First Ileocecal resection - just a bit nervous...

[BayAreaChronie]

So I have read many threads on this surgery and would love tossing a few questions out there to combine them into one.
Have my first resection coming up in 4 weeks and I am terrified - though more so of the post-op.

Some notes and questions I found when browsing:

1) If you are currently on a Biologic like Humira, did you skip a dose before surgery and then return successfully to it after surgery? Did you not skip a dose? If you did, did it keep working or did you build antibodies to it and had to switch?

2) Did removing the ileocecal valve cause you to lose the bowel control you once had? Do you only have diarrhea moving forward unless you take a supplement?

3) (Guys) The catheter... yup... thats the question. Painful during/after? How was this handled (sorry for the pun).

4) Tolerate liquid food after or were you throwing up?

5) Is there pain when eating after surgery or is the pain just there for the weeks after?

6) The colonoscopy in the 4-6 months after surgery, did that cause any issues like perforations or pain during the scope, or was it smooth?

7) How long of a recovery process was it to really get back into things? From bending over, doing sit-up like movements, walking stairs, etc.

8) Was the operation a success right away or was there a larger incision to assist, extra surgery to be done due to your body rejecting the surgery, leakage, etc?

Yea... probably many more haha. Paranoid much? Any info would be great to calming me down (if the replies are good)/ making me more aware of what to expect.

The pre-surgery discussion I had was very brief. Surgeons ego was sky high. Possibly to calm me down. But the entire time said it was a breeze and that all posts online are from users who had things go wrong - saying those with a successful operation would not post.

Thanks, and sorry about the essay above haha

 

[If*]

Hi there, hang in there. Walk as much as you can after the op. Food will be GOOD once again. Eat when the Dr. says you can.
Take the next 4 weeks to plan how to not suffer boredom. Like what to take, what movies you want to watch, etc. Have foods ready for when you get home. What you can do to keep busy while healing once home. I took a painting class lol, online. Read a bunch, walked oodles. Introduced new foods slowly. I started with homemade chicken veg. soups, saltines and gradually added more foods until I was eating a BIG JUICY BURGER! Rest and follow Dr. instructions. Don't hurry to lift, exercise etc.
I know it is scary, I was OK. Don't let the 'negative what if's" get to you. Bring your mind back to the positive. Plan what you are going to want to eat once you can.
I am going to be praying for you. Stay strong and try to build your nutrition up before the op. See a nutritionist if you can.
Everyone's experience will be different. In a nut shell ~ I am OK and many many many others are too!
Much peace to you.

 

[BayAreaChronie]

Thanks.
Yea, I know this operation has been done many times, just looking for comments on those few questions because of over-reading things.

 

[long time crohnie]

You will be fine, but it is very unsettling being your first surgery. Ive had 2 resections with the removal of the ileocecal valve in one, so I can try and give you some comments on your questions:
1. Haven't been on Humira yet so cant help there. They did have to get me down to a manageable amount of prednisone prior tho.
2.Everyone's bowels react differently. Ive had increased D since the surgeries, but it was bad before too. Did use biofeedback to help strengthen rectum which helped a lot.
3. Guys or girls there is nothing pleasant about having a catheter, but not painful either. They put it in when your under and remove a few days after surgery when your guts begin to make bowel sounds and things are moving on their own. What was painful was my wanting them to take it our too soon and I couldn't pee all day! They finally had to put it in, now Im awake, and wasn't to bad. Finally peeing was a much better alternative.
4.They don't have you eat right away. Want the bowel to rest and heal and then begin on a liquid diet and move slowly to bigger and MUCH better food! Some people get sick from the anesthesia, but I never have a problem with that.
5-7: All depends on the person. Like others have said, don't push yourself and listen to your body and your dr. Pain is relative, they give you meds but nothing ever takes all the pain away. Walk to make sure you don't get too weak. You wont be doing sit up or lifting heavy things for a while. don't want to tear any inner incision either!
Re anything else...your incision may be different than mine are. I hear they can to resections laproscopocally now so you may have a few smaller incisions rather than one large one. Best thing, you WILL feel better when all is said and done! Good luck!!!

