Hi milly. 

My op took just over 3 hours. Along with the tumour 17 lymph nodes were removed. 

I spent 1 night in high dependency and was then transferred to a surgical ward. 

I had iv antibiotics and 1 dose of oromorph via a cannula but managed the rest of the time on 4 hourly paracetamol which I continued after I came home. 

I was up and walking slowly within 24 hours aof the op and tried to walk a bit more up and down the ward every day. The gas theyuse to inflate your abdomen caused me a bit of discomfort afterwards  but the best way to get rid of it is by being active. 

I have 5 wounds on my abdomen, 3 small ones where instruments went in, a larger one for the wound drain which stayed in several days post op and a larger vertical incision where the tumor was pulled out. My surgeon stapled the wounds and to be honest they were uncomfortable for about 5 days post op, mainly when getting out of bed. They healed well and I can't feel them at all now. My practice nurse removed them about 10 days after the op. 

IMy surgeon banned all food for 3 days post op and I just had fluids. When I could eat I started cautiously on a soft diet with mashed potato, fish, soup etc. 

I started going to the toilet again about a day after I started eating food . It felt odd and I was a bit scared of "pushing" but things soon started to feel more normal. I am now eating and drinking normally again and even managing curry! I do now have to get up in the night to use the toilet and very occasionally get the need to go quickly. It hasn't interfered with my day to day life although I do get anxious about the cancer re occurring. 

I came home 6 days after my op just with paracetamol. I was mobile and able to do most things apart from lifting heavy objects and driving. I got a bit tired for the first few days and had a sleep in the afternoon. I had injections to self administer for 28 days post op to prevent blood clots. Don't worry, these weren't as scary as I thought they would be. I started driving 4 weeks post op. I was walking approx 3 km a day about 2 weeks after my op. 

If you want to know anything else or ask any questions then please askor add me as a friend in here. I felt really apprehensive prior to the op but have made an excellent recovery. My staging is stage 2. I am now waiting  to talk to my oncologist about the need ( or not) for chemo.

please let me know how you get on. 

Jo x