Surgery soon

[kayvank]

I just got out of the hospital last Saturday; was in for a week. I've been in the hospital 5 times since may. Finally considering surgery; scheduled for Dec. 13. My Crohns is localized, inflamation around where my small and large intestine meet. Talked with surgeon, he mentioned that they will take out around 6 inches of my small and around 12 inches of my large; my appendix will come out as well. I wanted to get laporscopic surgery, but i believe they have to open me up to fully see the extent of damage. I will know more soon on details; I will update you all.

Please send me any input regarding pre/post surgery. What were your experiences.

Thanks

 

[Jennifer]

I'm sorry to hear that its gotten to this point. Here's my post from another thread about my surgery. If you'd like more information or if I wasn't clear, feel free to say so either here or in a PM.

You should be given pain killers after your surgery, mine was a morphine pump that I was allowed to use every 15 min for about 3 days. Some people on here have mentioned being given antibiotics after their surgery but I remember no such thing happening after mine (but mine was over 10 years ago too). It is painful, I won't lie about that. It will be very hard to move around especially depending on what type of surgery is preformed (laprascopic vs full surgery) because your muscles have been cut through and it takes a while to heal. Worst pain of my life when they said I had to sit up the day of my surgery. I've never dealt with child birth but I haven't heard many mention that the pain is so bad you want to vomit. Child birth sounds like a breeze compared to the surgery I had. You should be able to walk around within a few days to a week depending on the type of surgery preformed. I believe they wait for you to pass gas before you're allowed to eat again and its a liquid diet followed by a light diet (low residue/flavor that sort of thing). They started me out on liquids first, maybe a few days after my surgery. My healing process was taking longer than the average person though.

My surgery was done back in 1999 and was both laparoscopic and full surgery (larger incision, larger scar). Generally people have no complications after surgery such as infection and such but sometimes people do, I was one of them. High doses of prenisone can make your tissue layers very thick and the thicker the layer of tissue to skin that needs to heal, the more chances of your skin layer healing first before your tissue layer which can cause infections, that's what happened to me. They cut the healed skin layer back open (right before my eyes too) and gauze had to be packed into the wound twice a day until it healed from the inside out. It took me almost 2 months to heal because of the infection.

Yes it all sounds awful but remember this, I was in remission for 11 years after my surgery. I'm not fully out of remission now but that's a long time of feeling almost normal again. Even after surgery you may experience some Crohns symptoms but they will be slight compared to what you've been dealing with.

I had a small bowel resection (8 inches removed) where the small intestine meets the large intestine (ileum).

 

[kayvank]

I was in remission for 11 years after my surgery. I'm not fully out of remission now but that's a long time of feeling almost normal again. Even after surgery you may experience some Crohns symptoms but they will be slight compared to what you've been dealing with.

Post surgery: Can you eat anything you want? haha. i know its a silly question.

 

[Jennifer]

Post surgery: Can you eat anything you want? haha. i know its a silly question.

There will always be foods out there that bring on symptoms. I for one am lactose intolerant in general which has nothing to do with my Crohn's so drinking straight milk will always give me gas and pain and diarrhea. I've also never been able to digest seeds, corn, carrots and any raw veggies or fruits. It all gives me diarrhea. I eat whatever I want anyway and just deal with the consequences.

Basically what you're asking is if "trigger foods" still trigger symptoms (trigger foods vary from person to person). Yes they do but the severity of your reaction could be different like instead of running to the bathroom 4-5 times after eating ________, you may just run to the bathroom 1-2 times. Things like Immodium and Lomitol help with diarrhea and frequency.

As far as pain goes, for instance I remember I was in pain off and on before my surgery, you should have none at all. I haven't been in pain since my surgery. Gas pain etc. is different entirely but you can tell the difference.

Edit: If you don't know what your trigger foods are now, there's no harm in finding out after fully healing from surgery.

Edit 2: Keep in mind that triggering symptoms is not the same as bringing on a flare.

 

[1998lm]

If i thought it would help then i would do it,,, wishing you the best of lucky!!!!

