My first surgery! What should I expect??

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Lawrence89

Joined
Feb 28, 2014
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Hi all,

So in 8-12 weeks I'll be having my first surgery for my Crohn's since my diagnosis 10 years ago. I'm not particularly scared as my doctor told me my quality of life will be vastly improved, but I'd like to know what to expect based on my kind of surgery (I've read the what to expect thread but wondered if anyone could give me a sort of more specific outlook post surgery).

As I'm a first timer they think they'll be able to work laparoscopically, and I need two 20ish cm small bowel strictures removed, one showing significant pre-stenotic dilatation. They've already discussed the possibility of having a stoma if the pre-stenotic dilatation is too severe to enable them to connect the two ends up there and then. I'm about to start an 8 week course of Modulen to rest the bowel and I currently have a CRP of 2 so inflammation is good.

I've been told to anticipate 6-7 days in hospital but what about recovery after that? My girlfriend is coming over from America for a couple weeks not long after so I'd like to know what I can expect energy and pain wise.

Thanks!
 
I had my first surgery (laproscopic ileosectemy) last Thursday so I will share my experience with you although everyone's is a bit different. During surgery everything went fantastic. No stoma or bag, no having to take out anything extra (although my doc did remove my appendix but I guess I didn't need it anyways lol) but she said it was an all around good procedure and it took about 3 hours. I had about 8&1/2 inches of small bowel removed. Waking up from surgery was a different story however. Even though they gave me pain medication all throughout the procedure, when I woke up I was in the most pain I've ever been in. Although it did not at all feel like crohns pain because it was surgical pain. I'm not sure if this happened to me because I am on a high dose of pain medication outside the hospital or if this is normal but I have read posts on here about it happening to others. After a few hours they were able to get the pain under control with lots of meds and I was very very sleepy, while I was awake I was loopy and made no sense (from the anesthesia) so I slept for a good 4 more hours) after that it was about controlling my pain and starting to eat food. I would advise very small portions followed by warm tea or water (lots of water) and getting up and walking even if just to your door and back as frequently as possible. I started eating and was feeling fine but not really walking so much and taking a lot of pain medicine then before you know it my belly was so descended that I was in more pain and would get more pain medication and the cycle repeated for a while until they put an ng tube down my nose/throat. It is extreamly uncomfortable and made me miserable- you do not want this but it is fairly common after surgery. So be careful but if you do have to have it just try to rest and walk as much as possible to have them remove it. Walking is your best friend in the hospital because it gets your bowels working. You need to do it as much as you can even if you're in pain just go slow and short distances. They removed my tube today (I write this from the hospital) and I'm not sure what else will happen. It is hard for me to urinate and I still have not had a bowel movement so I'm walking and siting up as much as possible to wake my Bowles up but we'll see what happens. I wish you all the luck in the world. You are strong so you must remember that after surgery while in the hospital. Remember, walk as much as possible, small portions of food, lots of water, and I enjoyed small sips of hot tea. Goodluck and sorry you have to go through this
 
Thank you so much for this Kalaaa, especially as you're still in hospital!! I really hope your bowels wake up soon! And I'm sorry you had to go through all that pain, I'm glad they got it under control. A few questions:

1) Did you do any liquid diet before the surgery?
2) Did they explain why your stomach became distended? I was told that I might experience more bloating than before but I don't understand why.
 
Hi.

I'm one of the "lucky" ones with LOTS of surgery experience.

For me:
6-7 days is pretty typical.
Make sure you don't let pain get out of hand. It slows healing (can't do much)
Walk, walk, walk.
It usually takes 6-8 weeks to get back into my normal routine but remember to walk a lot
Don't overdo it to soon...it slows recovery. Listen to your body
DON'T lift much of anything until the doctor gives the okay.

Ask lots of questions. Keep a notebook to right them down.

Hope all goes well.
 
Sorry, forgot to say mine have been open surgery, not laproscopic surgery.
Laproscopic surgery is less traumatic to the system and we get over it much quicker.
 
Hi Lawrence,I had open bowel re section and ileostomy 14 mths ago,I was very very ill at the time, but relief I got from the pain I was in was unreal,I thought I was another person it was so much less pain than I'd had in nearly 2 yrs. I guess the morphine helped the 1st day, but after that I was on tramadol n paracetamol n felt ok,a little but of surgical pain but nothing to bad.was up out of bed the next day and walking to the bathroom, bent over n wobbly lol but I was on the move. Was eating normal food on the 2 nd day, went home after 10 days and only that long because I couldn't wee with out a catheter lol. But to me it was a breeze compared to what I suffered before. Iv now also had a reversal of my ostomy, that also went like clockwork. I was of 3 mths the 1 St time, but I was so weak from before the OP, only off the 2nd time 2 mths n that was partly due to the fact I just didn't want to rush back while I was retraining my bowel n didn't want to be rushing to loo loads at work.so i had a pretty ok time off it all told.hope that helps.
 
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PS yes I agree with djw, Lapo is far easier to recover from than open surgery. And by the way I'm an oldie at 52 so if you have youth on your side it should be easier. Hope all goes well for you...
 
thank you both, I really appreciate you telling me your experiences! Something I'm curious about...I haven't been able to eat what I want really since my diagnosis 10 years ago (I've avoided most dairy for pretty much that whole time for example) but if, as my doctor tells me, after surgery my bowel should look no different to a healthy one will I be able to eat what I want? He seems to believe so but I just can't imagine it.
 
