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Surgery Over/Recovery Questions and Concerns -Help

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Posted 4/28/2009 5:43 PM (GMT 0)

Hello all, I need some advice. I am a little concerned:

Surgery: Monday, April 20th

Time: 7:30am (PST)

Procedure: Sub-Total Colectomy (Laproscpic)

Surgery time: 6hrs (had to remove scar tissue)

Hospital stay: 7 days

While I ways in the hopital urine atlot (cathetor) only had a BM when I had to vomit. So came out both ends, and I did not know that the there would be blood expelling from the rectum, but I was told that was normal because the blood has to come out somewhere.

I was on a full liguid diet while in the hospital and I was not able drink or eat (yougurt, pudding that much just about 2-3 teaspoons a day.)

I was dicharged on Sunday evening, and I am at home trying to recovery, and my husband can't understand, and niether can I, while I don't have a an appetite. I don't have a taste for anything. And my water intake is about as much as I take to drink with a tylenol. Is this normal?

Also the pruporse of my procedure was because I was diagnoised but colonic interia, I have had a history of slow BM's since I was 17, I am now in my late 30's. I though I was going to be on top of the world with this procedure, at currently, I am wondering if I did the right thing.

I thought after the procedure that I would be able to have BM/s regularly, well that has not happened? I hear a lot of gas in my stomach that is very painful, I am taking colace every 4 hours, as MOM and Miralax does nothing for me. I am very uncomfortable, please help us.

I plan to check back in with the doctor tomorrow.

Posted 4/28/2009 8:48 PM (GMT 0)
Definitely check in with doc but aside from the blood from the rectum (I'm not sure on that), your decreased appetite, pain, and gas are normal (in my opinion). As folks here assured me, the gas will subside but will take quite a while. Can you try gas-x or bean-o? Gas-x does wonders for me. You MUST get some liquids and food (whatever you are allowed) into your system in order to heal. I had the worst time gathering an appetite. I'm 37 and my parents had to be here to make sure I was drinking and eating---jello, broth, popsicles, pudding, pita chips, fresh baked bread, meatballs, eggos, lollipops, tea, bland cookies like arrow roots or social teas. We tried to get me to drink every 20-30 mins. It was so darn difficult for me to eat but it was the protein that kick started my healng. Biologically, you need to hydrate and you need protein. Chicken broth has been my saving grace. PLEASE get some liquids down. You don't want to wind up in the er with an iv.

I just ordered a book that I had borrowed from the library--Cooking Well for the Unwell. The author explains how difficult it is to gather your appetite and has many suggestions (100 calories and hour, small snacks) for feeding and for healing The point is, you are normal but you've got to try.

Check with doc on the pain too. I was not taking enough pain meds. They did not constipate me, but they can.

Good luck!!! You are not alone--now send that husband to get you something to drink.
Posted 4/28/2009 11:32 PM (GMT 0)
are you still vomiting? Please try to get something down...saltines/juice/popcicles/pretzels make sure you have something by your side at all times...I know it's hard but you've got to get fluids/food into your body!!!

Loss of appetite is a symptom of dehydration...do you have a fever? chills? Please take care of yourself and let us know how things are going!!
Posted 4/29/2009 2:09 AM (GMT 0)
Are you able to eat at all? If you aren't eating, that could be why you aren't having multiple bms. I know when I first came home from the hospital, I didn't have much of an appetite either, but I made myself eat a little at each meal, just to get on a schedule. You mention you had a subtotal colectomy; how much of your large intestine did your surgeon leave? I had a total, so my small intestine was attached to my rectum so maybe that's why things run through so fastl I had many bms a day when I first came home, but they were all very small.

Did your Dr. say to take MOM or miralax already? It seems like you shouldn't need anything yet to get you going. Please let us know what your Dr. says, and good luck!
Janie
Posted 5/4/2009 6:12 PM (GMT 0)
Hello everyone, thanks for the feedback. My Dr. appt went well. Everything is going as expected. He says I will be sore and I need to eat and drink a lot of liquids, but try ot to eat. Also to eat whatever I can handle. He told me that my he did cut a small portion of my small intestines to hook up to the inches of my large intestines that was left that he connected to my rectum.

I have been walking and eating still small portions, but I am eating which is good. but I have to say, I am amazed that I am not going 8-20 times a say like some of the post I have read. I am going once a day and in the morning only. I am excited about that, since for over 17years I would only go once a month.
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