- Joined
- Aug 19, 2013
- Messages
- 41
Prior to my surgery because of this site I learned what to expect, what could go wrong, and many other related and unrelated things to Crohn's, so I thought I'd share my surgical experience.
September 20th: I had surgery to remove a stricture that was close to being obstructed and another that was headed that way. During my surgery, my surgeon noticed a tumor on the tip of my appendix, which she removed and the rt hemicolectomy resolved too. So, absolutely no regrets for having the surgery.
First day: Waking up, I felt terrible, but I had an epidural and a pain pump to keep me comfortable.
Second day: The next day I still felt terrible and later I learned from my hubby and a nurse that followed me my entire stay, I didn't look so good, but ice chips were yummy!
I moved to a new room that was a step down and began to hear my bowels move around. I hated the pain pump, because the medicine made me nauseous. I also think my bowels feeling strange made me nauseous too. They gave me Zofran and phenegren later if Zofran didn't work. One of my nurses was mean and told me I had to have the pain pump taken away and learn to handle the pain. Despite being allowed pain meds on demand, if the nurses are busy, there's no on-demand. I was supposed to walk already, but nobody came to help me and I could tell they were very busy. I would sit myself up, rotate my body, but that still was not walking. That evening I told the nurse please walk me, but not realizing it had been 3 hours since pain meds. I stood up with great effort and walked a few steps and the pain came. I told her I think I need to sit down.
Third day:
They gave me my pain pump back after I was scolded by the morning staff because I refused to walk. I started crying, which I rarely do. I told the staff what really happened, I was told I'd be walked, but had to ask, but my pain pump was gone and by that time my pain was bad and I was only able to walk a little way. I was told do not get out of bed by myself. The nurse had told the team I refused to walk. I told this nurse who was only going by what she was told, I am a highly educated and determined person, I will and would do whatever is required of me, because I want to get home. I want to be with my husband and children! I do not want to be here! She is lying, because I had to ask her to walk me! She never offered! They apologized and someone walked me and it was fantastic! Painful, but progress was postitive!
I had my epi-dural taken out, but they left my pain pump, because the epi-dural removal would be felt and it was. I had my catheter taken out and I could walk to the bathroom and pee! It was wonderful! I had to use the pain pump, but still not too much. I was ready to let that go too and that night I walked to get my own ice and I had a bowel movement!
Fourth day: Nurses and doctors were saying I looked great and beautiful. I'd call them a liar, how could I look beautiful in a hospital gown without a shower with only Oil of Olay face wipes to make me feel sane? Regardless, I guess I was around some really sick people to be called beautiful, but it sure made my day! I also took a shower!! I wasn't too hungry, but drank broth, ate jello, and loved the ice chips!
Fifth day: They were going to let me go home, but I had a little set-back because I felt nauseous. I tried to hide it, but in the end I had to give in and they decided to keep me one more night.
Sixth day: I was ready to go the day prior so my discharge was quick and easy. The weirdest part was being wheeled in the wheel chair. I felt as if the world was blurring by just moving in a wheelchair!
The rest of my recovery was uneventful except for pain from intestinal spasms and I wasn't having a bowel movement everyday, but knew I needed to. At follow-up, my surgeon gave me Bentyl and Miralax, while I continued on Norco, which helped the pain. There were times I'd wake up in the middle of the night and pace the kitchen floor, because the pain was horrible and I couldn't take pain meds yet. I was eating the soft residue diet, but it turned out some foods I just cannot eat. At first it was any meat, but now I can eat chicken, tuna, pork tenderloin. I still cannot eat shrimp. Ouch!!!
Reading this board, while recovering, I thought there's something wrong with me, I'm abnormal, I'm still in pain, but there are others who say it takes a long time to have no pain, so it comforted me. Last Sunday, I woke up and I felt great! Not pain free, but better. It was as if I could feel my bowels. I don't know how else to describe it. I could feel pressure. This week, everyday I wake up I feel better and better. Today, I woke up and I was laying on my side! Oh heavenly is how that felt, because I'm a side sleeper, who's been stuck on her back.
I think I could get off my meds, but will do that with doctor advice, although I have cut one dosage during the day and I might cut another. I'm sure when I do I'll have the diarrhea others talk about, but the urgency I already have, so I think it'll be okay. Thank you all for sharing!
