Questions after and before surgery

[Edgey]

hello everyone ,

I've been curious of a lot of things about surgery and how it will affect my life and cant find many accurate answers on the web so i thought i'd fire away on here with them
well ive had surgery nearly 2 weeks ago which was an ileostomy (ileum removed)and have a temporary stoma bag which will be removed in roughly 3 months time i'm told, i was wondering once joined back up will i have a normal life a poo normal because a lot of people say they forever have loose stools D:?

also should i be taking vitamin or calcium tablets or anything because i now don't have a ileum?

also i don't get why the surgeon has to give the temporary stoma bag while it heals because when rejoined wont it be cut again?

sorry for all the inaccurate questions and maybe some things i got wrong or don't know what I'm quite talking about but its all answerless at the moment, thanks for any reply much appreciated

 

[DustyKat]

Your bowels motions once reconnected will very much depend on how much bowel you had removed and just to muddy the waters it can still vary from person to person. If you do suffer with diarrhoea I do think many people get some degree of take up over time but fo those that don't there is medication or natural supplements that can be taken to alleviate the problem. My daughter had about 70cm of bowel removed and diarrhoea was always an issue for her but psyllium has resolved that problem. My son had 28cm and although it does plague him a bit it is nowhere near as bad a Sarah's and he also uses psyllium with great effect.

With your Terminal Ileum removed you will need to supplement B12, normally by injection, for the rest of your life. Early on you may find B12 levels are normal as the body does store it but as time moves on you must remain vigilant at monitoring it. Also as a start have your Folate, Iron Stores and Vitamin D levels done then move onto other vitamin and minerals. If you are having the run of baseline bloods every time then things like potassium, sodium and calcium should automatically be tested.

You will often be given a temporary stoma so that the inflammation in the bowel has a chance to settle. You can't join two inflamed ends of bowel together and for them to find two healthy ends to join at the time of surgery would mean they would be removing a lot of bowel that can otherwise be saved by giving you a stoma.

HTH!
Dusty. xxx

 

[Edgey]

Your bowels motions once reconnected will very much depend on how much bowel you had removed and just to muddy the waters it can still vary from person to person. If you do suffer with diarrhoea I do think many people get some degree of take up over time but fo those that don't there is medication or natural supplements that can be taken to alleviate the problem. My daughter had about 70cm of bowel removed and diarrhoea was always an issue for her but psyllium has resolved that problem. My son had 28cm and although it does plague him a bit it is nowhere near as bad a Sarah's and he also uses psyllium with great effect.

With your Terminal Ileum removed you will need to supplement B12, normally by injection, for the rest of your life. Early on you may find B12 levels are normal as the body does store it but as time moves on you must remain vigilant at monitoring it. Also as a start have your Folate, Iron Stores and Vitamin D levels done then move onto other vitamin and minerals. If you are having the run of baseline bloods every time then things like potassium, sodium and calcium should automatically be tested.

You will often be given a temporary stoma so that the inflammation in the bowel has a chance to settle. You can't join two inflamed ends of bowel together and for them to find two healthy ends to join at the time of surgery would mean they would be removing a lot of bowel that can otherwise be saved by giving you a stoma.

HTH!
Dusty. xxx

Thanks a lot for the reply

i think i had like 2 - 4 inches removed or something like that and before surgery i never suffered with diarrhea in my life and i hope i don't afterwards but i can't really judge that yet i suppose, if to say i did (touch wood i don't) and i took psyllium would i be able to go out like normal?

when would you say i should start vitamins, B12 and iron?

i know i should ask half these questions to my doctor but i seem to go blank when im there
i hope everything is going well with Sarah and your son
i think things are bearable when you understand a lot more so you've helped me out her cheers

 

[DustyKat]

If you do suffer with bile salt diarrhoea following your take down surgery then taking either medication or psyllium should stabilise things for you and you should be able to go out with no problems. It shouldn't take long to hit on the right dose. Sometimes you will find that certain foods will make things uncomfortable for you but if you eliminate those then all should be fine. Sarah can't tolerate red meat or oils but not everyone has the issues Sarah does.

I would have blood levels checked as soon as you can. Be sure and get a copy of your results and continue to keep your own records of all tests you have done.

Sarah and Matt are doing very well thanks, they have both been in remission since their surgeries.

Please don't hesitate to keep asking questions if you need to!

Dusty. xxx