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Posted 4/9/2008 11:53 PM (GMT 0)
Well I met with the surgeon last week about removing my appendix. After examining me he decided he would also need to take out my terminal ileum and ceueum (sp?) I was wondering if anyone has had this surgery,and if so what should I expect?
Posted 4/10/2008 2:58 AM (GMT 0)
This is probably a basic resection of the TI. Depending upon how much is removed you may find that after your recovery (4-6 weeks if an open incision, less if done laproscopically) there are almost no residual effects. Some people find that their bowel patterns change after a resection of the terminal ileum, but many just experience relief from previous symptoms. It depends why you are having surgery. If it is to relieve obstructive symptoms, you should experience relief almost immediately. If you lose most of your TI you may need to take a bile acid binder (cholestyramine) because fat-malabsorption might be an issue. Also, with this surgery you also lose the valve that keeps feces from backing up from the colon into the small intestine (ileo-cecal valve). This can sometimes increase the potential for developing bacterial overgrowth in the small bowel. I use a live culture yoghurt to help keep my intestinal flora in balance.
Posted 4/10/2008 4:07 AM (GMT 0)
Chelsea- I've had this surgery and the things that remain with me about it was.....walk as much as you can, as soon as you, can after the surgery to relieve the gas. When you wake up from surgery you will probably have a stomach tube through the nose to pump your stomach and allow your bowels to rest for a couple of days. Not a big deal as you would imagine and if the anesthesia makes you nauseous after surgery you won't have to worry about throwing up all over the place! Take your favorite hard candy with you to help your throat from becoming dry from the tube and when they remove it, DO NOT start eating whole food immeditately even if they bring it to you. The first meal they brought to me was beef tips over rice with gravy, onions & peppers! What absolute idiots! Go very slow from liquids, to applesauce, jello, soft foods and then try the real thing all in small amounts. Better to eat lots of small meals anyway. You'll be fine and it will relieve a lot of your symptoms for a good while and hopefully will allow your maintenance drugs to do a better job too! Hopefully you'll get the laproscopic surgery. I wasn't that lucky. They did my appendix at the same time too.
Posted 4/10/2008 5:06 AM (GMT 0)
broomhilda gave good advice. the walking is key. even if it hurts and you feel you cant do it, suck it up. you'll heal faster. get up and do some laps on your floor every couple of hours. also use the air breathing thingy they give you every hour. 10 good deep breaths each time. this will help reduce the risk of coming down with pneumonia.

bowel rest is key so get some get used to not eating for a while. have some one bring you gatorade (ask the doc/nurses first to make sure it is ok for you to be having it) as it has some carbs and electolytes in it and some flavor.

if you can, have your surgeon do it laproscopic. being gutted leaves a miserable scar.
Posted 4/10/2008 5:29 AM (GMT 0)
Yeah Harry...I forgot about the air breathy thing...That's very important! Boost or Ensure is a good idea to have around to keep the calorie count up even while in the hospital. They won't release you until they are happy with the calorie intake and you may not feel like eating. I actually cheated the last day. I had lobby priviledges so I took my in between meals Boost down to the lobby with me and pored it into the lobby bathroom sink before going back upstairs...I was so full, I thought I was going to blow up and they kept cramming food in me. Also, you might want to consider asking the surgeon to have a port installed during surgery so they won't have to find a vein every time they want to do a blood draw/change an IV or give you injectables. You'll most likely be put on B12 injections after surgery because once the ileum is removed you will have no means of absorbing B12.
Posted 4/10/2008 1:15 PM (GMT 0)
Hey, I'm new here, so hi!

I've had this surgery. They're right about walking...the sooner you do it, the faster you go home. I got sent home within a week and only spent a week at home.
Unfortunately within 6 weeks, my symptoms were back. But the surgery affects everyone differently. Don't rush yourself on eating again and make sure to ask your doctor about vitamin absorption and B12. My previous doctor never put me on anything and I didn't know to ask. I've started going to a new doctor and all my levels are way too LOW!

