Surgery coming up...

[ktp112]

After a couple months of pretty miserable pain and nausea due to a persistent partial obstruction, my doctors have finally decided to do something and have ordered surgery. The obstruction was due to a 2 inch segment of scarring in my small bowel that three treatments of remicade did nothing for.

I just wanted to know what to expect, as I'm probably going to be having surgery in the next few days. How long am I going to be in the hospital? What will the surgery process entail? and what is my recovery time going to look like? I'd really like to be out of the hospital before Christmas... am I crazy for hoping for that, or is that a realistic hope? I'd also like to avoid missing any school... If I were to get surgery within the next week, would I be feeling well enough to go to back to school on the 9th of January?

Also, the doctor that's doing my surgery is going to be Dr. Mika Sinanan at the University of Washington. I've heard lots of good things about him from both of my GI docs and was just wondering if anyone on here has had anything done by him... Thank you guys.

 

[shamrock15]

Well, if you get in in the next day or two, you may be out for Christmas. My stays have always averaged about 10 days, but I have had issues with my bowels waking up on time. If that isn't an issue, and hopefully they will be able to do you with a scope instead of a large incision, you should have a quicker healing time. For me, the issue has always been the NG tubes after surgery. I can't tolerate them more than a day. A return to school by January 9th may be a little optimistic. I found it took a while to kick the fatigue. If this is all in your terminal ileum, make sure they have a plan for maintenance after surgery as well. Remicade or imuran may help keep everything from returning. That's what has done me in all these years. Here's hoping for a quick and successful surgery, and a rapid recovery and return to as normal a life as possible. It can get better, and there are better meds for you now than when I had mine. You should have a pretty good outlook from all of this.

 

[ktp112]

Really? My doctor seemed to think it would be 4-6 days in the hospital after the surgery... I'm really, really hoping that I can get out before Christmas, because I really don't wanna be stuck in the hospital for that... I'm on Remicade and 6mp right now and I'm pretty sure that we're going to continue doing that after the surgery for maintenance. In your experience, how long does the whole process (surgery, hospital stay and recovery afterwards) end up taking? And will I be bedridden the whole time or will I be able to function somewhat normally?

 

[shamrock15]

Keep in mind mine was a little more involved -double resection and multiple strictureplasties. You likely will be walking inside of 24 hours, as early as 12. The sooner you walk, normally the sooner you have your bowels functioning. Bring lots of stuff to keep you occupied - computer games, puzzles, reading, music. Maybe earplugs - I have been on the ward with many people who have used CPAP machines to sleep at night. Works well for them, not people in the same room though.

 

[beber2600]

for what its worth, as a slight point of reference from a recent experience, I had a colon resection, rectum, sigmoid, and anus removal and was comfortable and healed well enough after 5 days to go home but decided to stay 6. The doctor predicted 5-7 days and said my age (27) played a role in my recovery time.

Best of luck with your surgery and quick healing!

 

[ktp112]

Surgery date is set for next Friday, the 21st... So I'm gonna have to spend Christmas in the hospital... What a bummer. Oh well, at least this will fix the problem. And hopefully this will mean I'll be fine for school by the 9th. The surgeon seemed to be fairly optimistic that I would.

Thanks for your answers guys.

 

[CheerBear12]

Good luck and keep us posted x

 

[ktp112]

Thanks guys. I'll probably be on the forum quite a bit in the next few weeks. It's really been great to be able to come here with questions and to provide my support and advice to people who are going through the same thing I am. Plus, I'll be stuck in a hospital bed without much to do.

 

[CheerBear12]

I've got my proctectomy in may next yr so not looking forward too it hope you have a speedy recovery rest rest rest xx

 

[ForeverCrohns]

Hello ktp112

Hope your surgery goes well .. Usually the normal hospital stay is minimum 5 days and depending on how soon you begin to eat and if your pain is managed and everything else is okey. But don't expect that you will have a lot of energy as soon as you are out of the hospital, it took me a month to start feeling better. You're body will go through a major surgery and needs time to adjust to the new changes.

 

[acheallova]

http://www.crohnsforum.com/showthread.php?t=27387
Here's a link you might want to check out for prep questions on surgery. If there are any you haven't covered with the doc, you sill have time to do so.
I'm sorry you will be spending Christmas in the hospital, but think of it this way- waited on 24/7, feeling better for holiday and have wonderful gifts awaiting you at home.
Best of luck!! Muah-hugs-