 

[5 iron]

Had my surgery in July Kayvank,about like yours 2 in of large and 10 in of my small,prep is like a colonoscopy drink the stuff you what happens then, and the day before surgery they give you a antibiotic,my surgery was in the morning back in my room about noon,they had morphine hooked to me just push the happy button,but really there was not much pain,some discomfort but morphine knocked right out,I only needed pain control the day of the surgery the next day no pain meds needed,they had me on solid food the day after the surgery and I pooped that night they sent home in the morning. I had open surgery to so your tummy muscles will be weak,sitting up is tough you need to use arms big time. I do office type work and was back at work in two weeks,if I had a heavy lifting job it would be 6 to 8 weeks,I waited 8 weeks to start playing golf on the advice of the surgeon.You will be put on a maintinance drug a couple months after your surgery,I'm on 6mp now, I would suspect you will be to. It's all very bearable Kayvank,get some books you have been wanting to read and enjoy your recovery time.GOOD LUCK


Steve
Surgery July 2010
Currently on 75mg 6mp.

 

[BigUglyCat]

My first surgery, at 19, was a gift from god...pain from surgery was nothing compared to the discomfort of the CD. Same area as you and while I was disappointed that they cut above my tan line (still wanted to wear a bikini after) I was thrilled to be feeling better. One thing I have done in subsequent surgeries is take an ipod or the like in to listen to during the surgery...smooth, healing sounds do nothing but help keep you calm and relaxed.

 

[kayvank]

This anticipation is killing me. I go see the surgeon Nov. 30 to discuss pre-op stuff. I am really nervous about all of this. Don't really know the extent of intestine they are going to cut out. All i know is that they will take out some of my small/large intestine and my appendix while they are in there. I wanted Laproscopic, but they want to open me up to know for sure the extent of damage (at least that's what they said). Anyway, I will update you all soon once i find out more. My GI Doc said that i will most likely start cimzia post surgery and then i will have to do another scope probably in feb....I will update as soon as i find out more.

 

[CDDad]

My 1st surgery was a right hemi colectomy, which sounds similar to what you might have. Except the hemicolectomy takes 1/2 the colon, not the foot they told you.

One thing that comes to mind with surgery in this area is the loss of the ileocolic valve, right at the connection between small and large bowel. It controls the flow of waste flowing from small to large.

Some people have absolutely no problem at all with that being removed. But, I was in the other group, where my diarrhea increased. The increased diarrhea was probably caused by the rest of my colon also being not in great shape too.

I hope you are in the 1st group with no problems, but just keep it in mind.

 

[semicolon306]

Surgery is always different for everyone and how they heal. Only thing I can recommend is try to go in with a positive attitude. When you get out let your body tell you when it is ready to do the normal things. Some people heal quickly and others take longer - last thing you want to do is push it and cause complications or other concerns. My surgery was June 1st and I was back to work in 6 weeks, took awhile to get back to myself, but since Sept I am in the gym and working out everyday.

I wish you the best and just keep in mind when you have a bad day a good one is around the corner.

 

[kayvank]

Turns out thanksgiving was not a good day for me...was admitted to the hospital on turkey day.

CT showed abscess where my crohns is and a perforation. I have surgery this morning at 11am EST. which is in about an hour and a half. Nervous...They will be removing some of my small/large intestine, appendix and abscess.

On a good note, they surgery scheduled for DEC. 13 is now today, so i will be even more recovered for Christmas!

I will update in a day or two, when i can get back on the computer.

 

[susanfrances]

:getwell:
Hope you are feling much better soon.... the anticiaption for me was always the worst part; sorry you are having to have the surgery; but glad you don't have so much time to worry about it before hand.

Thoughts and prayers for you-

 

[kayvank]

:getwell:
Hope you are feling much better soon.... the anticipation for me was always the worst part; sorry you are having to have the surgery; but glad you don't have so much time to worry about it before hand.

Thoughts and prayers for you-

thank you and everyone else for your support. Surgery went well. I was scheduled Dec13 originally, but due to abscess i had it don't Nov 27. Was supposed to happen at 11am EST. i was being pre-op getting prepped for it and then i got bumped due to someone in ER needing surgery right away, It was only an 2 hour bump but anticipation killed me. haha. They actually gave me some sedatives to relax me for 2 hours.

Surgery went by quick. they were talking with me and then all of the sudden i remember waking up groggy and in some pain, but pain meds were being administered to me right then. I had about 4 inches of my large intestine removed/6 inches of my small intestine, my appendix and then the abscess was taken care of too. I was able to walk around next day (Nov. 28), sat up in my bed, walked to the bathroom, this was after they took catheter out. I am starting to have a little more pain, but its due to my intestines waking back up and anesthesia wearing off. But im getting through it. Been on ice chips today, hopefully they will move me to clear liquids tomorrow, it depends on if can start passing gas. :stinks: haha
Thanks again for your support!

 

[Jessica]

Glad to see that everything went okay with your earlier than scheduled surgery. I have my fingers crossed for you to have a wonderful xmas!

<3