Surgery it is then.

[SumCiA]

Alot has happened since i last posted so thought i'd update. Had my barium follow through which confirmed two severe strictures (ileum region). Procedure took all of 3 1/2 hours of drinking barium (can only be described as liquid chalk) and waiting then x-ray then waiting then x-ray then waiting...etc

Had consult yesterday with gastro surgeon where we pretty much came to the joint conclusion that medication was not going to help in the long term as the strictures are fibrous and so i am now booked in for surgery on Thursday 28th Feb. Ileocolic Resection is the procedure, where a portion of the ileum is removed along with the cecum (a portion of the large intestine) and my apendix for good measure, Oh! and some lymph nodes aswell.

I must admit the more i think about it the more i am not looking forward too it however there's not really much choice so i will have to get on with it. If anyone has any advice on preparing myself for surgery and the long stay in hospital i would very much appreciate it. Anything that made it easier for you...etc

Of course i will post back after the surgery when i can and give you all the gory details.

Take care.

 

[Keara07]

Best wishes Freddo - haven't hit the surgery route but our stories are somewhat intertwined, but for me today, the GI added Imuran and an *urgent* CT request and a look see into remicade costs - but my surgeon consult is March 18th.

I really hope everything goes very smooth for you, do take care

God Bless.

 

[Kev]

Hey Freddo... Good luck with that, and all the best. Think you'll find the surgery is the least problematic of the whole ordeal... it's the process leading up to it that is the hard part. you've come thru the worst already.. (yeah, easy for someone to say who isn't facing it... no, seriously, once you get past the angst of the decision process, you can sit back and relax... its' obvious you've made the right call here)

Interesting that they're also going for the appendix.. We had a whole confab on another thread about the appendix. might be worth a read.. maybe a talk with your surgeon.. not so much to argue the issue, but to clarify the rationale behind removing it...

 

[SumCiA]

Hi Keara, thanks for the support. I suppose you could say i am getting the easy option with forced surgery in a way as there will be no need for major meds after the surgery (fingers crossed the crohns doesn't return for some time at least) Am only on Pred now for the next month or so and then hopefully nothing. I feel for all of you who have huge lists of meds especially the hugely expensive remicade. Hope the pain in the 'butt' has subsided btw. Take care.

Hey Kev. Thanks, i have taken great confort in reading how 'problem free' your surgeries have been in previous posts, i guess i'm just not looking forward to the few days immedietly after i wake up out of surgery with all the tubes in etc. From what i understood from my surgeon i think he has to remove my appendix as i need the cacum removed which unfortunately the appendix is attached to. I always believed that whatever procedure you were having, if your appendix was in the vacinity of the surgery it would always be removed. Guess there's more to it than that.

 

[Cog]

First off good luck

They will probably want to put a tube down your nose - I would highly recommend chloroseptic that throat treatment that numbs. Sprayed up the nostril and in the throat really helps.

If they offer pain killers to begin with accept them with a smile don't wait until you feel the pain - it hurts

If you have a catheter don't roll on or kink the tube that hurts too.

After they remove the restriction life does feel better.

 

[SumCiA]

Thanks Cog. Thanks for telling me like it is. I should expect alot of pain in other words??? hahaha

No pain no gain i suppose.

 

[Kev]

Hey, sounds like the appendix deal is for a 'real' reason.. so don't sweat the doc's call on it. As for pain meds, either spinal or morphine pump.. They say spinal is the better option... anestesiologist (sp?) I consulted with called it the 'Cadilac' of pain treatment.. used widely for childbirth.. (don't know 1st hand, but think that is up there on the pain scale.. so it has to be effective). spinal presents some added risk (simply cause it's via the spine).. I went with pump.
(didn't see a real benefit to offset the risk).. Use it when you need it, but only when you need it... (least that's what I did... for movement, sleeping or simply the odd pain.. The pump tracked how often you 'need' it, that gives them ruff idea of your recovery... I was off the pump in 2 days.. Which meant I was that much closer to getting out... but also meant I was w/o pain meds when they took out the catheter... that was the worst part.. I'll spare you the details). I have posted all this before, folks are probably sick and tired of reading my shit, BUT,, just in case.. One of the BEST things you can do for yourself is to get up and moving... as soon as you can, as much as you can. I dunno why or how it helps, ... but it speeds healing, increases energy levels, helps you sleep/rest, and lowers pain. It could be a primeval survival of the fittest thing at play. I'd not have believed it IF I hadn't done it first hand.. Literally, 5 days post op and I was well enuff to go home, fit enuff to look after myself, and every day that passed I felt better and better.. Those 6 - 7 weeks post op were a blessing. I just caution you against lifting, laughing, coughing or especially sneezing. That last one hurt the most.. So, avoid jokes or pepper. Plastic wrap for showers is a god send... so what if you look like yesterdays bad left overs. Who'll peek?