I had a pre-op phone call with my nurse at the Cleveland Clinic today to work out all of the details for the big day. This is what I know:
Tuesday, November 28, 2017
- CLEAR LIQUID DIET ALL DAY
- 1pm: Stoma marking appointment at the Cleveland Clinic.
- While I'm at the Cleveland Clinic for the stoma marking I also have to get blood typing done.
- 2pm: Take the first of two rounds of antibiotics
- 3pm: Take 3 Dulcoax tablets.
- 5pm: Mix 238 grams of Miralax with 64oz. of Gatorade. Drink 8oz. every 15 minutes.
- 10pm: Take last round of antibiotics.
- NOTHING TO EAT OR DRINK AFTER MIDNIGHT
Wednesday, November 29, 2017
- NOTHING TO EAT OR DRINK
- Shower using regular soap.
- Shower using Hibiclens (an antiseptic skin cleanser) from head to toe spending at least five minutes on my torso area before rinsing off.
- 5:30am: Check-in at Cleveland Clinic hospital, unless they call me and reschedule the time.
Surgery is estimated to take about 5 hours. It's going to be a laparoscopic sigmoid colectomy and they will insert a catheter and place ureteral stents during surgery and the stents will be removed before surgery is complete. Possibly sub-total colectomy. Possibly open surgery. Possibly temporary or permanent ileostomy or possibly temporary or permanent colostomy.
- Once surgery is complete they will talk with my posse in the waiting room.
- Expected to be in an intensive recovery room for about an hour and a half after surgery before they move me to the room I'll be staying in for the remainder of stay.
- Estimated to be in the hospital for 5-7 days and the Dr. might advise me to stay in town for a period of time after I'm released before I can travel home.
- The catheter will be removed a few days after surgery.
- I'll have a pain pump to squeeze and control my pain medicine after surgery.
- I'll have to do deep inhalation breathing exercises after surgery.
