Small Bowel Resection...scared

I know I haven't been here in awhile but could I persuade any of you guys to tell me about your small bowel resection? My doctor says I need one and I'm pretty scared about it since I've never had surgery before in my life. How bad is the pain? Are you awake for the NG tube and the catheter? I must admit part of my fear is that I'll awake during surgery...yes, I did happen to run into that special on TLC/Discovery Health..lol...I can't remember the channel but hasn't happened to one of you guys, right? Also, the going to sleep part has me pretty freaked out...what does that feel like?

Thanks for reading and hopefully not laughing (or at least don't tell me you're laughing lol).

Solanges : )

Take a deep breath.....you will not wake up during surgery!! I had a bowel resection in 1/08. They will wait until you are asleep before they place the NG tube and foley catheter. I woke up and my NG tube was out, the catheter stays for a couple of days until you are up moving well. I had a spinal placed in the operating room which helped with pain relief and also had an On-Q pain pump placed in my incision that bathes the area in numbing medicine. They will give you plenty of pain medication in the recovery room and also get you set up on PCA analgesia so that you can push the button and give yourself pain medication when you are alert enough to do so. I'm a registered nurse and had never had surgery before. Sometimes knowing too much is not a good thing, I was very nervous before the surgery. Luckily once you are on the table, the anesthesiologist puts you to sleep really fast and the next thing you remember is waking up in the recovery room. I actually woke up on our way out of the OR and i thought i was at work and couldn't figure out why I was the one laying on the bed. They quickly reminded me that I'd just had surgery and that it was all over with already. After that I was back sleeping until sometime in recovery. The first day you are pretty in and out of it. I remember hearing people talk but don't recall seeing their faces. Probably just as well. Just remember, you will be fine. It's not the most pleasant thing you will ever go through, but if you are sick enough for surgery you will be glad to be on your way to feeling better!! Good luck!!

They should put in catheter and NG tube when out. I'm sure you can get some valium or something if you're really nervous before the surgery.

And don't worry about waking up in the middle of surgery. If you do, you should get a nice settlement for it.

Hi Solanges,
I'm 30 and have had Crohn's since I was 12. I have had 3 resections and one temporary illiostomy. I've also been hospitalized over 3 dozen times due to Crohn's problems.

With regards to your questions,

I've had the NG tube inserted before surgery and when surgery was not required. It is uncomfortable, but the relief it brings is well worth it.

I've woken up with a catheter in place, it does not feel uncomfortable and is usually removed within about 2 days. Removal of the catheter does not feel like anything at all, you won't even know that they did it till they tell you it is out.

Falling asleep under general anesthesia is no different than falling asleep at the end of the day. The only difference is that you do not dream during general anesthesia. As far as waking up during surgery, you are more likely to be in a fatal car accident on the way to the hospital than for that to happen. Don't worry about it you'll be fine.

Post surgery, the pain I've felt has ranged form moderate to severe. I had an epidural in place once and have always had a morphine pump which works quite well. If you are in pain it can be dealt with so do not be afraid to tell the nurse or doctor.

I'm sure that you will make it through this just fine and that it will bring you some relief. I know the anxiety that you are feeling as I felt the same way before my first surgery.

Best wishes.

i had a samll bowel resection in 2000, two feet was removed. i did wake up but i had no idea at all until they told me. It was not as bad as my mind made it out to be, the recovery is not bad it will take a month or two before you get back to yourself, at least that's what it took for me. I had a ton of fistula so it was a long operation but i felt like a new person afterwards. good luck with everything, best whishes to you.

Hi!  I just want to add my two cents.  It is important, I think, to not decide that surgery is "bad" and meds are "good", or meds are "bad" and diet is "good", or excercise is "good" and giving in to fatigue is "bad".   I have learned that chronic illness is complicated, and many treatments are there for us.  They are all helpful or not depending on our own personal situation, and we need to be open and gentle with ourselves.  I have crohn's, autoimmune hepatitis, sarcoidosis, scoliosis and a highly dysplastic colon polyp (pre-cancer).  It is quite a journey.....

Pix