Sitting in hospital

[Ben78]

Hi, My name is ben I'm currently sitting in hospital recovering from a Friday night operation for strictures and knots. These are a result of crohns which I had surgery for 2002.
The strictures developed around inflamed ares of my small bowel, and in time caused scarring and restriction on tubes.
Rushed into hospital Tuesday night, and many tests and x rays followed to Finnally decide they would operate again. Same place same scar same cut , which was nice of the surgeon, by the way the surgeon was the same guy.

Two days on and I feel great apart from no bowel movement and a stabbing pain in my shoulder......go figure. ?
The doctors are actually shocked!!!!! I've turned down any more morphine and I'm only on iv paracetamol. Doctors said I was obviously made of stronger stuff. There usually encouraging people out of bed now. I'm doing laps of the hospital . But this is the second time I've been through this. And it is not easy. It's a major op and I've had alot chopped away.
Now for the medicine coz I'm not doing this a third time.....
Good luck and best of wishes to anyone going through this. I know what it's like, lived with this for over 13 years
Take care
Ben

 

[jonathanzn]

Good luck! Ben!

 

[David]

Hi Ben! Thank you for joining our forum, I'm pleased you did.

I'm so glad the surgery went well and you're doing great! I'm really happy for you

Do you know specifically which area of your bowel you've had removed each time? Like the end of the small intestine or the large intestine or somewhere else? And are you on any vitamin supplements?

Have they discussed what meds they're going to put you on?

Here's to your recovery continuing to be a good one!

 

[Ben78]

Thanx guys,
Hi David, it was a section of both small and large bowel, apparently about 5 ft this time including a knot at the end of the smll bowel, causing all of the problems this time. Surgeon also opened up several strictures.

I'm still being told about new meds on the market, and this remicaid sounds like a winner.
Gonna ask what people are using and how it works on the forum!


 

[David]

I figured that was what you had removed. Don't worry about it this minute, just focus on your recovery, but be very sure to have them regularly test your vitamin b12 levels. The terminal ileum which you had possibly all of removed, is where vitamin B12 is absorbed. So it's absolutely imperative that you make sure you don't ever get deficient. I'd personally proactively supplement and still get tested regularly. The first test might come back normal but the body can store enough B12 for awhile but it'll get used up pretty quick. It's a very high likelihood that not too far down the road you will end up deficient. NEVER let that come close to happening. Supplementing isn't a big deal but deficiency definitely is.

And just in case you haven't seen it, we have a Remicade forum you can check out.

 

[Angrybird]

Hi Ben and welcome to the forum Good to hear you are doing so well after the op, fingers crossed 'things' will get moving so you can be getting home soon.

Please keep us updated on how you get on.

AB
xx

 

[tots]

Welcome-
I am going to start Remicade June 4th. I am loking forward to feeling better!

I am glad you found this forum, I have learned so much more than I have ever learned from my Drs. Poke around the forum and you will too!

Lauren
:thumright:

 

[Trysha]

Hi Ben,
Glad to have you join us on the forum.
You will find friendly and helpful people here and some similar to yourself.
You are amazingly upbeat for someone recovering from such major surgery and this will undoubtedly help the healing process.
Very good that you turned down the opiates------good for you.
Feel better soon
Hugs and best wishes
Trysha

 

[archie]

Hi Ben glad your through the worst, how long had you been getting symptoms before your 2nd surgery and what were they? Were your strictures due to active crohns or adhesions? were you med free since your first surgery? Good luck

 

[Ben78]

Wow!!!! Thank you so much guys. Wasn't quite expecting all the get wells.
Unfortunately my bowels havnt started up again yet, but I've been given the go ahead with some ensure. Amazing, finally some flavour in my life.
Slow and steady wins the race.
Tha pain is very bearable more just uncomfortable at the moment. Shoulder still hurting though. They've been given me tramadol but once again I don't want to much of that. I'm thinking it's slowing down my bowel restart.??
But boy this Ensure fruits of the forest, talk about nectar from the gods. lol

 

[Ben78]

Hi Ben glad your through the worst, how long had you been getting symptoms before your 2nd surgery and what were they? Were your strictures due to active crohns or adhesions? were you med free since your first surgery? Good luck

Hi Archie , ok since my first op in 2002 things have been ok, had good weeks had bad weeks, I deal with spasms,craps,vomiting. I'm a chef and don't have time to stop for cramps and spasm so I soldier on through the pain, it aventually subsides.
It was about a year ago the pain changed and I knew something was different,
I thought it was hyrnia so I had an MRI and heard nothing, until 2 months ago when I went to my gp and inquired about results. Oh yes he says!
You seem to have multiple strictures around your tubes causing dilation, these are due to active crohns. The crohns inflames and deflames and over time causes scars these scars are the strictures.
I've taken no medication as such in the 12/3 yrs of my crohns.

 

[archie]

Thanks Ben for the reply I hope u feel better soon my shoulder killed me after the surgery (still is a bit tender!!!) but the gas pain soon subsided it took me 6 days to go I needed movicol in the end and still do now and again they've always been sluggish... I'm on no meds but feel well so not too worried like u I also have good and bad days with strong cramps spasms etc but also work on my feet and soldier through I think us crohnies are good at that lol. I'm having a small bowel series next week though to have a peak. Good luck with your recovery, ru going on any meds this time round?