Ileum and cecum surgery questions!

[MattB]

Last week I had my ileum, cecum, and appendix taken out due to a really bad stricture and narrowing of intestines. I was in the hospital for 13 days and was having a hard time keeping the pain under control. I was discharged Tuesday evening with norco taking 2 10mg/325 tab every 4 hours, and xanax every 6 hours to help keep me calm and relaxed. Before the surgery I had not passed a BM in 10 days and since the surgery 1 week ago I have only gone once, but I am still passing gas frequently. My dr gave me enough pain pills to last a couple days. I have been taking them religiously every 4 hours because I am afraid the pain is going to get out of control. I currently woke up in pain 3 hours ago took the pills and xanax and still not much relief. I am supposed to go today and get the staples taken out, I am going to ask for another script of pain pills so I can make it through the weekend without having to go back to the hospital. Is it still pretty normal to be experiencing incision and stomach pain 1 week after surgery. All the medical professionals I've talked to have told me different and it is getting very frustrating. I have been taking it easy at home laying in bed and trying to walk up and down the street a bit to get everything moving again. I was on a extreme high dose of steroids before and during the surgery so they said its prolly going to take me longer to heal. How does it feel to get the staples removed I am worried about that also. On top of the resection surgery the day before I had to have a couple stents put in my right kidney and ureter because I had so much scar tissue that the ureter had joined with the intestines, and ureter was also all structured down. I still have the stents in and I also think that they also be contributing to the some of the pain. I guess it is just going to be a long recovery, I am eating a soft diet like the dr suggested but am worried that if I keep putting food in and nothing is coming out that something bad is going to happen. Anyone have and suggestions or ideas?!?

 

[sdexter]

I do not understand why no one seems to be concerned that you have had only 1 BM. That is certainly not normal. As far as the staples go, that is nothing compared to what you have been through. As far as incision and stomach pain..yes, that is normal. I was convinced at one point that I had a hernia, but it was just the normal healing process. In fact, sometimes when the dogs jump on me right at the incision site, it still hurts..though slightly, and I had my surgery 4 months ago. If I were you, I would be more concerned about the BM situation.

 

[nogutsnoglory]

I am surprised they let you out of the hospital with one bowel movement. It sounds like your body hasn't fully woken up.

 

[MattB]

I talked to the surgeon about the BM situation and he prescribed me a stool softener to try to get things moving. In the past 2 weeks I have had a total of 2 BMs one in the hospital and one at home. The surgeon and drs think it's just a combination of all the pain medicine backing me up, me not eating really anything in the past two weeks and my bowels not being fully awake yet. I am walking more and more everyday which should help get things moving again. I also am trying to cut down on the pain pills instead of 2 every 4-5 hours I'm trying 1 and hopefully that will manage the pain without backing me up so much. I am still relieving gas and they told me not to worry until I don't have any gas whatsoever on top of the no BM which I think would mean an obstruction. Hopefully it all turns around soon! It's weird everything I have read says that people have loose stools after the surgery and I have barely gone whatsoever lol! Sdexter you were right about the staples no big deal whatsoever, no big deal at all!

 

[nogutsnoglory]

Why would you have an obstruction when you just had surgery? The diseased intestine was removed. Only post surgical complications like tears can occur but an obstruction seems unlikely.

 

[MattB]

I never said I had a obstruction. I was just trying to brain storm ideas as why I haven't been going to the bathroom. I think it's just a combination of the pain meds, not eating for 2 weeks and my bowels having to wake up after the surgery. I have been having a BM now about every other day sometimes 2 every other day. It hurts when I go, is it normal cause of the surgery? Also I am bleeding some from my incision. I have been cleaning it daily and changing the dressing on it everyday sometimes twice a day. I want it to stay very clean. I saw my gi today and we are starting cimzia and also going to start to decrease the prednisone! So happy to start to decrease it, this medicine sucks! I'm kind of nervous to start cimzia but very hopefull that this is what I need to keep me in remission!

 

[leithcote]

Hi - I'm not sure of the basis of your pain-meds, but many are direct causes of constipation; codeine or other morphine-based drugs especially. I think trying to cut down is probably the best course, and go back to your doctor's if things don't resolve themselves soon. Something just doesn't sound right.
Best wishes,
Tony.

Oh - and bleeding from your incision? Really? What does the Doc say about that?

 

[DustyKat]

The analgaesia you are taking and the regime of two every 4-5 hours would certainly have constipating effects so cutting back is a move in the right direction.

Aside from having a poor appetite, also a side effect of constipation which will compound the problem, you need to ensure you are drinking 6-8 glasses of water a day to help soften the stool.

I assume at this point you are not moving around too much? That being the case, lack of mobility will also add to risk of constipation...not moving slows things down.

What do you mean when you say it hurts when you goes? If your stool is hard then it will have a tendency to hurt as more pressure, on your part, is required to pass the stool.

Just be mindful that being on Prednisone does have a tendency to increase your healing time and your skin will tend to be more fragile, so bruising and tearing happens more easily.

I hope you are soon able to get things moving and start feeling better! Good luck!

Dusty. xxx