Having surgery Monday.... very scared :o(

[daisy8599]

On Monday morning I am having a portion of my small intestine and a portion of my colon removed... has anyone had this procedure? What can I expect for recovery? Don't hold back! I want all the painful details ) I am very nervous as this is my 1st surgery ever!

 

[Jennifer]

There seem to be a lot of threads about surgery lately. I'm sorry you're all going through this.

Some people wake up with a catheter or a drainage tube (I didn't but my surgery was 11 years ago). I was given a pain killer pump (you can press the button every 15min I believe). Some people these days are given antibiotics as well (I wasn't again, 11 years ago so times have changed). Your surgery may be Laparoscopic or full surgery or both, the surgeon may not know until they get in there which is also why you could wake up with a larger scar like I did (I was told I'd only have Laparoscopic before I was put under). If you still have your appendix, they'll probably remove that while they're in there as well to prevent future complications. You won't be able to eat for a few days, liquid diet first. I was in terrible pain and couldn't drink/eat much and was always tired. My surgical site got infected and took over a month to fully heal where I had a lovely gaping wound (bandaged of course). You'll probably be in the hospital for about a week for recovery and then sent home where you shouldn't do too much cause you're still healing (no lifting, running, bending etc.) As far as normal healing time goes, I don't really know. It hurts and its not fun but you should expect to feel better (Crohn's wise) once you've healed fully though.

 

[GutlessWonder86]

Be sure to ask for a PC pump for pain. It's connected to your IV and you control how much to give yourself. It's programmed by an RN that way you can't OD even if you tried.

I had one last year after my surgery and it was wonderful to be able to hit the button w/o having to call for the nurse every 10 minutes for a shot to the butt.

Know that you are not alone and you have 100% support here. Bring your list of questions the day of and ask the MD or RN before you are discharged home.

I'll keep you in my thoughts and prayers over the weekend. ~Gutless Wonderwoman

 

[Guest]

i've had 6 abdo ops in my lifetime, and that pre-op scared feeling never lessens, it's normal.

just try to relax, consciously tell yourself you're in safe hands and these surgeons do these operations day in day out.

i would also agree that the PCAS system is amazing - i've had ops without it and with it, and would definitely insist on it if i need surgery in the future... it just gives the right amount of painkiller to keep it on a level, you can't overdose on it, and you don't need to wait for nurses to be free to bring tabs or injections.

i think i did wake up with a NG tube and a catheter each time, you may also have a drainage tube in your tummy.. don't be scared by all this - it's normal...

days 1 & 2 you'll probably be very sleepy, and it will hurt, especially when you move.. by day 3 i would expect the staff to be helping you get out of bed into a chair, and maybe a couple of steps. they'll have you on nil orally to begin with, then sips of water... you can ask for a mouthwash swab or an ice cube if your mouth is dry.

just keep telling people what you're scared of, what you're feeling, what you feel you need... even if it's a couple of minutes of their time just to cry or talk or whatever - i've always found that the nursing staff on surgical wards are wonderful.

you'll be fine, and will feel so much better once the initial recovery is past. i'll be thinking of you.

 

[wolfem]

The pump made me psycho. Then they just put me on a little morphine and it was o.k--not too painful. Anyhow, my surgery was an emergency resection and I couldn't eat for a week. The thing I never understood was why they waited so long to take the sucker out (abscess and terminal ilium/sm. portion of large bowel). I think there is a special name for that type of surgery but I forget what they called it. I was pretty sick while all this was going down and they prepared me to have a blood transfusion. Thankfully I ended up not having one. I have to say I was pretty neglected during the hospital stay but my sister always stood up for me and made the nurses check my vitals every so often (became hypoglycemic, hypokalemic, etc, etc). Low electrolytes might have been due to the fact that I only weighed 90lbs. OK. It was a nightmare for me but I think that you will do just fine as long as you keep your electrolytes up. Not sure why that didn't happen while I was in the hospital (they had me on ringers solution). Apple juice is good for that. The bad part about the whole thing was that I ended up having a C. Diff infection-- a really resistant kind. Be sure you wash your hands a lot and maybe ask the doctor about probiotics after your surgery. I was allowed probiotics soon after my surgery--after they found out I had the C. Diff infection. The main reason I got C. Diff was because at the beginning of the stay, they had me on an antibiotic that it likes to grow off of (levaquin). I just wanted to forewarn you about the nasty bug. The only other struggle I've had is gaining weight. I still haven't gained much more weight but I'm sure as heck better than I was back in January.

Thats all the info. I have for you. Hope the surgery goes smoothly. I'm sure it will-- I think in most cases it does.

I forgot to mention I didn't have an NG tube and I also didn't need a drainage tube either. They did eventually put me on TPN but that was because the C. Diff robbed me of the nutrition I was getting orally.

I also forgot to mention that they might give you a series of injections daily in your abdomen to prevent clotting. They used heparin in my case and it stung (depending on the nurse giving it). Tell them to pinch the area first, that might help. lol.


Take care,:hug:
Mary

 

[semicolon306]

I was up after surgery, doing sit ups and running laps - AT LEAST on the pain meds I thought I was. Really I just woke up and looked for the bus that hit me, LOL. You will be in some pain, but they are really good at controlling it. If you still find you are in pain, just let them know they will make you comfortable. You might have drains in you and a foley in place. Not a big deal. ONE suggestion thou, if they ask if you want a little more pain med before they remove the drain lines TAKE it. It is quick pain, but I found it to be painful, I have heard others say it was not bad. I really think it depends on the person and where they are placed, but rather be safe then sorry. As soon as you can and the medical team agrees start walking will help to get things moving and minimize the gas pains. Wish you the best and know we are here for you.

 

[Nancy Lee]

Fortunately I haven't had to have surgery for Crohn's...yet.

You will be in my thoughts and prayers.

Healing Hugs~Nancy

 

[daisy8599]

You guys are the best! I am so happy that I found this support system! I know that everything is going to go great with my surgery and thanks to the great people on here my nerves are a lil calmer!
thank you very much!

 

[Kathryn]

I wish you lots of luck on your surgery and I think it's fab that you feel so supported by this forum!

-Kathryn

 

[Sojourn]

I wish someone had told me I'd have a catheter when I woke up and how bad the pain would be in the recovery room before being injected with painkiller, right when you wake up.

If I had thought about it, of course a catheter would be common sense. But I was someone shocked when I woke up. I thought maybe something had gone wrong.

 

[Lydia]

Start taking probiotics as soon as you start eating again. Probiotics can prevent secondary infections due to antibiotics, like C.Difficile.