Is the wait before the sugery worse than the surgery itself?

My doc just emailed me to give me the reassurance pep talk - and he says that I am probably going through a harder time now with emotional pain - than I will be having with physical pain.  He said that he would guarantee that he has enough pain killer to keep me under control and not to worry about that.  I am trying to belive him - he is amazing, and even gave me his personal cell phone number to call him before and after the surgery.

What are your experiences with weeks and months of wait prior to the known procedure actually being performed?

I would love to know/

love to all bob 

yes the wait is sooo bad, and you are probably going to try to talk yourself out of it 20 times a day! i know i did, an dsome of the things i was worried abotu where sooo stupid. I worried sick over doing a cartwheel...who worries about that?
But just keep reminding yourself that the surgery will make you better!

I never planned on getting a colostomy. I was lying in a hospital bed, when the IBD team at Cedar's Sinai Medical Center came into my room on a Friday evening, and told me a colectomy was scheduled for monday. The surgeon then came in right after the GI docs, and told me she would first perform a laproscopy and try to reconnect me, so I wouldn't have a bag. So, I had two days to think about this (thinking everything would go as planned and I would not need a bag) on heavy doses of Dilaudid. I had no idea if I would have a bag until I woke up from surgery.

I was surprisingly optimistic going into it, because I had been severely suffering from Crohn's Disease and spent a month and a half in the hospital where I lost 40 lbs going into the surgery. I vaguely remember waking up from anesthesia and seeing my mom come in to see me, and the first thing I moaned was "do i have a bag," to which she replied "yes." I knew something major happened because I was in the most excruciating pain ever, it felt like someone took a pitchfork and gored me. All I could moan was more pain meds, and I figured they made a full incision because there was pain all over.

Post op was definitely worse for me, because I didn't know if I was going to be getting a colostomy, and it was mentally hard to cope with and accept.

Luckily for me this colostomy is only temporary and I am having it reversed in May.

I'm going thru this right now ... I have my sugery scheduled for April 7th and am waiting patiently.

Everyday I wake up and think about how I don't have to take meds again EVER. That alone is a big plus for me

Stay positive!

Wow, I thought I had a wonderful doc (still do, haha)...your's is a one in a million!!!

Personally, while I was nervous, I LOOKED FORWARD to the surgery...I knew things would be better on the flip side...You'll be okay, you have the site to help you out and it sounds like your wife is there for you, too!

emotionally wise- i was worse after surgery. Dealing with the bag has been hard. I am taking low doses of xanax and honestly it has helped.

Even though I had already resigned myself to having surgery I didn't have a date for it until I went into to see the surgeon for a second consultation and he scheduled me for two days later.

In fact right after the visit I went right into the hospital straight from his office. So, I didn't have that much time to think about it.

I am 12days post op and still in some pain but very managed right now- percocet.
I wish you the best...

Jackie - are you up and moving about, gaining strength and getting some walking in?  Keep moving and getting around as the endorphines will make you feel better mentally and the extra oxygen will help you to feel better overall.  Keep your chin up and think positive....  Best of luck in your recovery.

Maggie - we are hear to listen and talk with you anytime you need it.  Keep in touch with us an d let us know how you are doing?  Any plans made for the summer yet?

Hey   haha I actually don't remember anything from the first 4 days after my surgery lol which Im pretty sure that's a good thing..I remember a few things..like when they took my NG tube out. I figured that hurt but it just felt wierd when it got close to my throat and she pulled it out while she was talking to me. She told me to take a deep breath and while I was doing that she pulled it out. It was out before I knew it! And I remember my boyfriend and brother feeding me ice. I remember when they took my catheter out..and I remember them making me sit in a chair..that was a little painful but I had my mom and the nurse help me up so I didnt really have to use my stomach muscles. I found that if I wanted to get up out of my hospial bed to empty my bag and my mom was asleep, if I kinda rolled to the side and used the bar on the bed to help pull me up I could get up by myself..so thats a little tip for you..hope that helps   To answer your question (sorry i got a little off topic lol) thats awesome that your surgeon gave you his cell number! My surgeon was amazing and she made sure that i was getting enough pain medicine but she sent me home with..NONE!! So I didnt sleep too well the first 2 nights..I got 4 hrs total for those 2 nights haha but im glad she did that..It made me stronger in the end. I didnt really think about my surgery like..OMG Im getting my guts cut open and im so scared..it was more about getting my life back. I pretty much missed the last half off my 11th grade year and all of my summer because I was so sick that I couldnt do anything. I could barely make my bed without feeling so weak that I was going to pass out.. it was REALLY bad. I was so sick. Ah sorry I keep getting off topic lol .. So idk what it is for you but for me it was more of knowing that im going to be So much better and healthier rather than scared. It didnt really hit me until the day of the surgery. And then I freaked and started balling my eyes out and balled til they knocked me out lol My mom was crying too and that deff didnt help haha but my dad held me and calmed me down a lot. haha this is kinda hilarious..I guess one of those 4 days I dont remember because I dont remember this AT ALL ( I wish I did though) I guess I looked at the surgeon when she was asking me to rate my pain and blah blah blah and she was making me mad so I yelled ARE YOU DONE YET! I WANT MY DRUGS! And I like..yelled at her haha That mustve been some good stuff lol Dang, I wish they wouldve taped that..I so wouldve posted that on youtube hahahah Anyway, good luck with your surgery! The anticipation sounds like its eating you up haha try to keep your mind off it..I know its really hard though. It'll come a lot faster than you think