Vickys surgery :D

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vickyoddsocks

vickyoddsocks

wears odd socks
Joined
Apr 23, 2007
Messages
240
Hi all,
Thought I'd start the thread now whilst I'm desperately trying to distract myself!
Apologies if posts are short, doing this on my iPhone and it's objecting! Currently In hospital. Having my second lot of blood, my haemoglobin was 7.8! Eek!
I'm FIRST on the list tomorrow mornings will be going down to theatre at 8.30 am! Which is good because it doesn't give me much time to worry! They're also allowing my mum and sister to be here from 7.30 :)
So I'm pooing my pants about tomorrow (but won't be after! Lol! ) really nervous though, cried like a little girl earlier!
Thanks for all your support and advice everyone try a d keep you posted :)
Vicky x
 
First is good - really good. And really great that they'll let someone be with you. Wishing you all the best and hear from you soon.
Helen x
 
Hi Vicky,

Oh my word, i am feelin for you and will be thinking of you tomorrow.

Try not to worry, these people are good at what they do, and just think how much better you will feel afterwards.

huuuuge hugs to you, oh ok and a few kisses too

Try to rest

XX
 
my thoughts are with you! Im sending positive energy your way!

whats the difference between an oral thermometer and a rectal thermometer??

ǝʇsɐʇ ǝɥʇ
 
Keona - hahaha and ewww!!

Gonna try and get some sleep now guys. I've asked my sister to update you tomorrow :)
Here's to a future of health, happiness and food!!
X
 
Good luck Vicky! Hope all goes well and easy and you are feeling okay on the other side!

And you'll be starting the "name my stoma" thread soon!

Me, you and Welshy - Ostomy Trifecta!

Looking forward to hearing a good report tomorrow!

xo - Ames
 
GOOD luck!!!!! I really hope it goes well for you! keep us updated when you are well enough :) xxxxxx
 
Hi all, it's Nicola, Vicky's sister.
Just to let u know that Vicky's surgery today went well :) :)
It was a marathon 5 and a half hours long and as expected she had acute crohns in her whole large bowel, so they removed it all. But the good news is there's no evidence of it being in her small intestine :) :) :)
She was in a lot of pain until they got the epidural back up and she was also given a antispasm drug (can't remember the name at the mo) as her tummy muscles were causing her agony. She was a lot more comfortable when we left tonight.
She has been so brave and I am incredibly proud of her. After 10 years of suffering horribly with this disease I hope this is the start of a much better life for her.
I'm sure she'll update u all properly soon x
 
I am so happy that the surgery went well :)

Sending positive thoughts and a hug with hope for healthy and happy days ahead!
 
Thanks for updating us Nicola!!!

Hang in there Vicky! Looking forward to hearing from you, but rest, rest, rest!!! We can wait!

xo - Vicky
 
Thanks Nicola
Hope you recover quickly odd socks :) Glad to hear you are in a lot less pain
and soooo happy to hear you dont have it in your small bowel.
take good care :D
 
Thank you for updating us Nicole. Vicky, sorry you had pain. Hope they give you lots of help for it. Rest, rest rest. So you get all better!

We look forward to hearing from you when you are able.

:kiss:
Misty
 
Thank you for the update!

Dear Vicki, take good care and feel better soon. :hug:
 
Thanks Nicole,

Vicky :) Yeah!!! Don't spare the morph. Press that button even if you're not in pain. Take good care of yourself and stay on the straight road to recovery :)
 
Hi it's Nicola again. I read all your messages to Vicky yesterday and she wanted me to thank u all for your good wishes. She is doing really well :)
 
Thanks Nicola! Sorry I missed this Vicky but things seem to be going well. Hope it stays that way!!
 
Hey vicky - I contemplated sending you a few jokes but that would just be cruel... even laughter hurts I bet.
I hope you are making great strides everyday to recovery. Its a long process I would imagine. You have been through a lot my friend!!
Take care and thank-you for keeping us updated. It is good to know you have family close by.
Wendy
 
So glad everything is going well Vicky! It's going to get better from here on out. Have fun eating soon!
 
Just saw this - hope things continue to go well...and I agree about not posting jokes here - when I had my appendix out a friend visited me and almost had me popping stitches!!!!!

Hope to see another update soon....
 
