ILEOCOLECTOMY A SUCCESS

Hello everyone, sorry it took me so long to check back in. THE SURGERY WAS A SUCCESS, YEAH IT'S OVER AND I AM IN REMISSION. I was back home ever since last saturday, I went into surgery on the 5th at about 2:00 and came home around 2:00 on saturday. You guys were right the pain after surgery is really managable everyone at the hospital was so kind a comforting. When I first arrive I was a little nervous but not really, I was just ready to get it behind me and out the way, for some reason I was at ease at last. When I arrived I had changed into a gown no clothing at all bummer. They drew my blood, and gave me a blood thinner shot in my stomach they really sting. Then they gave me these SCD stockings so after surgery they could keep the blood flowing in my legs properly and to prevent a blood clot. I waited in the pre room for about an hour with my stepmom and aunts and uncles. They all had a prayer  and about twenty minutes later they came and got me and took me to another little prep area, where they started my IV and I got a chance to talk to my doc before surgery. Then they started to shoot me up with the loopy medicines that calmed me down, Then I was rolled to the operating room, it was like I was in the twilight zone and the next thing I remembered was them placing the oxygen thingy over my mouth and nose, it felt like I was abducted by aliens because the only thing I remembered were the really bright lights over head and then nothing. I woke up about 2 hours later in recovery still very sleepy and loopy, and the first thing they asked me was how much pain I was in, I was like it way like a five. They immediately started my pain pump the pain slowly drifted away until I really wasn't in any pain, just still sleepy regaining consciousness. After about an hour I was wheeled out and all my family was in the hallway, I immediately gave them a thumbs up, because all of them looked terrified. The were relieved after that gesture. I was rolled to my room in and out of sleep. Then eventually I was able to stay awake and talk to my family. Then the itchiness started terrible itchiness I was scratching all over, this was from the pain meds. I was happy to be itchy rather than in pain, my aunt rubbed lotion and scratched my back gave me temporary relief, after I knew that the pain med was making me itch this much I slacked off on pressing the pain pump. I was still not in much pain at all despise my incision was from the right side of my belly button down to a little above my pelvic bone. I was so aggarvated about not having anything to eat they brought me some ice chips, my mouth and lips were really dry and the ice chips just gave me something to keep my mouth moist a little. The morning my doc came in and asked if I had any naseau, I was like no I've been eating ice find though, so he decided to give me liquids and I tolerated them well, I guess I was so hungry. I also chewed spearmint gum to try and stimulate my bowels and bigolly it worked, that night after walking three times also that day a rush of you no what came out to say hi. The next morning he started me on solids and I tolerated them as well. I was eating grits, eggs, and french toast with no pain from crohn's it felt like I was freed from a prison of pain and anguish which I was in for over 4 years since my diagnoses. The next morning I was released and back at home. With no internet connection until now. Sorry it took me so long but I'm here and better than ever. I JUST WANT TO SAY IF YOU ARE RECOMMENDED TO HAVE SURGERY THAN TAKE EVERYTHING INTO CONTEXT, FIND SOME FORUMS TO GET ADVICE AND WHAT TO EXPECT, THEN GO FOR IT. I HESITATED FOR OVER A MONTH AND POSTPONED IT, AND NOW I AM GLAD ITS BEHIND ME. I CAN HONESTLY SAY IT IS NOT THAT BAD, AND YOU WILL BE GLAD THAT YOU DID IT. Well, I will probably be back on in the next couple of hours, I have a check up with my surgeon at 3:45, but all is well my incision doesn't even hurt anymore, just a little bit uncomfortable when I stand, can't lay completely flat on my back or on my sides yet but all is well. GACHRONS I DID IT, IT'S OVER!

Post Edited (stephx) : 11/13/2008 12:15:28 PM (GMT-7)

Stephen, I am SO PROUD OF YOU!!!    I have been thinking about you every day!  It sounds like the surgery was a wonderful success!  WOO HOO!  Blessings, Julie

YAY!

See I knew you could do it!!!! Im so proud of you!

Yay!!!! I'm glad it worked out best for you!! Sorry if I was part of you putting it off - it just didn't seem like you had the info you needed at the time. I am so happy you are feeling better!

Wow that is great Stephx!

I'm glad it went so well ! It also makes me feel better if I ever have to go under the knife. So what are the plans now? What kind of maintenance meds do you have to take?

I got Vicodin after my gallbladder was out, and ended up not taking them because they made me itch so much. I got Percocet last summer for Crohn's pain, and although they made me itch like mad too, I took them anyway because it beat the pain. I think it must be a mild allergy to opiates or something.

Hurrah for you Stephen!!!
I'm so glad everything went well and you are experiencing some relief. I hope you have a long remission!
Take Care
Michael

Hi Steph Sounds like you are doing good with food and it won't be long you will be gaining. It makes a big difference to get rid of the belly pain doesn't it? I got my shots in the arm and they stopped them after I could walk good. See you had lots of family support that is great. I went to bed early last night so wasn't here when you got back. How much weight did you loose you figure altogether? I found it didn't take me long to get the weight back on.

Did you get your staples out yet? Well going into town today to get my cinnamon bun I usually get for a treat. Will be looking forward to talking more later. Have a good day. love gail

Great to hear it went well. Thinking of the surgury also was recomende. Dont forget about us crohnies. Hope all works out.

I went to get my check up yesterday, my aunt took me. When I arrived the nurse had forgot to put me down for my scheduled time and my surgeon was in an emergency surgery at the time. So she called him to see if he was around the office, he told her to take my staples out and to check my vitals. Funny thing is that there were no staples at all, I ws so small that he just stitched me closed and put little terry strips across my incision to help keep it closed. She looked at it and was amazed how fast I was healing, there is just a line of scabs now nothing leaking or spuiling any discharge or pulse. She checked my weight and I had gained like 4 pounds since surgery last week, I went in a 103lbs now I am close to 110lbs. I hope I am not taking things to fast I a eating mostly anything that I want, I have no D but I am still bleeding a little when I go. I gues this is normal, since I am a little over a week out of surgery. All in all I lost about 30 to 35 lbs over this 4 year ordeal, but when I was on remicade about two years ago I was starting to gain, but was cut off of it when my insurance got axed. The nurse said that since I am not taking any pain meds that I can start back driving for little distances now, and that I should really start picking up weight five weeks out. I go back for a check up with my surgeon in two weeks, and my gastro the first week in january.

Congratulations! No staples? I'm jealous! My staples hurt and itched like crazy and I was so glad to get them out! And you gained weight right after the surgery? I lost 15lbs from being in the hospital and another 5 right after...whatever you are doing, keep it up!

Don't get too crazy with your diet. Take it slow and easy and slowly work in some of the harder foods.