Resection Surgery Coming up 4/10

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Steven

Steven

Joined
Nov 13, 2011
Messages
41
So I had a really bad abccess at the begining of this month.. Which required me to stay in the hospital for 3 nights... They placed a drain in.. Which I still have in.. The output is still really high..The doctors feel its from a small fistula from the infected part of my intestine feeding the abccess.. So my Gi recommended a visit to the surgeon.. After weighing out all the options I've opted to get a resection.. They are going to remove the Terminal Ileum and part of the colon..Bit nervous but after dealing with numerous abscesses.. I feel this this the right choice.. Date is set for April 10th..

Any sugestions post recovery?
 
I don't have any experience with resections but I'm sure someone will be a long soon with their experience and some post surgery tips. Just wanted to wish you good luck!
 
Both of my children have had the same surgery as you Steven. My son had his for the same reason as you and also had a drain, his was in for 3 months.

He had his surgery on the 7th April 2 years ago and has been in remission since that time. :)

This is a fab thread that you might like to read through...

http://www.crohnsforum.com/showthread.php?t=30212

...loads of surgical stories and advice.

Good luck!

Dusty. xxx
 
Thanks for the link to the surgical stories.. I read through most of it.. It appears everyone situation is a bit different.. So Its kind of hard to gauge just how it may go.. I guess I will soon find out myself...
 
Steven,

I just had a resection in February and they also removed two fistulas at the same time. I am so glad I had surgery because I feel so much better and my energy is coming back. The recovery was not too bad, but I am still on physical restriction for another week or so, but I am back at work at least.

Post recovery I would say, to take it easy and do whatever the surgeon tells you. I would also not rush to eat real food again. Once I got home, I was dealing with nausea for awhile and once you do start eating again, take it slow. Try not to overwhelm your system, but rather start with soft, mushy, bland food for a few days (yogurt, crackers, applesauce, etc.) then work your way back to real food.

Hope all goes well for you and that you feel better soon!
 
The best advice I could give you, is *REST* properly after the surgery. I think everyone is always rushing to get back to work - usually before they are ready(!). Take advantage of the down-time. A general anaesthetic takes a while to work its way out of your system - oh, and the surgery has somewhat of an impact too(!). Anyhow, I am totally happy that I had my resection last year - and I hope your surgery goes well. Best of luck!
Tony.
 
Thanks for the words of encouragment everyone.. I'm hopeful everything goes well myself.. Not looking foward to the pain.. But I'm sure I'll manage.. I'll have family and freinds for support. So thats always nice..
 
Im about 5 weeks out from my resection- things I did that helped with the initial at-home recovery- mind you I live alone and had some help but ya, mostly alone so if you are lucky and live with family you will be much better off
-first I cleaned my house super good before I went to the hospital. clean bedding, clean towels, all the laundry done, floors, bathroom ect. you wont be able to any of this intially but you will greatly appriciate if its all done
-stock your fridge/freezer with your fave comfort foods and healing foods. for me this was tons of homemade chicken stock to eat plain and also make easy blended soups like squash soup, applesauce, rice noodles, yogurt, coconut water. make a plan for hospital food if you're not ok with hospital food (like me), keeping in mind youll be starting on fluids/soft foods. I brought single serve applesauce cups, avacado, coconut water, almond butter, and had family bring me warm chicken broth or miso soup
-pack lots of clean undies for hospital. I also packed lots of books and things to do but honestly I didnt use any of it, you just wont be up for much.
-if needed, pay all your bills so you wont have to worry about it for awhile
-stay positive! honestly, the first week in the hospital was pretty miserable but now, 5 weeks out, it was so worth it. obviously surgery is not a cure, but in my experience it is a really effective treatment
 
Thanks for all the support everyone.. I think I've read just about everyone's experience to get an idea of what to expect.. It seems like no one surgery is the same and everyone has different recovery times.. The one common thing I did read was to get walking asap after surgery to get the guts going.

I'm a bit nervous but am prepared to get this done..

5 more days!!
 
Ok today is the big day...About to head off to the hospital.. I think I'm as prepared as I'm gonna get.. I'll post from my phone as soon as I'm feeling up to it.. Thanks for support!!!
 
Ok. Surgery is done. Haven't gotten any details from the surgeon yet. But my nurses told me it went really smooth. They are already having we walk.
 
Yea!! go Steven!! You've got this! Hopefully you will be feeling much better once the recovery is over! Keep us posted on your progress!
 
Update:

My morning restroom trip only produced 500ml. Of urine. Nurse was concerned that wasn't enough. Bladder scan was performed. Sure enough still had 1000ml. Went for a walk and had another restroom trip. Was only able to produce another 350ml. So they had to put a catheter back in Which hurt like hell. :-( uggh

Pain has increaed today. Also have left shoulder pain fro anesthesia. But thankfullly I have a pain button.

They also gave me a blood thinner shot. Forgot what she told me it was for..

