Surgery In 2 weeks instead of 8 days

Crohn's Disease Forum

Help Support Crohn's Disease Forum:

cleuger

cleuger

Joined
Sep 9, 2012
Messages
351
Location
Space Coast Florida
All I know is at this point they are calling me for surgery in a day or two told it will be in the next 2 weeks have to have check up with family doctor to make sure ok for surgery he has to give clearance for surgery is this normal? They are type matching my blood In case blood is needed. I'll come stay In hotel day before since I live 3 hours away I'll be doing bowel prep in hotel room. My surgery is not going to be larperscopic is going to be open surgery she thinks there may be some damage In my illium I guess they'll remove that as well as colon and rectum. This is very nerve racking to say the least.
 
Last edited:
Oh no! That happened to me too....it was delayed by two weeks. It does screw with your mental preparation.

Getting clearance from your family doctor is a pretty standard thing for any major operation, so don't let that freak you out, and cross-typing your blood is also a normal thing for this operation. Needing your surgery to be done open rather than laparoscopic means a larger scar and a little longer recovery time before you feel 100%, but it is actually better for the surgeon if there are any complications. Mine was done open as well.

So sorry for all of this to fall on your shoulders at once. Big hugs to you!!!!
 
2thFairy said:
Oh no! That happened to me too....it was delayed by two weeks. It does screw with your mental preparation.

Getting clearance from your family doctor is a pretty standard thing for any major operation, so don't let that freak you out, and cross-typing your blood is also a normal thing for this operation. Needing your surgery to be done open rather than laparoscopic means a larger scar and a little longer recovery time before you feel 100%, but it is actually better for the surgeon if there are any complications. Mine was done open as well.

So sorry for all of this to fall on your shoulders at once. Big hugs to you!!!!
Click to expand...

Is that your Stoma you named Sideshow Bob LOL. Ill have to get a name for mine : ) thanks so much it was information overload yesterday. I was there for 3 hours I met with my surgeon, Stoma nurse which marked my spot that I'm not allowed to wash and the pre op nurse. The stoma nurse is awesome we tried several locations till we found a good one she said they try not to put it in a spot that folds. I hate the drive 7 hours round trip. They are suppose to be calling me today or tomorrow for actual date. I'm not looking forward to it yet I want to over with. She told me the same day of surgery they get you up and want you to sit in the recliner for a bit, won't I be in a lot of pain? The ride home I'm told I will have to sort of recline in the seat and lay on side as rectum with be stitched. As always thanks for your support

Cindy
 
Yes, it is true that they will have you up out of bed and sitting in a chair on the day of surgery. Next day (or sooner), you'll be walking the halls. Sounds horrible, and isn't fun, but that's how they do it now. They'll give you a lot of good drugs beforehand.

The spot they marked on you for your stoma: Go to Walgreens (or some other drugstore) and ask for Tegaderm film or something equal to it. You can cover your stoma marking and still take a shower. That's what I was told to do and it did work well for me. It started to fade and smudge a little bit after a week, even when covered, but I remarked on top of the mark the nurse made and covered it back up. It was still a good marked spot on the day of surgery two weeks later. However, do what makes you feel comfortable.
 
Sideshow Bob. Yep, that's my stoma. I was still in the hospital recuperating and my husband and sister were looking at it. They decided that it looked like a clown nose, like a clown was trying to jump out of my abdomen. The combination of a clown nose and the noises it makes at inappropriate moments, they named him Sideshow Bob.
 
You know, as far as I'm concerned, Sideshow Bob is the BEST name bar none!
 
Ill have to wait to see what mine looks like before I name it LOL any tips for bowel prep I have to take 3 ducolax tabs at 2:pm then I have to mix miralax with 64ounces of gatorade. How do you drink all this without getting sick? Mind you Im in hotel I also have to go for labs same day. Hopefully labs can be scheduled early so that I can stay near a bathroom the rest the day. Do you always drink the whole 64 ozs or just until your running clear out the butt. They said I would have to drink 8 ozs every 10 to 15 minutes. Have any of you done this type of bowel prep last time mine was fleetwood enama before that it was go-lightly I think its called or something like that. I have to say im getting to the point now that once they knock me out I dont care what they do but I hate bowel prep with a passion.
 
