They gave me the "Bowel Resection" Sentence

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Jul 10, 2010
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Hello everyone! Ok so this is an update to my previous post about potential surgery but this is now becoming more official. I went to the ER on friday night and was admitted overnight because I have an abcess that increased in size which is also causing inflammation to where my crohn's is, end of the small intestine. I got discharged because i have an appointment for a second opinion with apparently one of the best GI in the country, Dr. James George in NYC who is associated with Mt Sinai hospital. He's pretty much seen all my records already & is on board with my own GI about the surgery but couldn't hurt to get his final analysis of my case. After that I'm basically 1-2 weeks away from getting this resection of last part of small intestine (less than 1 ft) and few inches of colon and also removing that collection of abcess. Not sure if it will be done open surgery or laproscropic, waiting on the consult with the surgeons at mt sinai but i'm hoping for the laproscropic since i hear the recovery is a bit easier. Any advice would be greatly appreciated as I am scared to death to go thruogh with this surgery!
 
Hey, Bess, I am here to rescue you and put your mine at ease...I hope :kello:.
Since this is your first scope most likely and if you surgeon is confident, they most likely will do a laproscopy. Depending on the severity and exactly where it is. If you have the opportunity before your surgery, ask!

Yes, if you are in moderate shape and are young, the makes it so much easier on any surgery. Laproscopic is way less invasive. If they have to go in more than it was needed and best to do one surgery and get it right the first time, and have a longer healthier future.

You can ask the nurse or doctor if they do epidurals, some doctors dont like them but you can always ask. I Know you are scared, and I have had two resections both ways and there was pain but if you do the right things post surgery it will make it alot easier. If you have any more concerns or questions you can pm me. :hang: it will go just fine.

Lots of other will share their recent experiences as well. Keep us posted on whats up. Good luck!:biggrin:
 
I am almost in the same boat as you. I haven't had my consult either though so I have no idea what is involved. I have read a lot on here and it has made me feel a lot better about surgery. Lots of great success stories (a few scary ones too, but for the most part all positive). Let us know what they tell you.
 
Hi Bess,
I had surgery at Mt Sinai back in April with Dr Bauer and Dr Chessin. Another member here recently had surgery with Dr Heimann and Dr Salky.

I also had surgery 2 years ago with Dr Greenstein. So if you have any questions about these docs, we can help. Or any questions in general about Mt Sinai.
 
Considering resection for the past 2 years

For the past two years, I have been contemplating the surgical resection of a 15 cm long stricture that is proximal to my ileo-ecal valve. I was first diagnosed with Crohn’s 20 years ago after being treated surgically for a peri-anal abscess. As far as I can remember, my stomach problems began at age 7 when I was treated with high doses of penicillin for Lyme Disease.

I was even scheduled for surgery at Stanford, but changed my mind a week before. I am really concerned about losing the ileocecal valve. It seems important. I would like to talk with more people who have had the surgery. I would like to know their state before and after the surgery. Mostly, I am concerned about diarrhea. Currently, I have a bout once a month, usually when I am stressed out and not eating well.

I am worried that if I have the valve removed, I will have much more frequent diarrhea. The trade-off is that now, I am kept awake by cramping several nights per month. I also wonder if I would have a lot more energy if I go ahead and get the surgery. The problem is that there is no going back.

Has anyone else agonized over this decision like me?
I would like to know anyone with this sort of personal experience?
 
You're getting the same amount and same section that I got removed 10 years ago. Seems a lot of people on here are talking about resections lately. Laparoscopic or not it will be painful but you should have a morphine pump for that. Mine was supposed to be laparoscopic but wound up being a full surgery once they got in there. The scar isn't that gigantic or anything. Just basically looks like I was run through with a sword. :p You get put to sleep and then wake up with everything all done and then you'll most likely sleep for the rest of the day and most of the next. After that they will try to get you to move around a bit and they'll probably discharge your within 5-7 days depending on how you're feeling/healing. Feel free to ask any specific questions about it. I've been in remission ever since I had mine. Good luck! You're going to be ok. :)

@ dvdgrs - I had my surgery done at Stanford. My GI at the time was Dr. Ricardo Castillo. Best doctor EVER. :)
 
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Same resection as me. All I can say is it was the best thing to have ever happened to me.
8 months after the surgery and I've convinced myself that I never had Crohn's to start with.
 

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