September 20th: I had surgery to remove a stricture that was close to being obstructed and another that was headed that way. During my surgery, my surgeon noticed a tumor on the tip of my appendix, which she removed and the rt hemicolectomy resolved too. So, absolutely no regrets for having the surgery.
First day: Waking up, I felt terrible, but I had an epidural and a pain pump to keep me comfortable.
Second day: The next day I still felt terrible and later I learned from my hubby and a nurse that followed me my entire stay, I didn't look so good, but ice chips were yummy!
I moved to a new room that was a step down and began to hear my bowels move around. I hated the pain pump, because the medicine made me nauseous. I also think my bowels feeling strange made me nauseous too. They gave me Zofran and phenegren later if Zofran didn't work. One of my nurses was mean and told me I had to have the pain pump taken away and learn to handle the pain. Despite being allowed pain meds on demand, if the nurses are busy, there's no on-demand. I was supposed to walk already, but nobody came to help me and I could tell they were very busy. I would sit myself up, rotate my body, but that still was not walking. That evening I told the nurse please walk me, but not realizing it had been 3 hours since pain meds. I stood up with great effort and walked a few steps and the pain came. I told her I think I need to sit down.
Third day:
They gave me my pain pump back after I was scolded by the morning staff because I refused to walk. I started crying, which I rarely do. I told the staff what really happened, I was told I'd be walked, but had to ask, but my pain pump was gone and by that time my pain was bad and I was only able to walk a little way. I was told do not get out of bed by myself. The nurse had told the team I refused to walk. I told this nurse who was only going by what she was told, I am a highly educated and determined person, I will and would do whatever is required of me, because I want to get home. I want to be with my husband and children! I do not want to be here! She is lying, because I had to ask her to walk me! She never offered! They apologized and someone walked me and it was fantastic! Painful, but progress was postitive!
I had my epi-dural taken out, but they left my pain pump, because the epi-dural removal would be felt and it was. I had my catheter taken out and I could walk to the bathroom and pee! It was wonderful! I had to use the pain pump, but still not too much. I was ready to let that go too and that night I walked to get my own ice and I had a bowel movement!
Fourth day: Nurses and doctors were saying I looked great and beautiful. I'd call them a liar, how could I look beautiful in a hospital gown without a shower with only Oil of Olay face wipes to make me feel sane? Regardless, I guess I was around some really sick people to be called beautiful, but it sure made my day! I also took a shower!! I wasn't too hungry, but drank broth, ate jello, and loved the ice chips!
Fifth day: They were going to let me go home, but I had a little set-back because I felt nauseous. I tried to hide it, but in the end I had to give in and they decided to keep me one more night.
Sixth day: I was ready to go the day prior so my discharge was quick and easy. The weirdest part was being wheeled in the wheel chair. I felt as if the world was blurring by just moving in a wheelchair!
The rest of my recovery was uneventful except for pain from intestinal spasms and I wasn't having a bowel movement everyday, but knew I needed to. At follow-up, my surgeon gave me Bentyl and Miralax, while I continued on Norco, which helped the pain. There were times I'd wake up in the middle of the night and pace the kitchen floor, because the pain was horrible and I couldn't take pain meds yet. I was eating the soft residue diet, but it turned out some foods I just cannot eat. At first it was any meat, but now I can eat chicken, tuna, pork tenderloin. I still cannot eat shrimp. Ouch!!!
Reading this board, while recovering, I thought there's something wrong with me, I'm abnormal, I'm still in pain, but there are others who say it takes a long time to have no pain, so it comforted me. Last Sunday, I woke up and I felt great! Not pain free, but better. It was as if I could feel my bowels. I don't know how else to describe it. I could feel pressure. This week, everyday I wake up I feel better and better. Today, I woke up and I was laying on my side! Oh heavenly is how that felt, because I'm a side sleeper, who's been stuck on her back.
I think I could get off my meds, but will do that with doctor advice, although I have cut one dosage during the day and I might cut another. I'm sure when I do I'll have the diarrhea others talk about, but the urgency I already have, so I think it'll be okay. Thank you all for sharing!
