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Surgery - Total Colectomy with ileorectal anastamosis

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Posted 4/15/2009 5:13 PM (GMT 0)
Hello, I will take sometime to read some, if not most of the Total Colectomy post for other questions etc., I just wanted to get a head start if that's ok....

I am new to the forum. We'll haven't posted in a while. I am 37 years old. Just go married April 4, 2009 and back at work today from our 8 day honeymoon in Hawaii.

I am having a Total Colectomy (with retachment of the anus to the small intestine) this Monday, April 20th (on my mom's birthday). I am having this procedure because I was diagnoised with Colonic Interia, and have had severe constipation since I was 17 years old.

I am happy that I have been diagnoised and the time is almost here to get better. My surgeons office sent me presciptions to get prior to surgery, however no booklet or information on the procedure like (what happens the day of surgery, etc.)

When I met with the surgeon in Jan, he explanined the surgery and that it would probably take about 2hrs. Maybe longer becuase I have so much scar tissue.

Questions:

What is the normal surgery time for this type of procedure?

How long is hospital stay?

What's the likelyhood of having to have a bag?

What is the likelyhood of someone with severe scar tissue having this procedure done laprocsopically only?

Also, what did you do prior to your surgery to relax?

Thank you.

Posted 4/15/2009 9:18 PM (GMT 0)
Well, first, congratulations on your wedding!
I had surgery 4 weeks ago today for Colon Inertia....had suffered for almost 30 years, since high school, so finally had enough. I had my surgery done lap. with hand assisted...surgery took a little over 6 hours, but my colon was 8 feet long, which is very long! I had not had previous abdominal surgery, so lap worked for me. If you have an open, time should be much shorter, but recovery might be a little longer and harder. I was in the hospital for 8 days, with an NG tube for 5 days. I did not want the tube taken out too soon because I didn't want to throw up and have to have it put back in while I was awake! I had a catheter for 6 days, they tried to take it out after 4th or 5th day, but I couldn't pee, so they put it back in for another day and a half. Then I could pee ok.

I don't think under normal circumstances you should have to have a bag. If so, it should be temporary. I was marked for one just in case, but my doctor said it was just a precaution.

After 4 weeks, I'm going to the bathroom alot....most days over 20 times a day. Some days I take fiber and lomotil to slow me down, but they tend to make me feel blocked and like my rear end is full of poop, so I don't take them too much. After 2 weeks I saw my surgeon and told him I was going 20x and he said that was too much. After never going for 30 years though, this is much better. I just run my errands in the morning before I eat anything, and then plan to be home most of the day after that. I'm hoping things slow down soon... I'm not going back to work until June, so I have some time to work on that.

If you read Total Colectomy, parts 1-22 (or whatever number we're up to now) you'll get way more information than you can imagine! I didn't take anything to calm me leading up to the surgery; I was scared, but also so ready to have it done.

If you have more questions, just ask. I'll help where I can, and I'm sure others will help out, too!
Janie
Posted 4/15/2009 9:52 PM (GMT 0)
hi miracle,
welcome to the board!! congrats on your wedding too!!! i haven't had surgery yet, but hoping to have it soon.

well just wanted to welcome you and wish you the best of luck with your surgery. please keep us updated.

G-D bless!!
Posted 4/16/2009 2:54 AM (GMT 0)
Just chiming in to welcome you ... I have a perm. ileostomy, so I really can't help you much, but there will be others along that can and will chime in.. Keep checking back.

Welcome to HW and let us know how things are going for you.
Posted 4/16/2009 3:17 PM (GMT 0)

Hello Miracle, 

Congrat on your wedding. My husband is 4 weeks out from having his surgery. They did give him something to calm his nerves right before they took him in for surgery, it really helped him a lot. His surgery was 6 hours long, because of being overweight and he carries it in the stomach so surgeon said that they needed to go slowly. He was in the hospital for 8 days. He did have an ng tube for a few days.

My husband had his colon removed because it was found that he carries the gene for hnpcc (heridtary non-polyposiss colorectal cancer) which is a cancer gene that puts you at a very high risk of getting colon cancer. He had already had 5 pre-cancerous polyps, one was 4cm. Three Dr.s adviced that he have his colon removed. Our youngest daughter (she is 32) is also positive, but doing very well at this point.

We have been very happy with the outcome of his surgery. He has tops 7 bowel movements a day. He has control and can even hold for a while if he needs to. He is able to eat whatever he wants and for the most part has not had any real problems with anything he has tryed. The surgeon said to keep immodium and gatorade in the house incase he has bad days where he is going more. High chance of becoming dehydrated without the colon so he would need to use these if he finds himself going more. So far he has been lucky with the amount of times he is going , Dr. said hopefully after 9-12 months he will be down to 4-5 bowel movements a day. We were very blessed with a good outcome.

I will say a prayer that your surgery goes well and that you have a very good outcome.

donna

Posted 4/16/2009 5:23 PM (GMT 0)
Hello, thank you all for your warm and well wishes. Also for sharing with me. I have to be honest, I am scared, but I have faith, and nows the time to use it. I just want to be completly healed and have mostly easy days.

The several bm's a day I am looking forward to , but going 20times a day I'm not sure about that. Do any of you get "raw" from going that many times? Are you going becuase you have eaten and it's transit time is severly shorten?

Also, how often are you having to take something for the pain once you leave the hospital?

It appears that the surgery time for this procedure is generally anywhere from 3 -6 hours, is that correct?

I would ask that anyone who reads this will please keep me and my family in your thougths and prayers on Monday April 2oth at 7:30am, as I will be wheeled into surgery. Pray for deliverance, comfort, and a quick recovery.

Thank you, I am going to read the Total Colectomy sections now.....
Posted 4/16/2009 6:47 PM (GMT 0)

Miracle,

You will certainly be in my prayers.  You'll do fine.

I hope I didn't scare you about the number of bm's I'm having.  I do have very short transit time, often as soon as I eat I need to run to the bathroom, several times over the next hour or so.  After dinner seems to be the worst.  Today I didn't eat until lunch around 1:30,  and I've gone 3 times since then....only a little each time.  I'm going alot, but there are some (grammy's husband) who are going less than 1/2 of what I'm going.  Diet also plays a part.  I've eaten some ice cream several days, which makes me go more.  Can't help it, I love sweets, and they're just not good for me right now!

Yes, my rear can be raw, but zinc oxide lotion is wonderful...be sure to pick some up to take the hospital with you.  Also be sure to take a roll of soft toilet paper, as well as some flushable wipes.  I took my own gowns, undies, etc, but only wore my gowns the last 2 days.  Before that, I just didn't care! LOL  The soft tp will come in handy once you start having bm's, and the wipes are wonderful.  Then you'll want to put the cream on right away each time you go.  Also, if you  don't have complete control the first day or so after you start going, don't panic.  I had NO control for about 24  hours, and had to get some depends to wear.  I thought my life was over!!!  Then the next day I started on solid food, and although I go often, I have complete control and haven't had any accidents!

Best of luck...I'm sure you'll be just fine.  And you'll finally have some relief!

Oh--my doctor sent me home with 60 pain pills, and in 3 weeks I've only used 4, and those were the first few nights at bedtime.  My pain hasn't been very bad at all.  Hope you don't have much pain either!

Be sure to come back and report as soon as you can!

Janie

Posted 4/16/2009 8:06 PM (GMT 0)
Miracle,
My husband did not take any pain meds after he left the hospital, he said the pain was not bad at all.

The best of luck to you, I'm sure you will do well. You will be in my prayers.
donna
Posted 4/16/2009 8:13 PM (GMT 0)
i wish you the best of luck and success and i'll be praying for you too!!
Posted 4/16/2009 9:34 PM (GMT 0)

Hi Miracle and welcome,

First off I'd like to say don't worry, you'll be amazed at how much better you will feel once you are finally having bms. I had a subtotal - I have 2 in. of my colon left.  I had an open surgery and was only in the hospital for 5 days.  My surgery took 3 hours; I too had a lot of scar tissue even though I'd had previous surgery to have it removed.  My dr wouldn't attempt a laparoscopy due to my scar tissue issues so I know I was having an open surgery.  I had the NG tube for 1 1/2 days but it was only supposed to be 1, the interns didn't take it out when he told them so he took it out the next morning.  I was given an epidural only for pain - it was the very best smilewinkgrin - it really didn't have too much pain but I have a very high pain tolerance.  Once I went home I was given vicodin prn - but I usually just used it at night to sleep.  My dr had me take MOM the next day after surgery, soon after the bms started then I started eating solid foods.  I never have had an accident or have even come close.  In the beginning I had 20+ bms but by the 6th week I was having 8-10 a day and I went back to work full time.

Get flushable wipes, they will become your very best friend :-) .  I NEVER use TP, even to this day; I also use A & D ointment. I pretty much use these routinely and should probably by stock in each one, lol, but it is much better than the alternative.  I am down to 3-8 bms  a day and I continue to be on a low residue/low fiber diet.  There are some foods that will make you have more frequent bms than others, you will learn all of this through trial and error. 

Some of the things I took with me to the hospital were: an ipod - a must - to drowned out all the hospital sounds especially at night, I took one size bigger pj pants, slippers you can just slip on without bending over, a  bathrobe, some magazines.

I didn't really feel like doing a lot, I listened to my ipod the most and walked, walked, walked - this really helps with the healing. 

Continue to ask any questions as they arise.  Congratulations on your marriage!!!!  Tell your husband to be very patient and that he will need to do everything in the beginning so that you can heal.  I didn't do anything to risk getting a hernia or scar tissue.

You are in my prayers.

Blessings, peace and prayers,

Judy

Posted 4/16/2009 11:25 PM (GMT 0)
So, here I am having not thought about the BM's after surgery. Do you go immediately after surgery? Will I really have to wear depends if I can't control myself after surgery? thinking about that now, seems a but uneasy, especially if you have to wait for a nurse or someone to help with that, if there's no control. ummm......

I just recieved a call from the nurse at the hospital, to do the initial intake, and get my history, she was very nice. My procedure is call a Sub-Total Coletomy, and here I am saying a Total Colectomy.

My surgery time is at 7:30 am pst, can someone help me with the post procedure info, since I can't find anything on the internet regarding the procedure etc. I am trying to stay strong, at this point all I can imagine doing is having a bowl of rockyroad and chocolate brownie ice cream from Rite Aid.
Posted 4/26/2011 7:44 PM (GMT 0)
Hi I was just wondering how everyone is doing since their surgery. I'm having a  Total Colectomy with ileorectal anastamosis this friday the 29th and I'm filled with questions and concern. Do you normally have drainage tubes after having this surgery? How long do the surgery normally take? Im going to be in the hospital from 5 to 7 days and wondered what is the must haves to take to the hospital.

Thanks everyone for any help you can give :)

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