Protocolectomy question

[ThatGuy2006]

I have another thread in the stoma subforum about the surgery, I just wanted to ask:

When they remove your rectum, how long does that take to heal or at least not hurt as much...I hate not being able to sit up straight or put too much pressure on my bottom.

 

[Fruitcake]

Hiya

I think it's different for everyone depending how much it's affected by your disease. I was on morphine in hospital but didn't even know I had stitches down there until the nurse asked could she check them! Even after I was home it was more discomfort than pain, much less painful than any other of my wounds.

Wishing you a quick recovery if you're having this op

Lyndsey xx

 

[ThatGuy2006]

Thank you! Already had the op, and it went great! I'm managing now, got a nice pad the hospital gave me for chairs so I've been using that. It works but I will be happy when its nice and healed up

 

[Brindle]

you may want to buy one of those inflatable donut ring pillows for your bottom. Most drugs stores have them and they are pretty cheap. I always crossed one of my legs under me when sittings so i was straight upright and not pressure near wound. I sat like that prior to surgery, so was a very comfortable position for me while healing.

 

[CDDad]

It was about 8 weeks for me before I could sit comfortably. Weeks 3 to 5 were very painful because the numbness started to go away and waves of pain replaced it. So I lived on Tylenol around the clock for those weeks.

As you may have read in my other posts, my incision fully healed after about 5 months (stiches broke - so it was open), but now has reopened a bit. The gift that keeps on giving.

 

[ThatGuy2006]

How long did it drain and what did it look like? I get sick of having to change this bandage on my bum lol.

 

[CDDad]

Mine drained until it closed. Now that it is open agian, it is draining again. The drainage was usually red to light red, or yellowish. Mostly light, but sometimes a bit thicker.

I was seeing a local surgeon every two weeks or so to keep tabs on it. He cut me loose when it healed, but now i'm seeing him again.

 

[ThatGuy2006]

how long after the surgery did you have to keep a dressing or gauss on it?

 

[CDDad]

My incision was open so it was a long time. Months. Someone else who had a normal perianal closure can answer how long it was for them.