Nervous for 1st surgery-advice

[lomelisve]

Hi my name is Melissa im 28yrs old and have been suffering from Crohn's Disease for almost 9 years and will be having my 1st surgery on May 26th it will be a ileal Strictureplasty. Im super nervous and would like to talk to anyone who has this surgery so i know what im in for.

 

[bruscar]

Hi Melissa,

Ihaven't had that exact operation but have had five others.

The thing with surgery is to remember that you are not operating on yourself, it is a highly educated and experienced physician.

I think that all of us patients do forget this, so sit (lie) back and let them get on with it.In pain and they will give you something for it.simple. . .

All the very best to you.

 

[lomelisve]

Thank you so much, Its very scary but i dont know what im scared about hehe!

 

[bruscar]

I personally think it is being out of it and not being able to observe, in a funny kind of way.

Don't worry honestly.

try your best to chillax

 

[Ari]

Hi Melissa,

I had my first op in feb this year and I was extra nervous too. Mine was a resection and I woke up with an ileostomy bag on. That was the first thing I saw and the first thing I said was f**k. They removed about 10 inches of my ileum, resected my colon and fixed my left ureter. I had to have laparotomy as my crohns was too advanced for keyhole. I think you'll wake up with a biggish wound too as it rather difficult to do it laparo. Strictureplasty means they will try to preserve yr gut and more than likely you will not wake up with a bag...

It's only natural to be scared, but your reality is that you need surgery and the sooner you have it done the better. I had a few complications and I caught MRSA, but it WAS WORTH IT and knowing the benefits I would it again... if I had to.

My advice is try and stay positive. Remission tastes great x

 

[hannah-rose]

Hey! It sucks you're having surgery but I hope it goes well for you.

I can't comment on the type of surgery you're having, but I had my first minor op this year - I'd never had a general anaesthetic or an operation before and I was really nervous, I just didn't trust the aneasthetic and thought I'd wake up half way through!

Before the op was really weird because it was so alien to me and those hospital gowns and weird pants are so horrible lol, but I was being brave cos my mum was there, then when they wheeled me into the anaesthetic room i started to get upset and started crying but the nurses were so lovey and she said, 'aw, what's the matter? are you scared?' and i sniffled yes and she said 'what are you scared of?' and i just cried and shrugged haha and she made all these jokes and said 'do you like a drink? what's your favourite drink? ok this little bit of medicine is going to be vodka it's going to make you all relaxed and happy' and as soon as they put the stuff in i started laughing cos it makes you feel drunk, then they stuck the general anaesthetic in and the last thing i remember is my face feeling tingly. I woke up in the recovery room feeling reeaaalllly sleepy and they gave me a pain killer as soon as i woke up and i spent a blissfull few hours pain free completely doped up talking rubbish. I'm not one for recreational drugs but that feeling after you wake up from a general is so nice lol I've never felt so relaxed in my whole life.

I'm really sorry you have to have surgery, but the actual surgery part of it will be a doddle (cos you'll be sleeping) and if they give you enough pain relief the afterwards part shouldn't be too bad either.

Just make sure everyone makes a fuss of you and buys you loads of presents

Hannah x

 

[xJillx]

Hi Melissa! I don't have any surgery advice, but I wanted to welcome you to the forum.

I wish you luck, and I hope you have a speedy recovery!