Hi, well Lawrence since my surgery iv been able to eat anything and everything with no issues for the last year n half ish.something I could not do for years prior. So hopefully you will be the same. Granted I don't eat a lot of spicy food but I'm not a great fan of spicy any way,I eat salad stuff n cooked veg (fairly soft) n dairy I love dairy eat loads n far so good :)
 
I am meeting with a surgeon next week for a probable intestinal resection. My issues is at the ileo-cecal valve. Can anyone explain to me how that works? Valves are usually important, how does it work if they remove it?
 
Hi Caitlin, iv had a quick google on this, it seems that this valve can be dealt with with surgery. Also sometimes by other methods, depending on what the exact problem is. Its seems as if you can be ok without it if it has to be removed. Maybe have a google your self to help you understand it more the valve at the bottom of the stomach release food into the large intestine, but check if they are removing the valve or resecting close by. Best wishes, Mandy..
 
Hi Catiling, I'm also having that area removed so I can tell you what one of the Gastro team told me...Mandy is right in that it slows down food entering the large intestine. So what that means is we may have to go to the toilet more often, but it shouldn't hopefully impact us too much. And he clarified that it wouldn't necessarily be an urgent need to go like needing to run to the toilet. Hope that helps.

Mandy, thanks very much for that. That would be amazing for me as I'd kind of resigned myself to the fact I'd never eat normally again. It's so hard with this illness to not just settle with how things are if that makes sense, like my doctor's telling me I've basically been selling myself short but it's so hard to believe things could be way better!
 
Hi Lawrence, never sell your self short love always pled your case no one knows your body like you and they are not the ones suffering the pain. So stand up for your rights. I pray that this helps you as much as it helped me, and hope you can enjoy eating normally again, its so good to be back to normal again, I'm having a ball now!!.best wishes :)
 
Hi Caitlin iv just been looking through some posts on this Forum and if you go to main menu and go to ask the experts there is a post regarding your issue, its a couple of years old but still relevant, it may help...
 
I have not had Crohn's related surgery (a few unrelated ones) but I wanted to wish you the best of luck and to tell you not to get too worked up about it.
 
I have had 3 Crohns surgeries and a laparoscopic colostomy surgery. in my opinion this has increased my quality of life by the hundreds. i would expect to be sore after but i think it will be all uphill from here.
 
Caitlin84, I had the ileo-cecal valve removed back in 2007. I really don't see any difference with having that removed. Also back in 1980 I had about 1/2 of the large intestine removed. I did have to start taking a b-12 shot once a month which I do myself. Good luck to you!
 
Thanks Cody and Hollie for the encourgaement. I can deal with some soreness I'm sure, to just be able to go out to eat with my friends or family and not worry about what's on the menu or order a take away on the weekend and not worry about the repercussions would be amazing!
 
I felt way better after I recovered from my first surgery. My recover was a little difficult. I had the surgery at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore. It was in 99 and it was done open. While I was there the wound got infected and I has to let it heal open. I got sent home packing gauze into my belly until it healed itself. That sucked but after that I felt great for a good 4 years. I could eat whatever during that time. Maybe occasional diarrhea but other than that felt great. However mine seems to come back every 4-5 years. I just had my 4th resection in June but my first colostomy. On the bright side I can eat so much more than I could before surgery.
 
My daughter had subtotal Colectomy on July 15th Laproscopicly. Since this is fresh in my mind even though surgeries are a bit different I'd thought I'd share.

The 1st day almost all sleep. By day 3 the mind wanted to do things the body wasn't ready for. She came off pain meds a bit too quick and had a bit of a setback but was out by day 7. The 1st week post hospital was tough. No stairs and movement was tough, but by 2nd week it became easier and easier to walk around. 3rd week she started going out with friends, but low activity. Now almost 4 weeks she is out doing almost everything she did before except the lifting.

Hope this helps.
 
Thanks Crohno and SupportiveMom. Surgery definitely seems like the way forward for me. Like you mentioned Crohno I'm a bit anxious about how long it will work for but no point really worrying about that. Also SupportiveMom I'm glad your daughter is recovering well, I wish her all the best and, as a patient who also has a great mom that helped me through all this during my teenage years, thank you for being supportive! :)
 
Hi Lawrence, surgery is usually the the last resort, but frankly I don't always agree Coz the pain we suffer while they phaff about with meds is ours to suffer not theirs. I really hope all goes well for you, if you end up with a Stoma please try to embrace it Coz it will be your best friend as regards relief from pain,I blooming loved mine as I don't think I'd be here now without her.here's hope for the very best outcomes all round. Best wishes Mandy...
 
Well, I am scheduled for a right colectomy/ileectomy next tues. I'm relieved that there is an end in sight. Just hoping to keep my stricture open until tues. Should be in the hospital 3-4 days. Nervous but hopeful.
 
Hi Caitlin, just to say I hope all goes well and smoothly for you, wishing you a very speedy recovery.please let us know how you get on!!. I'll be thinking of you and sending get well hugs, best wishes Caitlin x
 
Surgery went well. They took 6 inches of large intestine and 6 inches of small. I'm told I still have terminal ileum left, so I won't have vitamin B absorption issues. Surgery was Tues morning, I went home Thurs afternoon. I'm sore, but feeling pretty good for the most part. Trying to get back in the habit of eating again. Only had a few bowel movements since surgery-so they still make me a little nervous.

Thanks for the well wishes!
 
Aw that's great news mate, you keep rested and look after yourself..you will be ok, the bm,s will get easier and you will get more confident with doing them. Get well hugs and best wishes for a speedy recovery hun xx
 
glad to hear everything went well Caitlin! Best of luck moving forward, hope it really improves your quality of life. I met the surgeon the other day and scheduled for first week in October for a couple small bowel resections. Until then...Modulen! :(
 
Hi lawerence, hope all goes well for you in oct, im sure you will feel much better after the re-sections, i know i did and pray you do too..
 

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