Will 6 weeks wait make a difference?

[Jen UK]

hello,

I've not posted in ages but always look to this site for advice.
I have crohns in the small bowel, I've tried sulphazalazine, steroids, you name it, currently on Humira injections every other week. I have pain, bloating & lots of noise.

I like to bury my head in the sand and pretend it's not happening. My recent MRI shows I need surgery to remove approx 30cms of small bowel. I'm private & they recommend that I have this within the next few weeks.
The problem is timing, I have a really important work event in 6 weeks time, plus a close family funeral which I really don't want to miss.
What do others think to switching to a liquid only diet, I'm currently on low residual, until it's time for surgery, meaning I have it in 7 weeks.
I've already been about 4 months in pain, will 7 weeks make that much difference?!

If I were on the Nhs I would have to wait that long, or am I just trying to put it off?!
Any advice would be great

 

[DJW]

You could try a liquid diet. Have you discussed the situation with the surgeon?

 

[UnXmas]

I agree with DJW - you need to ask your doctors. You need to know whether they are recommending you have it done soon for medical reasons or not. NHS waiting times vary depending on the urgency of the situation.

I don't think you should do a liquid diet for that long.

 

[Jen UK]

Thanks, I've checked with my surgeon & gastro doc, they both say it is too dangerous to wait, I could perferate at any time so I'm booked in for the 22nd.
I've not had anything like this before, I'm scared, how much does it hurt?!

 

[UnXmas]

I'm sorry to hear it's that bad, Jen UK, but it sounds like your doctors are in agreement and confident about the right course of action to take.

Is this your first surgery?

I've had major surgeries - a total colectomy, and later an ileostomy surgery - with no pain relief. I couldn't have opioids because they slow down the bowel, and I had a particular complication after those surgeries that my surgeon thought would have made opioids dangerous - and opioids are pretty much the only kind of pain relief worth mentioning, in my opinion! I can tell you that I made it through with no pain relief. It wasn't fun, but it wasn't unbearable.

You will almost certainly be offered pain relief, and you can always let someone know if your pain is not being adequately controlled - whether it's the nurses when you're in hospital or your GP after you've been discharged.

Some pain is inevitable - painkillers have side effects and taking certain types of painkiller results in tolerance and addiction, so it's a difficult balance to get right.

I've had a lot of experience with pain relief (and with surgeries in general), so if you have specific questions feel free to ask.

I can imagine how stressful this must be for you. You will get through it though. Surgery itself is surprisingly un-scary when it comes to it: it sounds obvious, but the moment you're knocked out, you're waking up again and it's done. Being under anaesthetic isn't like being asleep - you have no sense that time has passed. You go to the hospital, probably see the surgeon and anaethetist briefly, then before you know it you're on the ward recovering and boredom is the biggest problem!

And it will be a huge relief to have it over and done with. Always ask - your surgeon, your gastro, people on this forum - about any concern you have.

 

[DEmberton]

I had to wait 6 weeks for surgery, and that was private. I ended up making lots of irate phone calls trying to get an answer out of anyone as to when it would be.

They told me I needed to get into the best possible shape for surgery, which meant Ensure and Complan (and "chips and mars bars" to quote the consultant), and avoid all fibre. I did actually feel a bit better and gained a small bit of weight in those six weeks. I think a liquid only diet means you might run the risk of losing weight.

 

[DEmberton]

Oh I see you've decided not to wait ;-)

You certainly shouldn't rush the recovery, and its different for everyone, but I was back to work less than 3 weeks after mine and got more or less back to normal, albeit a bit weak and sluggish moving around. So you might well be able to do those things you mentioned; just take it easy.

Probably the best thing I've ever done.

 

[highlandsrock]

Hi Jen

If you are interested I've recorded my small bowel operation experience under the NHS here - http://goo.gl/DHRs24 - there's also a chapter about the lead up to the operation (putting on weight etc). In my case it was many months between knowing I was having the operation and it happening. Speak to your surgeon and explain your circumstances. See what they say.

I know what you mean about burying your head in the sand. I was like that for years and did everything I could to avoid the knife. However, having now had surgery, it has been a very positive experience. I cannot praise enough the treatment and care I received under the NHS. If you manage the process right you do not need to put up with long waiting times.

 

[Jen UK]

Thanks everyone, I've had my surgery, it wasn't as scary as I first thought really although not the nicest experience I've ever had!
Everything went well although they had to remove more than expected including my appendix.
I seem to be recovering well on a soft diet, in pretty scared to try anything remotely exciting just yet but hope to be back at work 4 weeks after my surgery which is good.

Thanks for all your help & support

 

[UnXmas]

I'm glad to hear from you and that it all went ok. Are you still in hospital or have you come home?

I think it's better to be over-cautious about diet right after surgery than to go the other way - no need to risk making your digestive symptoms worse if you can avoid it. Just make sure you're getting enough nutrition to heal and you can start testing more foods once you're further along in recovery.

Hope you'll be back at work soon, take it easy for now.