't have much longer to wait, and then you only have to work on recovery. Find a series of books (I found reading The Lord of the Rings, or something similar, also a massive geek for any books written by Tom Clancy, really helps take your mind off any post-surgery pain because when reading something that grips you, you don't really move or wriggle, so residual pain is minimal.

Just remember to have full confidence in your surgeon. You're in someone else's hands, and they know what they're doing 🙏🏼.

Give Marconi Union a listen, particularly "Losing the Light." 🌇

Good luck, IC.

Good luck and a speedy recovery.

Thank you for your words of encouragement. I can't wait until it is all over and done with and I am all healed up. I am looking forward to no more pain after surgery and recovery.

I certainly do not want to get pneumonia. They won't let me do the pregnancy test a day before it has to be done the day of per Dr. orders. I think I have thought of about five bad outcomes to surgery, so maybe I am not as bad off as I think. I just hope none of them come to pass, especially the one where they have to open me wide up. The plan is to do it robotically, so I hope the plan works out.

That is comforting to know you have no issues. I have heard so many horror stories about mesh that it scared me. I am glad to know there is one person out there who has no problems with it. I hope that is me.

Thank you for the suggestion of reading. I might try to get a book to read before I go to surgery next week. You are right; I don't have long to wait, only 6 more days. I have known about the surgery for 4 months, though, so I have had 4 long months to stew over it. I know worry is natural. I am trying not to overdo it, though. What happens will happen, right? And I will deal with it as it comes up. Good luck with your procedure. I hope all goes well with it. Try to think on the positive side. Thanks for the music suggestion.