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Resection op

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Posted 11/8/2007 5:25 PM (GMT 0)
I have had an abdominal fistula for the last eighteen months after having a partial hysterectomy. I am going in for surgery in two weeks time to have a bowel resection and the rest of the hysterectomy.I'm terrified!!!!!  Have found out today that i don't have to have a bowel prep,which i'm quite surprised about.

Can anyone tell me what to expect,who has had this done recently,as i know things have changed alot in the past couple of years

Would appreciate any advice

Posted 11/8/2007 5:37 PM (GMT 0)
I didn't have a prep for either of my resections and I got an infection in my incision both times. I would probably go ahead and do the prep anyways. I know if I have to have another resection I will for sure do a prep. JMHO!
Posted 11/9/2007 3:14 AM (GMT 0)
I had resection surgery about 4 weeks ago and ended up with two infections - one at the incision and one below the skin surface. They ended up having to open me up again to allow the infection to ooze out I guess. From what I am told, infections are VERY common with intestinal surgery, so be on close watch for any signs of it.

I don't know much about the hysterectomy (as I am male), but the resection surgery and recovery was not as bad as I feared. The incision healing is the hardest part, with no real abdominal pain otherwise. I was on an IV diet for a week, then liquids for three days, and then slowly back to regular foods (although I had very little appetite).

It is four weeks after surgery (and three weeks after the reopening of my incision due to infection) and I am walking a couple miles a day, enjoying mostly normal eating with an emphasis on proteins, and have almost no discomfort or pain. I should be driving a little by this weekend, too. Oh, and I was off all pain meds within two weeks of the surgery.

I know every surgery and recovery is different, but hopefully yours will be as easy as mine felt!

Good luck!
Posted 11/9/2007 6:42 AM (GMT 0)
It has been 10 yrs since my last resection, but I had it done at a teaching hospital with a bowel prep/antibiotics. No infection. Good luck to you.
Posted 11/9/2007 7:17 AM (GMT 0)
No bowel prep? I had a resection just over a week ago and it was emphasized to me how important the prep was, to get the bowels emptied before surgery. I had absolutely nothing to eat the day before, drank 3 ounces of Fleet at noon, took 4 Ducolax at 5pm, and in the morning before going to the hospital had a Fleet enema. I guarantee it wasn't pleasant, but I wanted to make sure I was ready.

My surgery was done laparoscopically and "hand-assisted" to remove the abscess and fistula. It's been 8 days now and I've been home for 3 days. So far, no infection or any other problems. I actually feel like I could go back to work full time right now. The worst part was the hospital stay waiting for the intestines to "wake up." I had no food the first two days and then went on clear liquids the third day. Getting up and walking as soon as possible is important. The day after surgery they pulled me out of bed and held me up as they walked me up and down the hall. This is supposed to help the intestines wake up. They said I could not go home until I passed gas or had a bowel movement which happened the fifth day and then I went home that night.

I haven't needed any pain meds since I got home, only hurts when I get up or down, but even that has faded significantly today. I've still been eating cautiously, mostly soft foods like light pastas or soup and a little bread. My bowel movements are nothing to write home about, but they're not out of control or anything, mostly just loose and sometimes urgent, but not overly excessive. I'm hoping that will get back on track soon. I'm also hoping I'll get a good remission for awhile out of this. I know it varies a lot from person to person.

I wish you a successful surgery and remission as well. And if you get this in time, I would recommend calling your surgeon's office and asking them about the bowel prep.
Posted 11/9/2007 9:56 AM (GMT 0)
i had my resection in my 2006 and there was definately a bowel prep involved. i drank two little bottles of fleet something mixed with juice. one at around 10am and one at 4pm.
i was going to the bathroom until it was clear, similar to a colonoscopy prep.

my surgery was supposed to be done laparoscopically but for some reason my surgeon decided the day before ths surgery that they would definately open me up.
the worst part of my recovery was definately the attempt to pass gas in the hospital.
where they had re-attached everything was pretty swollen and they say it can sort of scab over on the inside a little bit so when the gas tried to get through it was seriously like giving birth to gas inside my stomach. it took about 5 days before i passed anything and i looked about 7 months pregnant.
the cramps were the worst part, and the gas finaly passed through when the pain made me vomit and the pressure forced it out. (the presssure also tore the muscle on the inside which caused me to end up with an incisional hernia which took about 8 months to figure out)
anyways.
once the gas was passed i was a happy camper.
i guess sometimes patients get an NG tube to prevent something like that from happening.
its mostly the muscle being cut from the incision that took the most time to heal, just being sore in general. but getting up and walking is important.

unfortunately, my incisional hernia is back and needs to be repaired again which is not something im in a rush to do. sometimes i wonder what these surgeons are doing. sheesh.

anyways. good luck with the surgery.
the most important thing is to get out of your bed the next day which they will pretty much force you to do. dont be afraid to take the pain meds to help. thats what they're there for.

also, if you do run into a gas issue, i found that laying on my side and having someone rub my back was the only thing that got it going!

and ice chips were my best friend.
Posted 11/10/2007 9:25 PM (GMT 0)
I had a resection and surprise appendectomy in Sept '05- had a bowel prep then--- I am having another resection on Dec 4th- again they are having me do a bowel prep, in addition to a a 2 day liquid diet (which is all i can have anyway) because i also have gastroparesis (slow emptying stomach)!!!  I would never want any surgery where there was feces floating around an incision- laproscopic or not, they are still taking apart your pipes and putting them back together- honestly I'd do one anyway!  I was told by my surgeon that they typically do not do the NG Tube anymore, but unfortuanetly I still have to have one because of my stomach issue!!!  Good luck!!!! tongue
Posted 11/11/2007 3:05 AM (GMT 0)
Never thought about it till now...didn't have a prep either...most definetly will do one next time! Thanks everyone for the heads up!
Posted 11/11/2007 3:18 AM (GMT 0)
Mine was over 10 years ago but i definitely had a bowl prep. It wasn't to bad either had no infections at all but i felt great for 5 years no flare ups at all. I also could eat just about anything i wanted in those 5 years it was great. It was well worth it.
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