Just had my 3rd Bowel Resection

Back on the 9th of February I had to undergo my 3rd bowel resection.

First one in 8 years, but the bad memories quickly came back.

Not sure if this had anything to do with being on Humira, but post op the I could not get pain meds (EXCURCIATING)!  My heart beat was too low (50 beats/minute). I was finally put on a PCA Pump after a few hours post op.

Then I had 3 days of 100-104 fevers in the ICU.

This resulted in a blood transfusion (2 pints).

5 days total in the ICU.  I yanked my NG Tube out of my nose/belly after the 4th night.  Totally freaked my nurses out.

Had an allergic reaction to Adavan - hallucinations and such, NOT fun.

All told 6 nights in hospital.

Why would a surgeon discharge you with 30 x 5mg percocet pills plus some Tylenol 3 when in hospital I'm on 3mg of Dilaudid / Hr..?  That sucked.

End result another 10-12 inches of small intestine removed at the cecum.  According to my surgeon it was the "worst" case of Crohns he'd ever operated on.  Got another 32 staples in my belly which will be taken out tomorrow.

God I can't wait for spring.

I know they are trying to get patients in and out of the hospital as quickly as possible now. I just spent a few days in the hospital myself for a partial blockage (probably going to have my 4th resection soon). They were ready to discharge me after 3 days, but my GI said no. They finally discharged me after 5 days. But I still have the blockage and they didn't do anything to fix it. If the patient can manage on their own then they send you home. In my case I can do clear liquids and take pain meds, so I am fine to be at home. They won't do emergency surgery unless it becomes a complete blockage, so no need for me to be in the hospital.

It really is not in the best interest of the patient. With a day or two more in patient care, we probably would recover more quickly from surgery, but its all down to the bottom line. It just doesn't pay for them to have patients taking up beds who aren't needing the most care. Move them in and move them out.

I'm gonna go back to zanne's post. I had elective surgery once, before it became total obstruc. but I was able to pick the day of surgery. my dr gave me open script to pain med's,vicodin. I was just starting the racing season in canada, and I wanted to make money, so I asked the doc if I could wait until after season was over, he OK, but be really careful(perforate). so I waited it out until november, this was mid march. I would never do that again. I would never wait like that. So now you can't have elective surgery, maybe with ppo, I have hmo. That doesn't evan sound right. It seems to me ins. would prefer elective rather than er surgery.

AG