Well hello hello hello!!! :D
Sorry it's taken me so long to reply guys, talk about under estimating the recovery- Jesus. It has literally been a week of hell!! However I am pleases to say I am definately on the up! It seemed to come to a head a couple nights a go when I vomited what seemed like q green tsunami that kept on going! Since then I've been getting better all the time.
My little stoma is calming down and singing atthe rice crispies and soup that I had today :D my bottom is still PAINFULL! and bleeds regularly, so I'm wearing the 'adult nappies!' lol!
Had drain removed yesterday and 1stitch fro
Bum. Now I'm hoping to be let out in time for the weekend! Generally feeling very very happy!
Thank you all so much for you kind words and thoughts, Nicola read them to me when it really mattered :)
Vicky
X
 
Glad to hear you're feeling better Vicky :) Hopefully they'll spring you this weekend...just time for Easter chocolate and a big meal....lol
 
Vicky, so very happy to hear from you!:applause:

I know the recovery can be difficult. Be patient with yourself, and you'll come through it! Happy days on the rice crispies! At least they are letting you eat!

Hope you can have a big mac soon!!!

:kiss:
Misty
 
Hey, Vicky! How ya doing, hun? Just thinking about you and hope to get an update soon, when you're up to it.

xo - Ames
 
Hi Vicki, hope thing's are continuing to go well for you.
Wishing you a speedy recovery, and welcome to the club!!
Hugs, And x
 
Hi Vickey

How are things? Ready for any jokes yet?? Lemme know as I am stocking up for you :)

Hope you are recovering and taking care of yourself!

Wendy
 
Hey Vicky!

Woah your post made me cry It made me very Nervous for what I am about to go thru in a month! But you seem to be doing really well and I hope like hell things go awesome for you. Love to hear the progress and how you are doing now and if you are home, when you are up to it :)

Big hugs !!

Lotte
 
Hi guys, sorry I've not been replying, I'm at my mums and Internet access is pretty poor. Well I wish I could say I feel loads better but I don't :( I've been getting horrific cramps from thw gas from when I've been eating, so I've had to stop eating again! :( I'm still incredibly weak and can hardly walk. My stoma is painful and all my intestines feel incredibly sore. Did anyone else have issues with eating again? It's really starting to annoy me now. And I'm also getting bag leaks in the middle of the night an can't figure out why!? I change it, then it leaks again!
Sorry guys I'm just feeling very frustrated :(
X
 
Sorry Vicky! I really have no knowledge of stomas outside this forum but it seems for many there is a difficult adjustment period! I hope it begins to get sorted soon for you.

I'm sure the pros will have some good advice for you concerning the leaks and recovery!
 
Sorry - Im not a pro either - just wanted to say you are still in my thoughts and I hope you get this sorted out.
I think I am glad you are home ?? I hope they sent you with some good pain meds. Hang in my friend.. you can do this..
Wendy xo
 
Glad it went well Vicky, mine kept leaking so was told to change the bag style as my stoma was on a slant, it took about six months before they realised this, so its worth suggesting this to them x
 
Hi Vicky. I had to build up to eating regular food. Started off very very slowly. As for the gas, well, I peeled the paint at the L&D hospital with my belches. And at home as well. (Sadly, it didnt remove the artex from the walls at the house)

Stoma hurt like hell, then I found the stitches that didnt disolve, once they were removed (OUCH!) it was alot better. Also, I have dehisense around the stoma and that hurts like hell! The weakness you are feeling may resolve over time. You werent in good health before the surgery (neither was I) and it will take awhile to get back to normal. All Dr's and nurses told me 3 months. They were right. My insides did hurt for a while as well. They were knocked about quite alot after all!

But do you have a fever? If you do, and you continue to experience pain, please tell your Dr. Do NOT let that go. You dont want infection. In fact, you should tell your GP how you are feeling. If you are unable to go to Dr's, make them come to you. It worries me that you feel weak and are experiencing pain still.

:hug:
Misty
 
I SLOWLY introduced different foods for the first few weeks. Things like rice, pasta and chicken were easier to digest. My stomach was very sore for a while. Be careful that you don't get an infection or a blockage. My stoma was sore for a while too, because it had little bubbles of skin around it that my nurse ended up burning off with nitrate. It healed up great after that. It also sealed better. As far as bags go, try different ones and use the paste or ring. You shouldn't be having blow outs. I like the holister two piece.
 
My stomach hurt for a while after surgery as well and I was weak for about 2 months. But I didn't push myself or try to overdo things. Just take it easy, let others do things for you and try different appliances and find the one that works for you. If you get a chance to see your stoma nurse perhaps ask them to watch you change your appliance, I know it's not rocket science, but maybe you're not applying it properly and that's why you're having blow outs so frequently.

In regards to food, I never had problems introducing things again (I had my fiance bring me burgers while I was still in the hospital). That could be because I have a colostomy rather than an ileostomy...all my food gets pretty well digested so that could be the difference. It might be better to eat more small meals rather than a few large meals a day. Again, I guess that's something to ask the doctor.

