HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

How long were you in remission after a bowel resection?

Support Forums
>
Crohn's Disease
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 7/16/2012 11:53 AM (GMT 0)
I am curious to know how long people were in remission after having a bowel resection and if they took any maintenance drugs or followed any special diet? 
Posted 7/16/2012 12:31 PM (GMT 0)
20 years. 1978 to 1998. When I asked Mayo about diet after my resection they told me to eat anything that I wanted, that my gut would tell me what foods it didn't like. They were right.

I pretty much have to avoid or eat in moderation: raw veggies, fruits w/skins like grapes, popcorn because of the hulls, sour cream, excessive dairy products, i.e. too much cheese in a short space of time. Meats, etc. that I don't chew well. Chewing thoroughly is important.
Posted 7/16/2012 6:03 PM (GMT 0)
Almost 22 years post resection here. 

I have been on Pentasa since about 1 year post resection (azulfidine before that).  I have had only 3 very short stints of prednisone and one fistula, but I still consider myself in remission since resection as I have had pretty good quality of life and my guts view the same on each subsequent scope.  If you count only the years until the fistula reared its ugly head, I still went 13 years post resection and every doc originally said 10 years was the limit.

My doc told me the same thing as CToo---experiment with foods to find what works and what doesn't.  I also am very careful and have a list of "never eat again" (sesame seeds, raw carrots, popcorn, blueberries, strawberries with seeds), eat only when I feel super, and great things to eat when it is a rough time.  CToo---I am always envious of those of you that can tolerate any fruits or veggies!  I generally live on fish, chicken, bread, potatoes and milk (oh I know I am lucky there!)  I have had 4 chicken wings, no popcorn, no corn and no sesame seeds in 21 years.  I cheat once in a while, but in very small amounts (one small bite of well done steak every 6 months, soda pop sometimes, a small piece of mushy done cauliflower and chewing gum maybe once a year etc).  I also skip most spices and high seasonings (including cinnamon now). 

Posted 7/16/2012 6:23 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for your replys.  I am just curious, did your BMs return to normal? If so, after how long aftr surgery?
Posted 7/16/2012 8:15 PM (GMT 0)
First resection 7 months. Went on a permanant low fiber/low residue diet for 4 years. Just had my second resection on May 24th. I had multiple small bowel obstructions and was hospitalized every few months b/c of them. Docs said the strictures needed to come out. Had two very tight strictures. It's been almost two months and surgeon said I can eat anything I want just keep track of what agrees and what doesn't. I'm on Remicade so hopefully it will keep the disease at bay and I will get longer than 7 months this time. As far as bowel movements go I did have some "formed" bowel movements and I used formed loosely, after the first resection. Mostly is was soft or complete liquid. Now after the second, I have complete watery bm's but it also depends on where your resection was done. Hope it works out for you and you get a long remission :)
Posted 7/17/2012 5:32 PM (GMT 0)
This sorta started me down memory lane. I had been hospitalized on IVs, NPO for 6 weeks at the time of my resection. After that long a time, at least w/the IV fluids they gave you back then, you were full of sugar and salt.

After the resection when they started me on a liquid diet - HORRORS! Jello tasted so sweet it made me gag and dry heave. Bouillion tasted like brine!!

I BEGGED for some bland scrambled eggs, no salt, nothing, just plain ole bland scrambled eggs. The second day of the liquid diet they relented as I gagged and dry heaved w/the liquids. Those bland scrambled eggs w/no seasoning of any kinds might just as well have been a juicy, medium rare slice of prime rib they tasted so goooooooood!!! I thouht I had died and gone to heaven!! And I had NO PROBLEMS.

When they finally let me have a baked chicken breast, I KNEW I had died and gone to heaven! It was so good I begged and pleaded for a second one the same meal time. I can't tell you how grateful I was that they actually allowed me that second baked chicken breast! Again I had NO PROBLEMS.

9th day I had my first BM and I was on my way home! No pain meds, NO NEED for pain meds. I KNEW I had died and gone to heaven and then sent back reincarnated as my old pre-Crohn's self!! God is good. And he looks after fools.
Posted 7/17/2012 8:32 PM (GMT 0)

CToo---memory lane here too.  After my resection and my finallly first day of solids, they let me order off the hospital list.  I ordered a ham and cheese on whole wheat bread.  The doctor saw it being delivered and practically tore it from my hands.  He laughed and said we need to teach you and the dieticians about a soft bland diet requirement!  I too loved eggs for months after I went home.  I still resort to them when I don't feel well.

NY Sooner - I never went back to normal BMs.  It only got worse when I had my gallbladder removed.  I use cholestyramine once a day and I now have mostly a normal BM life---1-3 trips a day versus eat a crumb and run!

✚ New Topic ✚ Reply