HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

resection surgery

Support Forums
>
Crohn's Disease
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 10/18/2008 11:13 PM (GMT 0)
   I met with my doc yesterday and my surgery is scheduled for Oct 31st. He told me that he would try to do it lapro but that he is not sure if there is more chrohn's that the colonoscopy didn't find so he might have to cut me open to look around. Is that normal?

   I took a list of questions to ask him yesterday but I want to ask more when I go see him the day before surgery. Does anyone have any ideas of some questions that I might not have thought of already. I asked all of the stuff about recovery time, pain meds, etc. This is my first surgery so I'm not real sure what to expect. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Mike 

Posted 10/18/2008 11:37 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Mike Perhaps ask if you have to do a prep. before hand did they give you a paper saying stay off any meds or vitamins prior to surgery?Sure wishing you lots of luck. lol gail
Posted 10/19/2008 1:46 AM (GMT 0)
I think what your Dr is suggesting is normal.

Sort of opposite of yours, but my surgery (May 2008) was originally intended to remove my entire colon and give me a colostomy bag with eventual J-pouch connection surgery to follow. When the surgeon opened me (pubic to above belly button) so he could thoroughly inspect all of my intestines, he found only one intense area of disease on my left side descending colon, so he only removed that (resection) instead of taking my entire colon.

I am GLAD he opened me thoroughly to have a good look around.
I am GLAD he was able to see the disease wasn't as widespread as first thought.
I am GLAD he was able to think-on-his-feet and change the scope of my surgery from initial intention.

So, don't be alarmed by what the Dr is suggesting. They really won't know until they get inside and have a good look around.
Heidi
Posted 10/19/2008 1:57 AM (GMT 0)
I had this surgery almost 2 years ago. I would make sure to ask very specific questions about pain management. When I had mine I had been in the hospital for 4 weeks on morphine, so it had a reduced effect on me. They put in an epidural to numb that area but it didn't work so I woke up from surgery in excruciating pain. The nurses from after the surgery never told my doctor this and what resulted was awful. I don't want to scare you! :-) because overall it really was a great thing to have, but I wished that I had had a conversation about pain management and what would happen if something didn't work with my surgeon and doctor instead of just the anathesiologist.
Good luck with everything. Honestly, this surgery gave me over a year of relief and was worth it
- Kristen.
Posted 10/19/2008 4:19 AM (GMT 0)
  Thanks for the feedback. The doc said he wanted to look around because I told him that my pain is in a different spot than the area than the tests have shown. Hopefully he will look at the xrays and see that it is only the one spot and can do the lapro.

  He did say I have to do a prep. They are going to give me a prescription to take to clean me out i guess the day before. The only med I'm taking is prednisone and he said I have to keep taking it.

  I'm glad that worked out for you Heidi. I bet that was a nice surprise when you woke up.

  So what kind of questions should I ask about pain managemant. That does scare me a little. I just figured I would be on some stuff for pain for a couple of weeks and then be good to go. Hell I'm kinda used to pain now so hopefully it won't be too bad after the surgery.

  The thing I'm most worried about after the surgery is he said about 10% of the time you need a bag for at least 6 weeks. I'm hoping I don't have to do that.

  Were you guys really nervous before the surgery? I'm kinda going back and forth right now but I think I will start freaking out a little when it gets closer. I've been lucky and never had to do anything like this. I was only diagnosed with Crohn's about 3 years ago and it was never all that bad until now.

  Thanks again for the replies. I appreciate it. I come to this site every day since I've found it. The people on here are really nice and helpful.

  

Posted 10/19/2008 12:53 PM (GMT 0)
Hi No once I made the decision to have it done I was not nervous. The hospital I went to said that pain manage is good because it helps to get the recovery process going better. I only had the epidermal for 2or 3 days and one tylenol after that I was very comfortable. I didn't worry about the bag too much as they said a resection so I didn't worry. I had a look around surgery too and it was nice that the belly was not as bloated I had gotten pretty puffed up before surgery and the staples kept things closed nicely too. The relief I have had and the pain before surgery made it easy, there is nothing like being able to poop again. lol gail
Posted 10/19/2008 4:41 PM (GMT 0)
As for them starting out via lap and then having to do the full open surgery is very, very common. Same thing happened to me on my first resection. As for suggestions on pain management, ask for a pain pump to be inserted during surgery. They are wonderful, you have a little button attached to your IV that delivers the Dilaudid every so many minutes as needed for pain. When you feel the pain ramping up you push the button and the pain med is automatically delivered. No more waiting for the nurse to bring your pain meds. Be sure to ask for Demerol or Dilaudid. These are longer lasting pain meds than Morphine in my opinion. And I hope you enjoy a long long remission after your surgery..

God Bless,
Gail *Nanners*
Posted 10/20/2008 1:21 AM (GMT 0)

   thanks for the advice I will ask about the pump. The only thing with that is what is there to keep me from overdosing if i'm giving it to myself?

   gachrons and Nanners, Ive only been here a short time but y'all always seem to be in here helping people out and answering questions. I really appreciate all that y'all do. It's good to be able to talk with people who really understand what I'm about to go through.

Thanks,

M

   

Posted 10/20/2008 1:31 AM (GMT 0)
I would ask if you'll have to have an NG tube into your stomach. That was the one thing the doctors didn't go over with my surgery and I was very unprepared to have a tube up your nose and down your throat for 4-5 days. The relief from the surgery was really worth it. I know it's scary, but feel free to let it out here. Wishing you the best. kimmy
Posted 10/20/2008 3:03 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks Kimmy.  I did remember to ask about the tube. He said he doesn't use them unless it's really necessary so that's definitely a good thing. I had one of those for about 3 days last month when I was in the hospital. They put it in while I was completely awake with no pain meds. I was not a happy camper.

   Pretty much everyone says it is worth it to do the surgery but I am still a little worried just cuz I haven't done anything like this before. I guess my biggest fear is that after the surgery I am hoping I can still do the same things I do now. So far I guess I have been lucky because the only real symptom I have had is bad pain and now the blockage but I've never had to run to the bathroom or worry about being out when it comes. I've heard that after the surgery that can get bad.

   Plus just the thought of someone cutting me open and digging around in there is a little sobering. Then when I met with the surgeon and he went through his little routine telling me all of the bad things that can happen and that kinda freaked me and my wife out a little bit. I know he was just doing his job but I guess I wasn't prepared for all of that yet.  

   Oh well, I'm sure everything will go ok and I'm probably worried about nothing. Even if it doesn't, I guess I'll just deal with whatever happens. Not like i have a choice anyway. At least this place is here so I can come gripe if I want. smilewinkgrin

Thanks,

Mike

Posted 10/20/2008 11:03 AM (GMT 0)
Hi M thanks for your nice words of praise. I do spend alot of time here. I didn't mind the NG only in for a couple of days and put in while I was out. The itching of the tape was what I minded and I did get sick once when I got up to walk.Your right it's something that a person just takes one day at a time. lol gail
Posted 10/20/2008 2:38 PM (GMT 0)
Don't worry about od'ing on the pain meds. They set it to where you can only push every so many minutes. I think mine was first set for every 6 minutes and then moved to every 10 or something like that. I am having a hard time remember. It sounds like you would od with every 6 minutes, but it is a measured dose, so don't worry about that.

And I too thank you for your kind words.

Hugs,
Gail *Nanners*
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply