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Gonna have surgery. Really scared!

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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 4/12/2008 1:14 AM (GMT 0)
Hi everyone,

It's been a while since I posted.  Long story short -- was in the hospital in early Jan with pancreatitis due to a stuck gallstone.  Then develped a bowel obstruction.  Was hospitalized for 2 weeks.  Had an endoscopy which found gallstones.

Been on a low-fat and my forever low residue diet since.  Had a colonoscopy which showed a bad stricture in the small intestines. I've already had two bowel resections in previous years.

I am scheduled to have a dual surgery on April 16, to remove my gallbladder and either do a strictureplasty (?) or bowel resection, depending on the extent of the stricture.

Surgeon doesn't feel that he will be able to do the surgery laprascopically due to adhesions from the past surgeries.

I'm really nervous about this surgery.  Any advice or support would be greatly appreciated.

 

Posted 4/12/2008 1:33 AM (GMT 0)
pp---sorry about the hospital stay---just wanted to say ''you will be in thoughts and prayers''
hey pp you have been through alot just''one day at a time'' on the surgery--god bless and best
wishes---
Posted 4/12/2008 1:40 AM (GMT 0)
You have had a rough time sorry to hear this, Good luck with your surgery', and you will also be in my prayers. Do you trust your surgeon??? If so it will be ok and you know to take it slow and as georgialady says "One day at a time"
Posted 4/12/2008 1:58 AM (GMT 0)
Hello Potty Pooper,

I'm sorry you have to go through this!! I suggest you keep your thoughts focused on how the surgery will lead to better times ahead. Every day, and every hour, is one closer to feeling better! Just keep focused on how it will get better after you are healed -- and it will! Please let us know how it goes! Prayers for widom for the Drs, strength for you, and swift healing!!!
Posted 4/12/2008 2:20 AM (GMT 0)
Hi I wanted to add my best wishes to you. I hope your surgery goes well, and you have a speedy recovery. Just remember
to walk & walk some more, as soon as you're able...
Posted 4/12/2008 4:12 AM (GMT 0)
Hello there!!! I'm sorry to hear you are going to go through this. It's never easy. Please keep us posted on what's going on with you. Take care of yourself and I'm sending you super big hugs, so when you feel alone in the hospital or just feel that it's just hard, think of these hugs and I hope you feel better! Stay strong!!!!!!! Janice Oregon
Posted 4/12/2008 2:57 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks everyone for your good wishes. You are a great support team, and I am very thankful for this site.

I will definitely follow your good advice about walking as much as possible and thinking good thoughts.

I'll keep you posted when I get home. Thanks again.
Posted 4/12/2008 9:24 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Potty I had surgery in Jan. and the time has gone fast since then I'am sure it won't be long before you are feeling much better. It did me a lot of good and I feel better now so think of it as something that will help you feel good. It was great for me to get the bowels moving along again. Hope your surgery goes well and keep in touch when your up to it we"ll all be pulling for you. lol gail
Posted 4/12/2008 10:32 PM (GMT 0)
PP you'll be fine! I had a double surgery myself, they took my appendix and 9 inches of my intestines, that was when I was diagnosed with the CD. The recovery may be a bit longer but it all goes the same. With my second surgery they started doing it lap but couldn't finish it that way so they ended up cutting me open with the same scar from before, so it was like recovering from a double surgery as well. It's rough but hey with CD we have been through so much you will be ok! You'll be in my prayers!
Posted 4/12/2008 11:13 PM (GMT 0)

Hey P.P.

I wish you the best on your upcoming procedure.You are in my prayers and thoughts.I had all but 1 c.m. of my large intestine removed over 30 yrs ago.My doc performs a procedure for me when he does a flex sigmoid with a baloon to help stretch the stricture and make the opening a little wider.I just thought I would pass this along.I know all our removed parts are different but this has helped me.

 Biggest thing for me is  I trust my doc 100% and to me that is a big part of the healing process.Well good luck.

                             Jim

Remember- living with cronic illness builds courage!!!!

Posted 4/12/2008 11:22 PM (GMT 0)
Potty, would it help to tell us exactly what you're worried about? We might be able to help.

I.
Posted 4/13/2008 3:05 PM (GMT 0)
So sorry to hear this, my thoughts and prayers will be with you....

Posted 4/13/2008 8:25 PM (GMT 0)

I hope your surgery goes well,and it will be of great benefit for you :-)

Hugs

Posted 4/13/2008 10:53 PM (GMT 0)

There is nothing worse than waiting for surgery to happen. It's hard to sit there, with the clock ticking down, with your imagination running wild, and full of fear and nerves. And there's no better feeling--even if you're semi-comatose and in pain--than waking up and realizing, "Thank God--it's over and done!"

Recovery may not be fun, but it's much more bearable than waiting for your surgery. Distract yourself as much as you can. Think about the people, places, and things you love. Rent movies or watch TV shows that make you laugh. Get as much rest as you can, too. Do whatever it takes to calm yourself down and make your peace with what you have to do.

And just know that you'll feel so much better when you come out the other side of this thing.

And remember that many people (some who haven't even met you) are keeping you safe in their thoughts.

Posted 4/14/2008 12:03 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Potty,

A relative just had her gallbladder removed and has fully recovered after 5 weeks. She said she really didn't realize how sick she felt until now. She said she really felt toxic, sickly, and lethargic. She is now cheerful and getting out and about. You have a lot to look forward to!

Keep busy by preparing your home and bedroom for when you return. I like to keep a "pill center" set up on my night stand. Pills, water bottle, crackers, alarm clock, and small flashlight. I use a dim flashlight when I have to take pain meds in the middle of the night. The dim light doesn't wake me up as much as the bright regular lamp. Also, I time the taking of my pain meds so that I have them on-board when I wake up in the morning and have to go to the bathroom. If I take percoset at 4 or 5 in the morning, I can go potty pain free at 6 or 7 am.

Please let us know how it goes. Praying for you!!!!
Posted 4/14/2008 12:30 AM (GMT 0)
I am so sorry =( I hope everything goes smoothly and that you are feeling MUCH better soon.

Keep us posted!
Posted 4/14/2008 3:39 PM (GMT 0)
Will keep you in my prayers and hope this leads to a long long remission.

God Bless,
Gail *Nanners*
Posted 4/15/2008 6:10 AM (GMT 0)
I had the exact surgery several yrs ago. open choly and a small bowel resection. There was no difference in any of my 3 other operations. I also was told no stricturoplasty or laparascopy due to adhesions, better safe than sorry. It was a rather long incision though but I healed well. Walked and walked. Hugs to you with best of luck.
Posted 4/15/2008 2:22 PM (GMT 0)
I want to thank everyone again for their good wishes and support. Tomorrow's the big day. Scheduled for 7:30 a.m., which I'm thankful for- the earlier the better.

You're such a great group, and your suggestions and experiences have helped a lot to calm my nerves.

Didn't know I had to do a bowel prep today (ugh).

Will keep you posted. Best wishes to all!
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