So the last time I posted I was about
to have colectomy surgery (on 12/19) and I was scared about
it. I didn't realize that I my fears were not unfounded!!! I thought I was just being paranoid. I should have listened to my gut (no pun intended)
I live in KC, MO, but I traveled to St. Louis to have the surgery b/c the surgeon there was an expert in laproscopic technique and would be performing a 3-part surgery (first take out colon; then in a few years make a j-pouch and later reconnect). (a few years ago I
This was planned.
Well the best laid plans............
The way I understood the surgery was that he would take out all of the colon and leave just the anus b/c he said leaving anything else was unnecessary and old fashioned and the j-pouch would function well without the rectum.
But I apparently misunderstood b/c when I woke up, I was informed I still had 12 cm of rectum b/c he couldn't take that until it was time to reconnect. My husband and I were surprised by this news b/c it wasn't how we thought it was going to go. He said I could still pass mucus and possibly have a flare in the remaining rectum, but all would calm down eventually. OK, fine No Big Deal. Just a small bump in the road to health.
So I recovered and left the hospital after about
5 days, on 12/23. We stayed another day in St. Louis and left for KC on 12/24. I felt fine after the trip home except a little tired and worn out. My husbands family usually has Christmas Eve dinner together, but since I was exhausted, I decided to skip it and stay home to rest. While I was resting, I was doing some reading about
my new little ostomy buddy (which I thought I was getting the hang of) and started to have some pain. The pain quickly intensified and the pain meds didn't help at all! I hurt so badly that I called my husband home and my mom over (she lives a few blocks away).
By the time they arrived, I was shaking and in so much pain, I told them to call 911 b/c I didn't even think I'd survive the car ride to the hospital which is about
5 min. from my house and frankly I just didn't want to move. My husband took my temp. and it was only 99. something, not really a fever (yet).
I spent about
an hour in ER while they tried to find veins to give me pain meds and start IV's (my veins were destroyed b/c of hospital stay), They finally put one in my jugular (they were desperate and so was I). Then I don't remember much until I woke up from my second surgery.
They had done a ct scan and found abscesses all over my abdomen and had to
open me back up to clean me out. They also had to remove another 8 in.of sm. intestine and reassign my ostomy to the other side of my belly (it was on right and now on left). I was critically ill for about
3 days and am still in the hospital. The surgeon who saved my life wants me to stay a couple more days to make sure all is ok. I'm fine with that b/c I don't want to have to come back. And to top it off, my rectal "stump" is bleeding.
My Birthday is tomorrow and so I will have spent Christmas and my birthday in the hospital. I am so thankful to GOD that I am alive, but I regret making the decision to do this in the first place.
I really hope things get better.
Just thought I'd update you guys.
Happy New Year.