Good luck! It will get better...I promise!
 
Hi Vicky,
I'm sorry your still not feeling well. Hopfully things will start to improve soon.

About your leaks, what brand equipment are you using? Is your skin completely dry when you apply the wafer? Do you have a good fit with the hole around your stoma?
Have you tried a barrier ring? Does your ostomy protrude or is it flush with your skin? Sorry for all the questions, but there are so many reasons why the wafer might be failing.
 
Hi Vicky - So great to hear from you but sorry to hear that you are having such trouble!

Your guts just went thru the wringer, so yes, it's normal to feel pain and weirdness inside. They took out a lot of stuff, so all your remaining guts have to find a new place to settle!

As for weakness and fatigue, give it time. I am six weeks out from surgery and still taking it easy. I was outside yesterday for an hour and planted some plants - one hour - and was WIPED OUT for the rest of the day! So take it easy. Don't push yourself. It will likely be 2-3 months until your energy comes back.

As for the bag/stoma issues, work with your stoma nurse. There are so many appliances out there, you just have to find the right one. If it helps... you are not alone. I had a blow out today at the hair salon. F***!!!! ( Luckily my stylist is a sweetie and had a temp ileo herself about five years ago so she'd been there!)

I am going to try some convex appliances. My stoma doesn't seem to be protruding into my bag enough. I might also try a Hollister two piece based on Joe and Kris' recommendations.

Good luck, hun. Hang in there! Thinking of you... - Ames
 
Thanks for your replies guys!
I'm sorry to report that I'm currently BACK in hospital. I seemed to go downhill quite quickly yesterday so ended up coming back to A&E. I'm madly dehydrated and that's been causing me my problems coz my stomas still so active.
I've requested to see my stoma nurse again today Soave ca check a few things and watch me change the bag. I'm using coloplast type, drainable ones. Other than that I don't know much. My stoma does stick out and is currently about 35mm across, but I think it's now maybe 32.
I've also asked to see a dietician so I can have more guidance and confidence when eating again. The doctors want me to persist with food which just seems crazy to me coz it's so painful!!
I'm currenly on a drip, then theyare going to make me dyrulite drinks for today, and also put me on lopermide. Hopefully all this will help and give me some energy as I couldn't walk yesterday!!
Once I'm let home again I'm gonna have to be really carefull with my fluid intake, how did you guys manage to drink 3L's!? I just feel so sick from it all, I was never a big drinker anyway, but if I'm gonna end up feeling like this then I'm gonna have to force myself!
Anyway, thank you all again for the responses, HOPEFULLY I will be feeling better soon and bloody EATING! lol!
Vicky
X
 
Sorry you're back in hospital but at least you're in the right place while getting these things sorted. What's dryrulite? It sounds ironic! Good luck Vicky!!
 
Aw Vicky. At least you are getting some help to feel better. Keep us posted as you can.
:hug:
Misty
 
My doctor gave me Metimucul to help thicken my output, so it wasn't so watery. I got dehydrated in the hospital. It's a powdered fiber drink, but it also helps the intestines absorb more liquid. One glass of this a day helped. Good luck:)
 
Hi Vicky- I'm so sorry that you're back in hosp, but honestly it's the best place for you right now, and they should help you to get these issues sorted.
Hang on in there, these first few weeks are certainly VERY trying!
Thinking of you, And xx
 
I agree with Andrea, it is good you are back in the hospital. I had to go back a few times after my surgery, and I thought I would never get used to the bag, but after a few months, the pain was suddenly gone, and my bag issues were under control! Then I ate like I hadn't been able to eat in years and it was heaven!

Here's hoping you have a speedy recovery and are back in your own bed soon! :)
 
Sorry to hear you're back in hospital Vicky, but as everyone has said, it's the best place to be right now. Hope they get you sorted and you're back home soon!
 
You poor thing! I hope you're feeling better soon. They're gonna get you on the right track and you'll get the hang of everything in no time. Take care of yourself in the mean time.
 
I hope the doctors give you what you are requesting.. a dietician, a visit from your stoma nurse. I also hope you can go home soon - sorry you are back in but I have to agree with everyone... "better safe..." you know the rest :)
 
Awww, Vicky, so sorry things are rough right now. You will feel tons better after getting rehydrated. And hopefully the stoma nurse can help you sort things out.

I have been drinking 20-30 oz of Glaceau's SmartWater everyday. It's water with added electrolytes. Kind of expensive, but I like it better than gatorade or any of the other sugar-filled electrolyte replacement drinks.

Hang in there. xo - Ames
 

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