What can I expect to happen before the operation of ulcerative colitis ?
If the surgery is elective (planned), you should have time to talk through the options with your health care team and to discuss the best way to prepare for the operation. It is important that you are as fit as possible before having the surgery. So, if you are seriously underweight you may be advised to take extra nutrients, perhaps in the form of a special liquid feed as a supplement to your diet. If you smoke, you will be advised to stop.
Exact procedures vary from hospital to hospital, but you will probably be asked to attend a pre-admission clinic for a health check a week or two before your admission. During this appointment a doctor or nurse will examine you and ask about your general health as well as your ulcerative colitis symptoms. They will take a blood sample for routine tests and may send you for other tests such as chest x-ray or ECG (a tracing of your heart rhythms). This information will help the anaesthetist plan the best anaesthetic for you.
A surgeon will meet you to discuss your operation and you may be asked to sign a consent form at this stage (or this may not happen until you are actually admitted to hospital). It is important that you fully understand what operation is planned and what are the likely benefits and side-effects. Your surgeon should also explain the complications that can happen as a result of your surgery. Do take this opportunity to talk through the details of your operation and to ask questions if you feel you do not understand anything, or would like more information. You may also meet a colorectal nurse, and, if you are going to have a stoma, a stoma care nurse, who will also be able to help with any queries you may have about the operation or your after care.
Once in hospital you may expect something like the following to happen.
If the surgery is elective (planned), you should have time to talk through the options with your health care team and to discuss the best way to prepare for the operation. It is important that you are as fit as possible before having the surgery. So, if you are seriously underweight you may be advised to take extra nutrients, perhaps in the form of a special liquid feed as a supplement to your diet. If you smoke, you will be advised to stop.
Exact procedures vary from hospital to hospital, but you will probably be asked to attend a pre-admission clinic for a health check a week or two before your admission. During this appointment a doctor or nurse will examine you and ask about your general health as well as your ulcerative colitis symptoms. They will take a blood sample for routine tests and may send you for other tests such as chest x-ray or ECG (a tracing of your heart rhythms). This information will help the anaesthetist plan the best anaesthetic for you.
A surgeon will meet you to discuss your operation and you may be asked to sign a consent form at this stage (or this may not happen until you are actually admitted to hospital). It is important that you fully understand what operation is planned and what are the likely benefits and side-effects. Your surgeon should also explain the complications that can happen as a result of your surgery. Do take this opportunity to talk through the details of your operation and to ask questions if you feel you do not understand anything, or would like more information. You may also meet a colorectal nurse, and, if you are going to have a stoma, a stoma care nurse, who will also be able to help with any queries you may have about the operation or your after care.
Once in hospital you may expect something like the following to happen.
- A doctor will examine you and a nurse will check your temperature, blood pressure, pulse and weight. This information can then be compared with readings taken after the operation.
- If you have not already done so, you will be asked to sign a consent form to confirm that you agree to the operation. If anything is unclear, ask for it to be explained. If you don’t want the surgery to happen you have a right not to sign the form
- If you are going to have a stoma, the stoma care nurse will visit you again to talk through what this may mean for you and to make sure you have all the information you need. She may make a mark on your stomach where the surgeon will create the stoma.
- An anaesthetist will visit you to talk about how you will be given the anaesthetic and how your pain will be controlled after the operation.
- You may need to take a ‘bowel preparation’ (a strong laxative) the day before the operation. This is to make sure that the bowel is completely clean.
- You will usually be given a pair of white support stockings to wear during and after the operation; you may be given a small injection as well. Both these measures help prevent blood clots in the legs.
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