Need Info/Advice on SUBTOTAL COLECTOMY! Just found out I'm having this done...

There's an Ostomies forum here on HealingWell where most of the people that have had any kind of colon surgery or resectioning hang out.  I don't think there's but one or two people on here who have had any sort of colon surgery done.

You plan on getting pregnant and are worried about scars beforehand?  Wait until you get stretch marks!  And even if you have open sugery now, it will probably leave less scarring than if you have to have a C-section.  Don't worry; most mothers bear scars from having had children; what's a few beforehand? 

I have laproscopic scars from two sugeries and they're not bad really.  Of course, I don't wear a biniki either, but they don't bother me personally.  And now they have OTC stuff that helps reduce scarring.  Before they came out with that, though, my mother used to say to keep a wound moist with Neosporone all the time to make it scar less.  I think that works because it takes longer to heal if it's kept moist all the time and that's what helps with the scars; scars come from the skin healing too fast and not putting itself back quite correctly.  But check with your surgeon on the doctoring of any wounds you have before you fool with them.  Most surgeons want you to keep the wound covered with gauze constantly for the first week and not do anything with it (although, I must confess, my bandages always fall off before then). 

Hello subcolectomy!  I am so glad you found this board...and check out the ostomies board....there is a topic called total colectomy that you should check out.  I am scheduled for a TC (leaving sigmoid) on March 27th.  I am 26, already have a beautiful baby girl (not a single stretch ).  I am in college right now and we are in the process of building a house and it is all but finished.  My advice to you, don't worry about the scar so much as your recovery and career plans.  My surgeon told me the scar will be pretty much were they do a section.  I not to worried about the port scars.  I did do some research on some healing/scar cream...wow, there are so many to choose from. 

I know exactly what you are going through, so you are not alone.  On the TC board you will see some people have had pretty rough recoveries...some pretty scary I must admit. 

Do you mind me asking when/why your constipation started?  Did you have a Sitz Marker study done?  If so, where were the rings left?  What is your regimen now for going to the bathroom?  What do you eat...fiber? 

I have so many questions for you b/c we are close in age and kind of in the same boat.  I am concerned about our next child not getting enough nutrients and the baby pressing on what intestines I have left after surgery. 

Hi Mom2Sophia, I must admit it's nice to know that there is another person in the same boat, especially another female around the same age (and in school). That must be a lot for you to juggle... Especially while building a house (Congrats!). Now that I am reading that these scars do fade and they are where (or around) the C-section scar will be, I feel a bit better about it. I admit too that it is a bit scary to read other's accounts of their surgeries- I'm surprised to read that so many people have had complications. (My Dr. said that the risk rate is in the low %). It sounds like the recovery is a bit more painful than I thought too. You'll have to keep me posted on how everything goes! I'm sure you'll be fine.

To answer your questions, I have been battling constipation for as long as I can remember. It was difficult even at potty-training age. It's gotten dramatically worse as I have gotten older, especially over the last two years or so. I've been diagnosed with IBS, of course, and know that I have a redundant colon. Basically, my colon is extra long, so it just takes forever for food to pass. I go now maybe once a week. I have had the Sitz Marker done, and all (24 or 25?) markers were in there at the third day.

In addition to the constipation, the gas has gotten to be a big problem. (So embarrassing to say...) It has definitely inhibited my daily life. Is this a problem for you? Also, not to mention the bloating and 24-7 "uncomfortable" feeling. It seems as if I am sick off and on, too- either feeling achy, fatigued, nauseous. Everything else as far as I am concerned is normal- I wonder if it's related to having toxins sitting in my intestines for a week at a time. Have you (or has anyone else out there?) encountered this?

To answer your other question, I believe that I live a healthy lifestyle- I eat organic food, a lot of fiber (veggies, whole grain bread, fruit, etc.), drink tons of water, maybe 1-2 glasses of wine a month and I am cutting down on coffee (I can't have it much anymore because it kills my stomach). I also do cardio on a regular basis. Something else that concerns me about the operation is that I naturally am a petite girl- I'm 5-foot and 98 pounds. The doctor told me that he is going to remove about 5-8 feet of colon, so considering that and that I won't be eating food for a while, I know I am going to lose A LOT of weight, and I can't afford to lose much. I guess I've got to beef up as much as possible before the surgery! I too am worried about any possible risks my future baby might have because of this operation, but the doctor said that there won't be any because the colon, the part that they are removing, just absorbs water.

What about you? What's your story?

Do you think you will ask for the plastic close like Amey mentioned? 

My story..always had constipation.  Around 14 it got really bad...diagnosed with IBS, GERD, and slow emptying stomach.  I've tried citrucel, zelnorm, miralax, etc.  Now I can't go on my own at all!!! I have to take laxatives or give myself warm water bag enemas..4 to be exact.  I feel nauseous, fatigue and just plain crappy most of the time.  I am 5'1" and 94 lbs.  I was down to 90 a few months ago. 

I have to admit that I am addicted to feeling empty...after I relieve myself...that is the best feeling in the world!!

GAS....oh, boy do I know what that is about!!! Sometimes it smells so toxic I can't stand to be around myself, lol!  It is truly embarrasing and painful.  I don't know if it is from the fiber or what.  My Sitz Marker (after the 7th day) showed 3 rings were passed (that is only b/c I manually removed the poop).  Do you know where the rings were?  Mine were primarly in the sigmoid. 

I am so scared that I am going to end up putting my schooling and community involvement on hold for a while...wishful thinking...but I am hoping b/c I am young and relatively healthy, that I will bounce right back without any serious complications.

The weight loss...I am worried about...my body can't handle that.  I already get chest pains sometimes and leg cramps from the constant use of laxatives.

If you want to email me off list...don't know if I can give you my email on this message board though...

Where do you live?  I live in PA...my surgeon is in MD...he is awesome and confident...sounds just like yours.

No I haven't.  I am going to the doc this week and will ask him to run one. 

Hmm... I guess there isn't a PM function. I would display my email, but that doesn't make my too comfortable to put it on here. I'm trying to figure out a way to email within the forums.