Hi!
As for the 'open surgery' compared to lap, this may sound crazy but i thought the open was way less painful and healed just fine and actually faster. With lap you can have 4-6 cuts, one larger then the rest but they ALL hurt and can be all over the abdomen. The open surgery usually has the one middle cut and feels less spread out and was easier to manage, walk, laugh, etc.
It is not what most think, and usually can be no where near what many imagine. Meaning the pain is not as bad as some are thinking/worrying about.
If you are concerned about the scar. It should become very faint over time. With proper care, follow Dr. instructions. Once healed ask the Dr. or wound nurse if you can use a natural emolument, even something like organic coconut oil and keep the scar out of the sun for a year so it does not darken.

I do so awful with the prep, it makes me so ill. I have never drank it all. I know that drinking water and the ok'd fluids are mega important so you don't get dehydrated or end up with a really bad head ache. Can you ask your surgeon if you really must do it? Not all require it. Can't hurt to ask.

Hang in there! Good vibes to you ;)
 
I did the exact prep you are doing two different times and it was one of the easier preps I've done.
 
If* said:
Hi!
As for the 'open surgery' compared to lap, this may sound crazy but i thought the open was way less painful and healed just fine and actually faster.
Click to expand...

It depends on what type of incision they use for the open surgery. If it is midline (straight down the middle) it does not cut across the muscle layers, it cuts the area where the muscle layers connect, and healing is not as painful than if the incision is transverse (horizontal) which does cut through the muscle. I had more pain right after surgery with laparoscopic procedures, but the pain went away faster than the open procedures, which usually adds a couple more weeks to the recovery time.
 
They've scheduled me for surgery on the 18th of Sept. at 12:30 pm she says im the second case. Im freaking out now becasue I have a definate date I wanted a date but I know it sounds stupid I still really nervous.
 
Heres what my paper says that I have to give my family doctor. Hes suppose to give me the green light for surgery but the proceedure says Exploratory Laparotomy Total Proctocolectomy, Possible repair of Duodenum, Cysto Stents Surgery September the 18th. What the heck is all this? I know what the Proctocolectomy is but not the rest Apparently she thinks their may be some disease on my Duodenum I guess I dont know anymore this is driving me crazy.
 
You'll have to ask you surgeon why the possible repair of duodenum is listed, but exploratory laparotomy is standard with this procedure and possible cysto stents is just a backup plan if there are adhesions or other structural problems that make it more risky while dissecting and they are afraid will damage the ureters during surgery--to help identify where they are, or in case the ureters are damaged it helps while the doctors repair them during surgery and to heal them after surgery if they are damaged and repaired.
 
Exploratory laparotomy is just looking around your belly to see how everything looks.
Cysto stents are putting long tubes inside the ureters that go up into the kidneys.

My doc thought he might need to use cysto stents during mine, but he didn't need to after all. It is often listed, but rarely needed.
 
She said there might be a small fistula on my Duodenum she wouldn't know for sure till she got there I guess. Do they remove fistulas when they do surgery? I hate these things I have possibly 2 1 I know for sure?
 
Yep. They do fistula repair during surgery. If you have one, this is the best time to fix it. That's another reason I like open surgery rather than laparoscopic. It's easier to find things like this.
 
Thank u so much I understand now why she wanted to do it open surgey I would rather have everything taken care of at one time if possible. Went to my family doctor today had my EKG and they ordered labs looks like I'll get the clearance for surgery heart Was good. I'm getting so anxious trying to do things to distract myself from thinking about. It stinks it's 2 days befor my sons 18th birthday so well celebrate that early.
 