 

[ronroush7]

I believe I went into the hospital at the end of March. It was November before I went back on a biological. The biggest pain I remember is when they tried getting me up the day after surgery. Don't lift anything for several weeks after you get home. You will be okay. Will pray.

2

 

[nogutsnoglory]

1. I had to stop all meds.

2. I only had diarrhea after with the occasional solid stool.

3. Catheter felt weird. I developed an infection from it.

4. I tolerated foods after surgery.

5. No pain

6. Colonoscopy 5 months post op no problems from exam.

7. 4 weeks back to work, months for exercise.

8. Surgery was successful but aggressive crohn's returned quickly.

 

[ronroush7]

I had to be careful about not eating an awful.lot when I first got home. If, I liked your comment about prayer.

 

[BayAreaChronie]

Wow thank you all for your situations on the matter.
Always helpful to get info out of the Doc's office.

 

[Crohn's gal since 1989]

So I have read many threads on this surgery and would love tossing a few questions out there to combine them into one.
Have my first resection coming up in 4 weeks and I am terrified - though more so of the post-op.

Some notes and questions I found when browsing:

1) If you are currently on a Biologic like Humira, did you skip a dose before surgery and then return successfully to it after surgery? Did you not skip a dose? If you did, did it keep working or did you build antibodies to it and had to switch?

2) Did removing the ileocecal valve cause you to lose the bowel control you once had? Do you only have diarrhea moving forward unless you take a supplement?

3) (Guys) The catheter... yup... thats the question. Painful during/after? How was this handled (sorry for the pun).

4) Tolerate liquid food after or were you throwing up?

5) Is there pain when eating after surgery or is the pain just there for the weeks after?

6) The colonoscopy in the 4-6 months after surgery, did that cause any issues like perforations or pain during the scope, or was it smooth?

7) How long of a recovery process was it to really get back into things? From bending over, doing sit-up like movements, walking stairs, etc.

8) Was the operation a success right away or was there a larger incision to assist, extra surgery to be done due to your body rejecting the surgery, leakage, etc?

Yea... probably many more haha. Paranoid much? Any info would be great to calming me down (if the replies are good)/ making me more aware of what to expect.

The pre-surgery discussion I had was very brief. Surgeons ego was sky high. Possibly to calm me down. But the entire time said it was a breeze and that all posts online are from users who had things go wrong - saying those with a successful operation would not post.

Thanks, and sorry about the essay above haha

I had the same surgery. They removed 50cm of my small intestine. I am having to take a longer time off because I had to have a full open incision because they couldn't remove 50cm laparoscopically. The day after my staples were removed my incision reopened as it had not healed underneath. You have to heal from the bottom up, not the top down as fluid was collecting in the incision. I had my surgery September 14th. I was supposed to be back to work November 2nd. Because of this issue with my wound healing to slowly they have pushed my back to work date to December 2nd.

Hardly noticed the catheter. I had my surgery moved earlier due to an obstruction. They fixed that, but me on a fluid diet, then took that away for surgery that got postponed 3-4 times while I waited in hospital. Thankfully healthcare is covered in Canada! I've had no pain from eating but my bowel is having some issues with releasing gas. Before it just passed whenever, now 90% of the time I have to be on the toilet to pass gas which leads to quite a bit of discomfort! Nurse come to my home every other day to clean and pack my incision in order to help that bottom up healing. I am taking only Tylenol for discomfort from the nerve endings of my incision. You will not be bending for quite some time. It was fun learning how to get out of bed without using your abdominal muscles! 6 weeks post op and it is still uncomfortable to bend completely at the waist.
I have more diarrhea now then before surgery. Once bowels started working the D was many times and urgent! (3-4 times after each meal) it has calmed down to 5-6 times a day with considerably less urgency. Hoping to see something solid soon!

Pm me if you have any more questions!