Today has been pretty rough and its not even 8am. But it could be worse.
 
ahh yes I remember the catheter troubles. I was kind of a brat I admit and demanded they take mine out at about day 2 because I could feel a UTI coming on and didnt want to take antibiotics for it.
glad you are walking! it was so hard at first but it really is the best thing to get your guts moving again and for me it helped get gas moving (even though I couldnt pass gass till day 4 or 5 I think ouch). hang in there and dont be shy with that pain button! what kind of fluids are drinking? any pudding or applesauce or soup yet?
 
bunnyceleste said:
ahh yes I remember the cathetdice the dayroubles. I was kind of a brat I admit and demanded they take mine out at about day 2 because I could feel a UTI coming on and didnt want to take antibiotics for it.
glad you are walking! it was so hard at first but it really is the best thing to get your guts moving again and for me it helped get gas moving (even though I couldnt pass gass till day 4 or 5 I think ouch). hang in there and dont be shy with that pain button! what kind of fluids are drinking? any pudding or applesauce or soup yet?
Click to expand...


Yeah not a fan of this catheter.They've had me walking since the day of surgery. Currently getting to eat jello , Soup broth, apple juice basically liquid diet.. Its only been 24 hrs since surgery. I am gonna take things slow food wise.

Spoke with the surgeon today. He said it was good decision to opt for surgery. I had a fistula that was not going to heal with meds along with a very diseased ileum.

Docs got my pain management setup nicely now. Just need to get rid of this catheter and het the guts moving..

The incision near my belly button is bit larger then I thought it was going to be. Its about 4 inches long. The also made 3 port holes.

Overall things are progressing. Nurses have been very helpful.. Hoping each day gets a bit easier..
 
How could I forget the cath... I had a fistula going to my bladder that they removed, so I had to have a cath for five days. No fun.. Glad to hear that you are up and moving! Hope you continue to improve!
 
Great news - the first few days are certainly the roughest, and it does get better.

I am a little surprised they took the catheter out so early! Do you have an epidural or just oral meds? My catheter didn't come out until day 4 - had to walk around with the thing still attached!

My incision is around 3 1/2 inches long - it was about 2, but they had to extend it a little to get the diseased part of my intestine out (!), plus my surgeon had quite large hands...

Take this (hopefully once in a life-time) opportunity to rest up. The BMs *will* happen. Think mind took till day 4 or 5 post-surgery.

Best of luck with your continuing recovery.

Tony.


Steven said:
Yeah not a fan of this catheter.They've had me walking since the day of surgery. Currently getting to eat jello , Soup broth, apple juice basically liquid diet.. Its only been 24 hrs since surgery. I am gonna take things slow food wise.

Spoke with the surgeon today. He said it was good decision to opt for surgery. I had a fistula that was not going to heal with meds along with a very diseased ileum.

Docs got my pain management setup nicely now. Just need to get rid of this catheter and het the guts moving..

The incision near my belly button is bit larger then I thought it was going to be. Its about 4 inches long. The also made 3 port holes.

Overall things are progressing. Nurses have been very helpful.. Hoping each day gets a bit easier..
Click to expand...
 
Glad to hear everything went well. These first days are the toughest, but you sound like you're in fairly good spirits? Go on little walks as much as you can. It helped my son get the juices flowing again, so to speak, but like leithcote said, also take this time to just allow yourself to heal.

Best of luck!
 
Ok. Here we are day 2.

Pain is well managed currently.. Looks like we are setting a goal for 3 walks today.. I will keep u all posted as I recover. Thanks for the support.
 
Hey Steven :) Congratulations on the fart! That's a good sign that things are waking up again. Sounds like you're doing really well. Keep up the good work :)
 
Hey Steven- It's so funny how we all get so excited about farting, lol, but only WE would know, right? I hope your pain is well-managed and dwindling a bit today. Walk, walk, walk..whether you want to or not! What up with the Cath? Still in? Honestly, I wish they would've left mine in so I didn't have to keep getting up to pee those first couple of days. All the IV fluid builds up quickly.
 
haha yeah I remember my nurse doing a little dance and cheer when I first farted, as it took me 4 days! and the build up of gas was causing me alot of pain... yes, walking is the best thing!
 
Update.

Cath is out.

This morning I felt a bit nauseous. Was only able to eat some applesauce. Plan for today is walk as much. as I can. And. Eat as much as I can.
 
Steven said:
Update.

Cath is out.

This morning I felt a bit nauseous. Was only able to eat some applesauce. Plan for today is walk as much. as I can. And. Eat as much as I can.
Click to expand...

I don't know if you have switched over yet, but I got really sick with the oral meds, so watch what you take and pay attention to that. You may need something different. Once I went off, I was showering a few hours later, feeling amazing.
 
Just got discharged from the hospital.. Ahhhh nothing like being home... Pain is very manageable. Bm's are still watery. I've been eating ensure's and jello. Gonna continue to take things really slow with diet. Been walking and resting a bunch.Slow and steady.
 
That is great news, Steven! Glad everything is moving along. It will take a while before you know what your personal "normal" will be as far as the BMs. The frequency and urgency will steadily decrease over the next several weeks. I actually expected to have permanent loose stools, so am really grateful that is not the case. Keep walking, and yes, so nice to be able to rest at home. Good for you Don't get frustrated about your lack of energy. It will take a long time to get it back--you have been through major surgery! One day you will wake up and just realize that you feel "normal" again. Take good care!
 

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