Surgery in 3 days

[vanilla_chai]

Actually, 2.5 days at this point - I'm scheduled for surgery 6/5/12 for a ileocecectomy (but my surgeon is calling it a R hemi-colectomy). I've tried to not worry about the surgery and prepared as much as I can for being in the hospital and then stuck at home (I was in the hospital for 5 days last Dec for an obstruction and am not looking forward to that)

I have just started reading people's threads about issues after surgery and now I'm a bit freaked out. I'm trying to keep reminding myself I have a good surgeon, I'm adaptive as hell, and for most of the past 7 months I haven't been able to eat wo getting crazy nauseous so there's no point in questioning the decision no matter how it turns out. I guess its just nerves about the unknown. I hate the unknown.

oh well, just thought I'd stop by and say hi since I was browsing around posts

hope everyone is having a good day,
Ali

 

[Samboi]

Good luck with your surgery Ali.
Hope it delivers the relief you need.

 

[Switalski]

Vanilla,

You'll do fine. I had a laproscopic, right hemicolectomy 8 weeks ago and am completely recovered. There was pain after the surgery, but not too bad. The main difficulty for me was getting in and out of bed at first. I had the surgery on a Wednesday and was released from the hospital on Saturday. After 4 weeks, I was back at work full-time. I am definitely better off after the surgery.

 

[vanilla_chai]

Vanilla,

You'll do fine. I had a laproscopic, right hemicolectomy 8 weeks ago and am completely recovered. There was pain after the surgery, but not too bad. The main difficulty for me was getting in and out of bed at first. I had the surgery on a Wednesday and was released from the hospital on Saturday. After 4 weeks, I was back at work full-time. I am definitely better off after the surgery.

thanks, that's good to hear. I guess I was having a last minute freak out that maybe I would be worse quality of life after surgery. I am looking forward to eating again

how much did you have taken out? It looks like I just have 2cm of stricture right against the ICV.

I think the oddest thing about the whole thing is the surgeon doesn't have me do a bowel prep. I even called and asked again and the nurse said that's how he does all these

oh well, I'll know how it turns out soon enough!

 

[Lorella]

Vanilla, I had my ileum & cecum removed just over 1 month ago so I know the kind of anxiety your feeling.

I didn't have to bowel prep either & found this quite odd, but apparently the area they are going to doesn't require it.

All my wounds have now healed & I haven't had any pain really for over 2 weeks. Make sure when you go home you have things set up, I found it hard to sleep in my own bed because I couldn't lay down & if I did I couldn't sit back up.

Drink plenty, try & be as active as you can be. Good luck

 

[Amy (worrywart)]

Just a quick post to wish you good luck and a speedy recovery I'm sure you'll be great ",) xx
Hugs to u
Amy

 

[vanilla_chai]

thanks Amy and Lorella

you know what's crazier than not needing a prep? doing one anyway I needed to take something anyway, I was so sick. On top of that I'd had a horrible time when I tried the cit.mag. prep, which my dr prefers so I figured it was as good a time as any to try it without the pressures of HAVING to do it. Oddly enough, most of the day I've felt better than I have in weeks - stupid stricture. So good to know

oh, and I got my surgery time a few hours ago, I'm due at the hospital in 12 hrs and am scheduled 13.25 hrs from now so ready or not, here it comes!

What did you do about the bed? I have couches I can sleep on but I also have 2 cats that like to sleep on my belly - YIKES! and if I sleep on the couch I can't close a door like I can with the bedrooms. Do wedge pillows help?

 

[Lorella]

Ha, that's the exact time I had my surgery

Basically I just used loads of pillows, my bed is in the corner against the wall so I created a little corner, put pillows/cushions all around & sat upright.

Its also useful to have a pillow/cushion with you for when you cough/sneeze to hold against your stomach.

Let us know how it goes!

 

[Switalski]

Vanilla,
You can look forward to sleeping most of the day. It's actually quite restful. I had about 21 cm removed - 5 cm of small intestine, the IC valve, and 16-18 cm of large intestine. Lorella is right about having that pillow ready if you cough or sneeze, but I think the pain meds supress the urge to do both - at least it did for me.

Don't worry. You'll be better afterwards.

 

[PsychoJane]

My only advice would be to always, and always have some water near by (starting when you are allowed to drink obviously). That was what I've hated the most post-op cause I had coughing urges probably linked of the intubation. I guess it was itchy when it was healing and you really don't want to be stuck coughing right after and icy water would help me holding the coughing event inside. I guess you don't have to worry about that if you are getting your op done with an epidural though!

I wish you the best of luck and a quick recovery!
Sending you positive waves for tomorrow!