Surgery is 1 week from today for my proctocolectomy. I had to start a short dose of prednisone as I am flaring pretty bad with joint pain and everything else that goes with it my rectum is even inflamed at this point. I actually didn't work yesterday because of it. Here's hoping there's a better life when its all over because this really sucks!!!
 
2 days and counting I am so nervous and scared. Mostly because im of afraid something will go wrong during surgry and ill leave my kids motherless. I work today and tomorrow I drive to Ft Lauderdale to stay in motel start bowl prep and go over to hospitol to be type matched. I was up at 1 am mopping my floors last night. today I'll be a bundle of nerves its not just the proctocolectomy she also has to repair a fistuala on the very top of small intestines cant remember what that's called I think it starts with a D ive been running around making sure bills were paid grocery shopped for my kids as they are going to be home checked my life insurance made sure my daughter knew she was beneficiary on my bank accounts leaving all credit cards here will let daughter know where they are. I'm sure I've done some other things to get ready I feel a lot better then I did a month ago and I want to thank each and every one if you who offered support
Thanks!!!!
 
Last edited:
I'm sure things will go well. Try and focus on the prize.

Are you thinking of the duodenum? (Hope I spelled that right).
 
Yep that's it I didn't know how to spell it I knew it started with a D 😊 I am looking forward to hopefully a less painful future just cant shake the jitters you guys are awesome and if everything goes ok I'll post from hospital I'm sure you'll be reading more from me over the next couple of days since you are the only people I can talk to that understand I mean really understand.
Thanks
 
Last edited:
I'm glad I'm almost there but as the day has gone on my anxiety has increased. I'm almost to the point of being trrified . I know this seems childish but it's the truth . I'm going to dinner at our local BBQ house where I live it's my last supper lol tomorrow liquids only and bowel prep i will leaving for hotel at 9 in the morning. I was so upset over this earlier I was lituraly shaking.
 
Last edited:
We'll be thinking of you. :ghug:

Try to remember that the chances of anything going seriously wrong are miniscule compared with the chances of everything proceeding smoothly.
 
Thanks so much everyone I didn't get much sleep last night I'm not really worried about it I figure after tomorrow Ill get plenty of rest. I'm a bit of a negative person I always think the worst is going to happen I'm working on that though trying to think of the positives. I figure if its going to happen it will happen to me. the negative stuff anyway. I'm positive that if everything goes ok from what everyone has said Ill feel much butter because I'm in a lot of pain right now my left side and back hurt really bad especially where the Fistula has surfaced my abdomen I'm sick of that thing draining all the time Ill be saying by to that as well since its attached to the colon. I'm tired of loose stools and cramping, gas and fevers I'm just over it. I use to joke whenever I would leave the house I would joke and say to bad there's no way to strap the toilet to my Arse. : ) wont have to say that anymore. Well I was brave enough to spend 2 hours grocery shopping at Walmat I can make it through this. : )
 
Is this your first surgery? I've never had to do a day of fasting or bowel prep before a surgery, that must be horrible, when you're so anxious anyway. I eat lots the days before to build myself up. I think when you've finished the prep, the worst will be over. You won't know anything when you're under anaesthetic - it some ways I find it almost a relief when they knock you out - you can just relax and know that the surgeon and other doctors are in control, and the next thing you know, it will all be done with and you will be fixed.

I hope you'll love having a stoma as much as I do. Mine freed me from the bathroom, and now I can do so many more things because I don't have to factor in finding time to spend hours in the bathroom, in pain. Even something as simple as watching a tv programme, now I don't end up missing things because I'm in the bathroom.

Don't worry, try to relax. So many of us have been through surgery, and for the most part are better off for it. Your doctors are doing this surgery because they are sure that the benefits outweigh the possible risks. Maybe once you've healed from the surgery you will get some time free of pain. :hug:
 
Also I just noticed earlier on in this thread you were asking about being made to sit up in a chair the day after surgery and the pain: they will get you moving as soon as possible. Staying very still lying in bed for a long time is bad for you in many ways - you risk pressure sores (bed sores), blood clots, and muscle wastage, and in general it's good to move, just as it's good for healthy people to exercise.

