Lizzie,
I'm so sorry you have to wait. I tried biofeedback for a couple months (weekly) but reallly saw no improvement. If you can't get in to see the Dr. until June, you may as well try again though. Maybe, just maybe, it will work. I pray it will!
Linda and Kristin,
I had laparoscopic with hand assisted total colectomy 2 weeks ago today. I was in the hospital for 8 nights, mostly because I had the NG tube for 5 days and catheter for 6. I won't lie, it wasn't fun, but when you can't have bm's for weeks at a time, that's certainly no fun either. I came home last Thursday and have had about 15-20 bms a day since. It sounds like a lot, but there is very little each time, and I always have plenty of time to get to the bathroom. In the hospital, on day 6 I had liquids for the first time, and I got the runs like you wouldn't believe....I couldn't even tell when I was going to go. I was wearing depends and going through them like crazy...but only for 24 hours. I started solid food (normal diet, first meal was spaghetti and meat sauce!) and then I started going about 5-6 times after each meal, but I have complete control. My doctor told me to eat a normal diet and if something didn't agree with me, to wait and try again a few weeks later. So far ice cream is the only thing that seems to not be a good idea!
I'm 53 years old, so I would think it would take me a little longer to bounce back, but I've already been to the mall, to the grocery store, to my mom's for dinner and I walk every day. I haven't stayed in bed since I got home. I try to get alot of rest, and I still can't drive (I go to the surgeon tomorrow so hopefully I'll be able to after he sees me) but I'm also up and around all day. I've only taken 4 pain pills since last Thursday when I came home, and that's been at bed time.
I have no idea what the future holds for me, but I lived on senokot for 30 years and finally enough was enough. I was scared to death to have the surgery, but now I'm so relieved it's over. I'm still very tired, but my kids are grown, so I don't have any little ones to take care of.
My doctor said my colon was 8 feet long....5-6 feet is normal, so I feel totally justified in taking such drastic steps. He said that extra 2-3 feet was probably a huge part of my problem.
If you have any other questions, just let me know. I'm still learning about what to expect, but I can tell you that I am so much more comfortable now than I was 2 weeks ago, pain and all. I don't think anyone who hasn't walked in our shoes has a clue what it's like not to be able to poop! .
Janie