Surgery Updated

[stickman7755]

I had my surgery Wednesday December 7th at 7:30 a.m. The first day after surgery was rough, was on a lot of morphine. Yesterday I was able to get up three different times, and walked farther each time. Today I'm getting the catheter taken out, boo ya! and I hope to walk around even more and hopefully fart.

My surgeon came in this morning and told me that my belly wasn't bloated at all. They took out about 15 inches of my small intestine and only about 3 inches of my colon.

 

[chrisnsteph1022]

I'm glad you're up and about! How long will you be in the hospital?

 

[Crohn's 35]

Yay!!! So great that you are on the mend! Just dont try to do too much ok? Do as you are told :nonono:...men are famous for that lol.

 

[stickman7755]

They told me to plan on being here for a week, it could be more, could be less. I am feeling better everyday. I can't wait til I fart, so i can start drinking some liquid!

 

[Suvii]

Great to hear your news.

So you had an ileocecal resection, right?

On a scal from 1 to 5, how awful the whole experience has been? Has it responded your imaginations?

Get well soon and I'm keeping my thumbs up for that fart DD

 

[stickman7755]

Suvii.
I did have an ileocecal resection. My biggest concern going into the surgery was not waking up, so once I did that was a huge relief. As far as pain is concerned, the morphine has really helped and I have been using it less and less everyday. I just started walking more in the last 12 hours and it has been slow but I have made progress. My surgeon told me that my recovery should be faster than normal since I was in really good shape going into it. So my biggest recommendation would be is to get into as good as shape as you can going into surgery.

I also have had great nurses, so that has helped.

 

[stickman7755]

on a scale of 1-5 of awfullness, I would say a 2. My family and friends have been very supportive

 

[Suvii]

That's good to hear!

I'm so bummed that I've been so lazy lately. I haven't been in the gym, just walking (7-10 km).. My knees are a bit sore so that's been bothering me. In fitness tests my result is Good but still I'm not happy with my muscle/fat percentages. Need more muscle and less fat. I'm 5'7" and 132 lbs. I'm glad I'm in normal weight now since in 2006 I weighted only 105.6 lbs and I was all skin an bones. But I sure miss my fat free tummy! :ysmile:

I need to raise my game and just go to the gym....

I was really nervous that I wouldn't wake up when I had a colonoscopy (double balloon dilatation at the same time) under anesthesia. Well of course it's not as deep as surgery anesthesia but still. It was so weird that all of the sudden I just blacked out and woke up what felt like 5 seconds later in the wake up place (what do call it in english? )...

 

[SandyM]

Hey Shawn,

Glad your being looked after mate. I'm sure you will be up and running again fairly soon, but don't push it. You are young and fit so have a big advantage on your road to recovery! I too have been so tired, lazy lately so need to do something.

How long before you can eat normal foods?

 

[stickman7755]

I'm not sure. I'm a little freaked out, over night I went number 2 twice but both times it was just mostly blood. I'm not sure if that is normal post surgery. I hope it is, cause I really would love to have something to drink.

Thanks for all the support.

 

[Misty-Eyed]

Seeeeee I told you that you'd be fine! I read the other day that at my hospital, they've not had anyone die from abdominal surgery since 1978!

Lol I kept telling the lady looking after me that she was really pretty. Which to be fair, was very true. Then I kept apologising for screaming in pain when I woke up.

Glad it all went ok. Hopefully you'll be home before you know it!

 

[stickman7755]

I'm getting sent home today! I'm really nervous and scared about going home. I've never been scared to get into a car but today I am. Thanks for all the support.

 

[Crohn's 35]

Enjoy the ride! Keep up the healing process by doing as you are told...you are a man so I have to say it twice, do as you are told! :lol:

 

[rdsoxfan]

Good luck with your transition to home life

 

[stickman7755]

Thanks, I'm sure you will be home soon.

 

[Suvii]

Did you drive home yourself? Sounds pretty wild.

I was wondering if you'd be willing to put some incision and scar pictures from your surgery in here? I'm also getting a laparoscopic ileocecal resection and I'm curious to see what I can expect afterwards my tummy to look like. My incision will be about 2 inches and going through my belly button..

 

[stickman7755]

My dad drove me home and I made sure he drove as slow as possible and went over as few bumps as possible.

I can post some pic's within the next couple of days. I still have band aids over the three small incisions but you can see the larger one under my belly button. I just need to line up a photographer, lol.

 

[stickman7755]

Also, it is great to be home!! I have not ventured outside of my yard yet, but it sure is nice to breathe in fresh air!!

 

[Suvii]

Ok, I was wondering that they can't really make you drive yourself home Had to ensure that.

Take it easy now and let others pamper you!

 

[travy_87]

Great little read. After being admitted to the ER on Thursday with a bowel obstruction Im booked in for surgery tomorrow. Plan is to remove a stricture in my terminal ileum. My sister had crohns in the same areas (I also have skip lesions up the small intestine but the GI said we'll let Imuran sort that out) and she has similar surgery many years ago and while recovery took a while and the D was a bit to get used to, she has been in remission ever since. So Im trying to remain positive and optimistic that I wont loose too much bowel, and that I may get some normality in life.

Have they said anything about diet? Ive been studying up as much as I can and Ive noticed those who went 'look at me, mum, I can eat anything I want again' and end up in worse shape? I'll be remaining on the clean 'body building diet' style diet with little fat and see how it goes.'

All the best with your recovery.

 

[stickman7755]

Luke,
Before surgery I had the bad flare starting in September. So I kind of tested out foods to see what worked for me. For protein I have been eating cottage cheese, taking a protein/carb shake with milk, and a lot of seafood; fish was easy for me to digest during the flare.

For carbs a lot of white pasta, white rice.

For fat I have been using a lot of butter on things, lol.

I know everyone is different so not all these foods will be good for you.

 

[Suvii]

How are you doing Shawn?

 

[stickman7755]

A lot better now, still some work to be done. I have been much more active and I am eating more solid foods. Im taking a vacation to Colorado next week!!!!