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Help, scheduled for small bowel resection

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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 11/3/2015 6:48 PM (GMT 0)
Hello, I have not posted in quite awhile but I really need some help. I end up in the hospital about 1 time a year with a bowel obstruction but I usually can feel them coming on and stay at home on a clear liquid diet until it passes. I have been sent to a surgeon and she has scheduled me for a small bowel resection and to have gallbladder out. I have 4 strictures in my small bowel. I am so scared to have the surgery. I have not read any stories of people that have had a good outcome. Has anyone had a good outcome after this surgery. Will this surgery make the urgency, frequency, cramps, nausea and diarrhea go away. I am just sick about the surgery. I am worried I will be much worse afterward. I should also add that I have had 7 melanomas in the past year and have been unable to take any medications for my crohns, Thank you in advance for your replies.

Post Edited (Not2Spunky) : 11/3/2015 11:53:00 AM (GMT-7)

Posted 11/3/2015 7:12 PM (GMT 0)
How much bowel are they removing? I only had 17 cm removed of ileum, and my appendix. I definitely have IBS issues but not excessive D, and my GERD completely disappeared after surgery, and so far I am considered to be in remission....so it was definitely a good outcome. It depends on how much bowel they need to remove. Hopefully the strictures are located close together and you can have laporascopic surgery.
Posted 11/3/2015 7:56 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you for the reply. The strictures are close together. I did ask how much they would be taking out and she said it wouldn't be much. I have terrible heartburn esp. at night while trying to sleep. So that may g away as well?
Posted 11/3/2015 9:00 PM (GMT 0)
They didn't tell me that the heartburn would go away after surgery but it did, and I am off all heartburn medications. Prior to surgery, I was also having gastroparesis (slow stomach emptying) and that went away as well. I don't feel fine though.....I wish I could tell you otherwise. I deal with bad bloating and IBS symptoms pretty much every day despite changes in diet, exercise, etc. I had a bad obstruction from scar tissue and there was no question of my needing surgery, so I really didn't have to make a decision about it. The surgery definitely helped me for whatever that's worth. I was getting anemic regularly and have had normal blood work since surgery in May, 2014.
Posted 11/6/2015 5:19 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you gumby. I have been reading a lot on the forum and have got some very helpful information. I am worried as they are taking out my gallbladder as well and I've read that I can not have greasy or fatty foods for awhile after that and my soft diet of pudding, jello, ice cream is all that. I also have a 7mm kidney stone that I hope they are going to zap while I am out. I can feel the stone when I get dehydrated but I sure don't want to have to try to pass that. I am just worried sick about the surgery as I have read so many horror stories following a small bowel resection.
Posted 11/6/2015 5:34 PM (GMT 0)
Try something to distract yourself when you get worrying.....it is good to get informed but after a certain point worrying only makes everything worse. I did not have my gall bladder removed but I know there is medication you can take to help with the bile salts being absorbed. With Crohn's I never eat greasy or fatty foods anyway, so it might not be all that different for you. If you read this site or other places, I think there are a lot more success stories than horror stories with small bowel resection. I am still struggling with some symptoms, but I definitely consider my surgery necessary and a success.
Posted 11/17/2015 6:12 PM (GMT 0)
Day after tomorrow is my surgery. Anxiety is getting really bad. The only thing they have me taking for bowel prep is clear fluids and a whole bottle of Miralax in 64 oz of Gatorade. I thought that was odd.
Posted 11/18/2015 3:06 PM (GMT 0)
I am sending you good vibes for your surgery!!! I am having the same surgery next week and I feel very anxious as well..

Please keep us posted! Wishing you a very speedy recovery and hope that after the surgery it is all worth it and you feel a hundred times better...
Posted 11/18/2015 3:10 PM (GMT 0)
Oh ya, about the prep.. My surgeon requested NO PREP for me!!! LOL.. Afraid I might perforate... I will doing my own though... It really worries my to have anything happening in my digestive tract right before, during, or after the surgery.. So I planning to play it safe.. I have prepped for many a colonoscopy. I don't plan on taking anything just sticking to liguids for a couple days before the surgery.

What did you feel was odd about your prep? The Miralax and Gatorade mixture may not taste too great.
Posted 11/19/2015 3:43 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you dawn77. I've been on a soft diet only for a couple of weeks for fear of a perforation and just clear liquids the past couple days. I've had many preps in the past as well and always with go lytely and doculax tablets. Just have never had one with just Miralax. I can tell you I won't be drinking Gatorade for a long time.
Posted 11/19/2015 2:32 PM (GMT 0)
Good luck with your surgery....I hope it all goes well!
Posted 11/19/2015 2:47 PM (GMT 0)
Sending good vibes your way today!! Keep us posted when you are ready..;)
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