Surgery again!!

So, it turns out that I need to have my 5th bowel resection to fix a blood leak. Had my last surgery in 2007 and pretty much since then have had hemoglobin problems. Constantly going for iron shots, iron infusions, blood transfusions. Enough already. So the surgeon said this is the only way to stop it, is to go in and get rid of the bleeding part. They are planning a "on the table endoscopy" as well. So that is a good thing, get the full in and out checked!

So because it is my 5th resection, we have to do the whole open surgery, no laproscopic for me, might be too many adhesions.

Surgery date should be in May sometime, of course, when my kids have 3 weeks of dance competitions!! I hope all will work out. Having so many surgeries is scary, and what if there are more complications afterward.

I don't really have a questions for anyone, but just looking for some supportive comments I guess. I am not on this forum constantly, but every time I have difficulties or trouble coping, this is the best place to come. Everyone know what you are going through. So I guess that is what I am looking for, just to feel like I am not alone in this crazy disease.

Thanks,

I'm right there with you. I just had my 4th resection in March. IF everything had gone as planned I would be back to all/most of my activities by now with maybe a nap in the afternoon. My incision has healed nicely and I can move pretty well. I can wear some of my clothes again, but I can only wear jeans for a few hours at a time even though they are super loose from my weight lose.

But I have had some complications, mainly I have an ileus and the doctors aren't sure how to get things started again. I had so many adhesions that had to be removed that my intestines are just inflamed and sore, so they don't want to do their job right now. Because of that, I can't get back to all of my regular activities. I have no idea when I will have enough energy to go back to work (I babysit, so I need a lot of energy). My housework has gone down hill. On laundry day, I have my husband take all the baskets to the basement and it takes me all day to work my way through them instead of being able to get them done in a few hours, the naps interfere. But, all of this is OK, because I save up my energy for the things that are truly important to me. Each day I plan out what is the most important thing I want to do, and then I will make sure that I can do it. One of the reasons I wanted to get the surgery over with in March is so I would be recovered before softball season (my husband and I coach a high school rec team). This week we have 2 games. So on those days, I won't be doing anything. I will take an extra long nap. Because I want to be at the game. I can't be moving the equipment and carrying stuff, but I can still keep score, encourage the girls, and be there to have fun.

Before my surgery I stocked my freezer with dinners that can just go right into the oven. Meatloaf, chicken pot pie, mac & cheese, shepherds pies. And I pre-cooked pounds of ground beef and meatballs, so it was all set to go for taco's, hamburger helper, spaghetti, or anything else. If you have any freezer space to make dinners ahead it is my one life saver. I didn't have to even think about dinner for the first 3 weeks after coming home from the hospital. And I still have some meals ready to go.

It totally stinks to have to face another surgery, and the first few days in the hospital are the worst, but you know that once you get over the first 2 weeks, things will be looking better. You can't worry about a "possible" complication. They happen sometimes, and when they do, we deal with them, just like we do this DD. After all we're Crohnies, we're tough, we can take anything!

I wish you the best of luck with your surgery and hope you have a complication free, long remission!

Thanks so much for the comments.

Suzanne, you sound just like me. I am already starting to prepare meals to freeze. My husband and I run a very busy company and we have 3 girls that are very busy as well. Figure skating has stopped for the year, and we are not doing soccer this year because of the dance competition schedule. I just want to get in and get it done already, but if I think about it too much than my brain starts saying, well maybe things are not that bad and I can hold off until a better time. Maybe I am not that bad just yet. I don't know about anyone else, but how does CD play with your mind so much.

Roni, Wow a double surgery, take care and hope you are doing well in recovery.

Nanners, you always comment, and thanks for that.

Good luck Blacky, I think you're doing the right thing, you can't go on like that.

No here is an update!!

I think I just made things worse. So I have been taking Humira every 2 weeks. But when we decided to do surgery, I decided to stop the Humira. I figured that I didn't want anything masked, and it is so expensive, I have to pay $ 750.00 per shot.

WELL, I have not had a shot for a month, and guess what, CROHNS PAIN!!! OMG!!!! So now I have one more shot in the fridge, should I just take it?? The pain is intermittent all day long! I am supposed to have surgery in May, but still no date. Hemoglobin is down to 91, so I guess I will be having an iron infusion next week.

I was also thinking, what if the Humira is not even doing anything?? I have been dealing with this since I was 20, now 42, and to be honest still find myself in denial. Even when I am in pain, I think, maybe I am making it up? Why does this disease play with your brain??

Oh well, that is my short vent for today, thanks in advance for listening.