Good luck! I hope everything works out!
Posted 4/10/2008 1:31 PM (GMT 0)
When's your surgery? Keep us posted on how your doing. Hope everything goes well. Sounds like good advice from everyone.
Posted 4/10/2008 2:02 PM (GMT 0)
thanks for all the advice. I am already on monthly B12 injections through my GP. I am not sure when the surgery is the surgeon wants to have another consult with my GI first but hopefully it is soon as I am in a wedding in September lol and I really don't want to miss it
Posted 4/10/2008 5:05 PM (GMT 0)
My one tip I can add to the above is to ask for the pain pump (PCA) for your pain meds. This is a little pump that is attached to your IV for pain meds. This way you don't have to wait for the nurse to bring your pain meds. You just push a little button and it gives you a dose of pain med as you need.
Posted 4/11/2008 3:21 AM (GMT 0)
thanks Nan that is a good idea!! I have also thought about getting my mom to bring me jello from home I know the stuff in the hospital is usually chewy lol
Posted 4/11/2008 10:39 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Good luck on your surgery I had it done in Jan. and I feel and have felt so much better. I had an epidermal for the first 2 or 3 days after surgery so no pain I had been sick for awhile prior to surgery so was a little weak but did very good and my scar isn.t too bad . I haven't had any pain so I am glad about that. Yes I walked alot to after a few days. I used to raid the goodie room after I was allowed to eat I also drank boost and ensure I think it got my strength back . I was glad to get the BM's going again it was great not to be incontinent at night again.Let us know how you make out and don't worry it isn't as bad as I thought it would be. lol gail
Posted 4/12/2008 12:48 AM (GMT 0)
Hello,  I had an ileoceacal resection last April about this time.  Everyone has had really great advise.  I would absolutely ask to bring my own jello from home next time since that is all I could eat 1 week before and a few days following the surgery.  Also I would ask if I could bring my own broth from home b/c the hospital broth is gross!

I had an open surgery and it was the best decision I could have made.  I did have loose stools for the first 3 months or so.  I went from 100lbs at the time of my surgery to 140lb now...I am just so excited to be eating without pain.

I am still on 50mg of 6mp to hoepfully help keep the disease in remission.  I also take a probiotic supplement to keep the healthy flora balance in my gut.

I wish you the best of luck!  Keep us updated.

Lisa

Posted 4/12/2008 1:51 AM (GMT 0)
I had this surgery back in 1992 and the walking is very important along with the breathing. Also use a pillow when you cough it helps so much even with walking it helps. Good luck
Posted 4/12/2008 1:51 AM (GMT 0)
I had this surgery back in 1992 and the walking is very important along with the breathing. Also use a pillow when you cough it helps so much even with walking it helps. Good luck
Posted 4/12/2008 3:04 AM (GMT 0)

I had surgery to remove my IC valve about 2 years ago due to a tumor next to the valve.  The surgery was laparosopic, but they did need to make a 2-3 inch incision to take out the piece(s).  Afterwards it wasn't very painful, all things considered.  The next day I felt like I had done about 1000 sit-ups, sore but not the worst pain I've endured.  I stopped all pain meds about 36 hours after surgery because I wanted to get my intestines working as soon as possible so I could leave.  I didn't have the stomach tube, but I did have a catheter for about 12 hours after the surgery.

I wasn't allowed to eat or drink anything until I passed gas, about three days after surgery.  Then it was clear liquids for a few meals, then solids.  I'm hypoglycemic so the hospital dietician wouldn't let them give me jello (yeah!), I had to get on solid foods quickly.  Once I had a bowel movement, I was out.

I had a lot of D for a few weeks after surgery, then it stopped.  I was really tired for about 2 months, I would not have been able to return to work full time after the three weeks originally suggested.

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