New to board, question on surgery

Hello to all of you. This is my first post, but I've been reading these boards for months and they have helped me with so much information, and with knowing I'm not the only one going through this crazy thing. So Thank You to all of you! I do have a question, just curious, I'm one of those people who can't stand not knowing things (a curse at times!). I have a stricture and unless the entocort works miracles this time (when it didn't last time), my doctor says I will need to have about 6 inches of my terminal ileum removed. I can't seem to find out how much recovery time this will require, and what to expect afterwards, such as Will I have to take vitamins, Will this affect digestion? Anything else? After reading what so many of you have to go through, I realize how blessed I am that my symptoms are rather mild in comparison, and I think of that before I start complaining (well, usually) so again, Thank You for being there.

Hi kimberlayn:

revoery times vary depending on how complicated and what type of surgery is done. If you have a laproscopic operation and it is simply a matter of resecting the terminal ileum, your recover (in terms of back to work) could be as little as a two or three weeks. To fully recover could take longer as the bowel can be cranky after surgery so you have to be patient.

Six inches is almost nothing and if there is not other inflammation you probably won't see a lot of impact on your ability to absorb nutrients etc. The one possible exception is B-12 and if those levels can't be maintained from your food you might have to have b-12 shots monthly.

The most important thing after surgery is to ensure that you continue with whatever maintenance drugs are deemed necessary to bring you into remission. You want to slow down the disease process so that stricture re-formation is minimized. Strictures develop over a long period from repeated episodes of inflammation. If you can treat the inflammation early before it has had a chance to do damage you can lengthen the time of wellness you will have after surgery.

What are your symptoms now?