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Posted 2/13/2009 8:33 PM (GMT 0)
Hello again--I'm one with an open proctocolectomy and ileostomy coming up--

Could you do stairs when you got home? I'm trying to plan how much to have on the couch and downstairs and how much help I'll need.

How long before you were able to stand to heat up some tea/soup? Did you need someone to do it for you for a long time?

Lastly, the ride home from the hospital is an hour. Should I be worried?

I know I can ask the stoma and surgical nurse these questions next week but I'd love your input and any other post-surgery recouping thoughts.

Right now I'm having a terrible time with the stairs and as for cooking, standing up and moving around the kitchen just makes to poo! It takes eons to get a recipe done. Put in an egg--run to the bathroom. Anything will be an improvement!

THANKS!!!!
Posted 2/13/2009 9:04 PM (GMT 0)
Providing your surgery is complication free you should have no problems. My ride home from the hospital was 2 hours and I even stopped for lunch. I have stairs and had no problem climbing them and slept upstairs in my bed every night. I didn't have anyone caring for me at home and managed to take care of all my cooking and eating needs. One thing I encourage you to do within 24 hours of your surgery is get out of bed and walk, walk, walk. This will help with your recovery.

Sue
Posted 2/13/2009 11:16 PM (GMT 0)
Sammies,

I am so sorry that you are suffering, but hoping that it will all be just a memory for you soon. You will have a lifting weight restriction after your surgery, I think it was no lifting anything over 10lbs. I was extremely sick before my surgery so I did have to depend on family & friends to help when I got home but only because I was weak. I truly had no pain by the time I got home, which was about 5 days after the surgery. It wouldn't be a bad idea to have someone come over and help with dinner & cleaning for the first week, you might even just want the company.

I agree with Sue about walking, I got out of bed the day of surgery and tried to make it across the hall. I still had little gas pains so that encouraged me to walk as much as possible. For your ride home, just make sure you have water with you, I remember being so thirsty and my drive was only 1/2 hour.

Hope all goes well for you and you have a quick recovery!
Posted 2/14/2009 1:22 AM (GMT 0)
I don't think I was to do any stairs...Besides that, you may want to think about having some convenience food on hand--you will not feel like cooking, have some magazines, movies, books, etc. handy and perhaps think about people you wouldn't mind visiting with while you recuperate. Just having someone to talk to and walk with makes it much less miserable IMO. Good luck with your surgery and we're here if you need anything.
Posted 2/14/2009 1:25 AM (GMT 0)
sammies--I just had my one year anniversary for my proctocolectomy...definately WALK and then WALK some more!!! That is the biggest thing you can do for yourself to get better:)

Everyone is really different...I didn't do a lot on my own. My husband or daughter made sure I always had something to drink/eat with me all the time...I would get up to pee as often as I needed, but I was very slow for the first few weeks I was home. The one thing I can say is that every day is better than the one before! Oh, I did sleep in my bed (up stairs) EVERY night...that was important to me:) I used extra pillows the first few nights just for comfort.

I had an hour car ride home and it wouldn't have been bad, but in Ohio in February there are A LOT of potholes:( and that was the worst of the ride. You can always have the nurse give you one last pain pill for the road so you know you'll be comfortable...

Right now is the worst time for you...when you are that sick, nothing is possible:( I was that way many years ago before I went in for my temp ileo (which lasted 8 years!!). Life is going to be SO MUCH BETTER very soon...hang in there.
Posted 2/14/2009 4:14 AM (GMT 0)
I think most of your tough recovery will be IN the hospital. What I mean is, they'll make sure you CAN do stairs b4 you leave. They made me walk the halls and actually brought a little set of stairs for me to walk up and down.
But you'll be exhausted when you get home and mostly need rest. So if you can, I'd get someone to help you for at least a week. Just so you can take it easy and don't HAVE to do everything yourself.

I went to St. Louis for my surgery and the drive from KC is 4.5 hrs. It only hurt if there were bumps. Not too bad.

When is your surgery again? The end of Feb. I think? Not too much farther, yea.
Hurrah for healing!
Posted 2/14/2009 4:28 AM (GMT 0)
Oh yea, get a small pillow and hold it as close as you can to your stomach for coughing after surgery. It would also help to have on the car ride home and if you have cats or dogs that you are afraid will "pounce" you can defend your belly with it.
Posted 2/14/2009 3:07 PM (GMT 0)
Good point about the animals!!! My parents had to take my dog for a few weeks b/c he is a jumper. If you are not a back sleeper some extra pillows are a good idea too (also in regards to coughing/sneezing).

Chasblah, what hospital did you go to? Surgeon? I had my temp. and perm both done in St. Louis.
Posted 2/15/2009 12:48 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the replies and advice --this is very helpful. I am getting so nervous. A little over a week to go--2/24. I see the stoma nurse on Monday. I've got some questions for her. Anything you wished you'd asked?
Posted 2/15/2009 2:33 AM (GMT 0)
you might want to ask to look at all the products...if you haven't already...that will take the mystery out of post op!! Just remember the ones you'll have in the hospital are usually made for post op...they'll have to cut to fit and you'll be swollen at first, but once that goes down it will be so much easier!

Do you know if you'll have a straight end ileo or a loop-end ileo? If you have the latter there will be a rod that the nurse will remove on your first change...don't be alarmed if that's the case, it doesn't hurt...just might be good to know before hand. I should say that it is usually a doc's preference as to which one you have.
Posted 2/16/2009 1:42 PM (GMT 0)

OHIO76 said...

I had an hour car ride home and it wouldn't have been bad, but in Ohio in February there are A LOT of potholes:( and that was the worst of the ride. You can always have the nurse give you one last pain pill for the road so you know you'll be comfortable...

OMG ---- yes, I do remember the roads in OH when I had my surgery.  And, yes, potholes and railroad tracks to tend to hurt!  Rightfully so.  Taking the pain med for the trip home was always what I did for any of my surgeries.  Also, take some extra pillows in the car to help make you more comfy.
Posted 2/18/2009 4:08 AM (GMT 0)
JustJenJen,
I had my total colectomy at SLUH (hated it!) by Dr. Bardakcioglu.
You?
Posted 2/19/2009 1:03 PM (GMT 0)
My temp. colostomy was at BJC (I think at the time it was just Jewish Hospital) with Birmbaum and my perm ileostomy was at St. John's Mercy with Robbins. I thought they were both very good but at St. John's Mercy my pain management doc was POS.
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