That said, you'll not be in a healthy state, and the amount of movement you do should reflect what's best for you as an individual at each stage of recovery. If you feel worse than predicted (of course hopefully this shouldn't happen), you may be advised to wait longer before getting out of bed. I've had surgeries when I was up and walking the same day, but my most recent surgery a few days ago I didn't get out of bed for days (this was an emergency surgery - nothing like what you're having). In this situation they will do things to keep patients as healthy as possible without moving them - changing their position in bed to prevent sores, giving medications to prevent blood clots.

Some people seem to need nurses to encourage them to get up and moving, because it can be very hard to do so when you're in pain and feeling ill. I tend to know myself when I'm ready. I push myself to get up and moving, once I feel able to.

So let the nurses guide you as to when you should get out of bed, how long you should sit up for, how far you should walk, etc., but let them know if you feel like it's too much, or if you feel you're ready to do more.
 
Yes this is my first major surgery I've only had one to remove an ancess which left me with a fistula.I don't know they gave me clear instructions on the bowel prep I also have to take antibiotics today as well. I'm on clear liquids today and nothing after midnight.
 
my surgey is at 12:00 tomorrow I'm thinking a light lunch since its 12 I figure if I do liquids after that that's 24 hours of liquids plus the prep then I'll have liquids till midnight then nothing bowel prep starts at 3 I've had bowel prep before
 
2thFairy said:
How did you not prep before your proctocolectomy???
Click to expand...

I'm not sure if I had a proctocolectomy; I had my colon removed and at that point my rectum connected to my small intestine. Had an ileostomy created in a later surgery. Had stoma refashioned in another surgery, and emergency surgery the other week to remove small part of small bowel and a new sroma created. Plus various other surgeries (repairs of pelvic prolapses, exploratory laparoscopy, etc.). All were laproscopic except this last emergency one. With all of them I just fasted from the morning of the surgery, and when my colon was removed they gave me an enema at the hospital before the surgery. Is that not normal?
 
UnXmas said:
I'm not sure if I had a proctocolectomy; I had my colon removed and at that point my rectum connected to my small intestine. Had an ileostomy created in a later surgery. Had stoma refashioned in another surgery, and emergency surgery the other week to remove small part of small bowel and a new sroma created. Plus various other surgeries (repairs of pelvic prolapses, exploratory laparoscopy, etc.). All were laproscopic except this last emergency one. With all of them I just fasted from the morning of the surgery, and when my colon was removed they gave me an enema at the hospital before the surgery. Is that not normal?
Click to expand...

My bad, before your colectomy. Most people have had to do a full bowel prep before any colon surgery unless it is an emergency.
 
I'm in my room I've already taken my first round of antibiotics and the 3 ducolax at 3 I've also gone to the hospitol to do labs I'll currently drinking the miralax and Gatorade at 10 I'll take my last dose of antibiotics then when I'm done emptying my bowels I'll try to sleep wanted to keep everyone posted
Thanks again for your support
 
4 hours till surgery have to be at the hospital at 9:30 surgery is at 12 noon I've mentioned this to someone else but I need to see if anyone has ever had this problem. last night at midnight I threw up a lot of the bowel prep on the bathroom floor I have gone to the bathroom quit a bit but its not running clear but I don't know if there's much left in me I havent eat anything since yesterday morning when I threw up I also lost my neomyicin in the process. Anyone deal with bowel prep problems before surgery?
 
Yes! It is not unusual for that to happen and the doctors are aware of it. I'm sure it won't delay your surgery, since they are removing your colon and not needing a picture perfect view of the mucosa as they would on a colonoscopy. Bowel surgery is considered a dirty surgery no matter what, but the bowel prep helps to lower the "dirtiness" factor. Be sure to let the nurses and the surgeon know, but I'm sure you are still fine to go ahead.
 
