HI, I just wanted to share my experience with having this operation as I found reading peoples posts extremely helpfull considering my sergeon and doctor both did not tell me the pain I was in for!!!!
I went into this op thinking I would be ok after a few days, this may seem silly but I was given no info at all. After the op I was in a dreadful amount of pain that couldnt seem to be eased. I was sent home first thing in the morning which I couldnt believe as I didnt know how I was going to cope!! Lucky my partner was very supportive and I also had his mother come and look after the house/kids for 3 days afterwards which was so extremely helpful!!. The main piece of advice I can give is Keep your pain medication topped up at all times!!! Set your alarm through the night to take your pills coz if you sleep a little bit too long your in for a horrific amount of pain! I am not a cryer but I found myself balling my eyes out during the nights. The pain is extreme!. Also write down all the pills you take and write the time down or you will not remeber what you have taken.
I got to day 4 pre-op and had not had a BM I think because I had read how painful it was so I was too scared! I had to go to docs and get a enima and 3 nurses had to hold me down while I screamed it was the absolute worst pain I have ever felt, at least after that the BM wasnt too bad but only because I was in shock!!. The next day I had a BM which made me pass out and vomit it was that painful. The next four were much the same unfortunatly!! I went and got some Prune juice and kiwicrush and that really really helped me, my BMS were runny and the pain has got easier to deal with. Its the after burning that is quite horrifying. Best advice I could give is drink plenty of prune juice, apple juice and water, lots of fibre and DO NOT eat fatty foods (nobody told me that) eat like a sparrow from day 1!!!!! when you need to do a BM run a hot bath first coz it really helps with the pain, jump straight in afterwards!!!! This pain seems like it will kill you but honestly it does get easier after about day 7.
I am on day 12 and I have good days and bad days, if you feel like your having a really good day DO NOT EAT c**p FOOD!!! you will pay the next day! I am going to eat healthy foods for at least a month. KEEP UP THE PRUNE JUICE!!! its really affective.
I had no idea what I was in for and really wished I hadnt had the op coz the pain was worse than having kids, but on day 10 I started seeing I was going to make it out as the pain eased!!
I feel for you all and hope you keep strong and take my advice.
Oh and also have lots and lots of extra long sanitary pads!! I am still wearing them coz unfortunatly you leak (poo) which is horrible! Shower and bath often and drink cranberry juice to avoid yeast infections. My hot water bottles saved my life its a good idea to put one on your tummy, one on your feet and one under your bum!!!! DO NOT EAT MANDERINS OR ORANGES!!! I ate two manderins and omg it burns out the other end for days!!!!
Good luck and may the force be with you!!