I didn't get a room until about 9 last night I've been pretty much in pain since I have a dilaudid pump but that only last for so long I'm mostly tired and in pain of course they told me I have to get out of bed today not looking forward to that I do have an NG tube note sure why. Once once I have more energy I'll post more about how the surgery went and so forth I just want to thank everyone for their support I can't thank you enough
 
So glad you are awake enough to write a post. You poor thing! The walking will suck, not gonna lie, but it is good for you and it will get better. Thinking of you!!! Big hugs!
 
Well they still have the NG tube in ): it's making my throat sore as heck I'm a terrible patient but these nurses are not the best. So far everything is going good except for the pain it's pretty consistent in my abdamon. Believe it or not my rectum has very little discomfort and I had a lot of disease therr.my bowel has woke up my stoma is so cute if we're allowed to attach a photos I'll add it to a response.
 
I couldn't figure out how to attach the photo Ill try later... I just want to thank everyone again. I'm 2 days post op and here's where I'm at I have output from the stoma. I have no rectum pain at all its weird I know she took it out. I'm not complaining just think ita odd since most post I've read they have pain. I still have the NG tub down my throat I'm getting ready to see if they will call the surgeon to remove this. It's serving no purpose theirs hardly and dranage. I still have catheter in which doesn't really bother this has allowed me to stay in bed and be lazy lol I have had zero complication so far. Saw my staples for the first time not really that bad and I'm happy with the stoma Im actually excited to get to watch it it's kind of cool : )
 
Last edited:
I didn't think you'd need a surgeon to remove an NG tube - I've had several, and they've all been taken out by a nurse. One nurse even let me take my own out. But I assume the nurses need a doctor to approve of it being removed.

I'm glad you're feeling positive about your stoma! And it's great that you've already had output - the stoma functioning is one of the most important signs that all is well.

I also appreciated having a catheter when I was too sick to get out of bed! I'd always hated the idea of them, but they put it in when I was under general anaesthetic, so I missed the bad part! But one thing that signaled to me that I must be getting better was when I was happy to have the catheter removed - walking to the toilet didn't seem quite so impossible once I'd healed a bit.

Do you have any pain? What pain relief are you being given? (I'm just asking out of curiosity, having had a whole range of post-surgical pain relief, it interests me to see how others manage.)

Hope your recovery continues smoothly.
 
I have tried to resize this several times then could not get it to upload. I think I have it now. This was taken yesterday so it would be 3 days post op. My surgeon came to see me today she said everything looked good. I will gladly take opinions on the new stoma.

Thanks
Cindy
 

Attachments

  • stoma2.jpg
    stoma2.jpg
    102.7 KB
YaY! Looks like it has a good spout. (Comes out a good distance from the skin.) A major complaint for an ileostomy is that it doesn't come out far enough. Yours looks really good from what I can tell! I am really groovin' on your positive hospital tales thus far!!!
 
It's on my right side I also have 2 temporary drains one if for the main surgery site not sure about the other one could be for the repairs to the
Dundurim not sure if that's the correct spelling of that word. The pain I'm having is mostly sore like I've been punched or something. Imy on a pump for pain i just push the button thst actually mske me wear a wrist band that says fall risk. I still have an old opening where I had a abscess removed from my colon back in may. I have no pain at all coming from my rectum I have had a few strange urges like I need to go then realize I don't have to go, that's wonderful I hope that holds out
 

Similar threads

Z
Travel 6 days after fistula drainage surgery
Replies
1
Views
2K
bkraft
B
thike1966
Hotel Crohn's Forever, The Return Of The Fistula
Replies
0
Views
512
thike1966
thike1966
R
My first robotic surgery experience
Replies
2
Views
2K
Trysha
Trysha
P
How long on EEN before your child had solid motions again
Replies
5
Views
652
padrach3
P
K
So confused after apparent relapse
Replies
6
Views
1K
Opieshuffle13
O

Latest posts

Back
Top