Rectum Removal

          Thank you for your responce,and answering my e-mail.

          Yes it was much worse than I thought it would be,but I have had worse,when I had my explority surgery on my stomach years ago.I have learn one thing for this surgery,and that is,if a doctor gets to talking to you and laughing about different things,and tries to side track you thoughts,don't forget to ask HOW LONG WILL THE SURGERY BE,WHAT KIND OF PAIN CAN I EXPECT TO IN,AND FOR HOW LONG.Those are the four questions that I forgot to ask.I guess because it was that I was just so glad to find a doctor that would do the surgery.I had been to several in the field of Rectum and Colon Specialty,and none of them would touch me.Why I do not know.But like I said,I am just glad that it is over and done with.

          For the first two weeks I had to lay up in my bed flat on my back,and try to eat.I could not sit up because of the staples in my stomach.So I would eat things that were soft and not real messy.I would eat,(toast & muffins for breakfast,I did not feel like eating lunch because of the way I had to eat.For dinner I would eat,Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwich,lunch meat sandwich & some time a hot dog and a few fries).I lost 24 pounds from the time I went into the hospital,until the time I could sit up and start eating again.Now I am starting to gain a few pounds back.I had to be careful that I did not choke while I was eating.They only thing that I drank was water and that we through a straw,because once again I could not sit up.I just laid in my bed flat on my back for two weeks.After my staples were taken out,it felt good to be able to sit up and eat,but I still stayed up stairs in my bed for the rest and not taking any chances out tearing my stomach or anus open for another week.

          I told myself that I was not going to rush home from the hospital after my surgery,but for some reason,I could not wait to get home and in my own bed,even though is was not electric,for different positions.I had to use  pillows.

          I felt lousy and super weak the day I came home from the hospital.My husband had to get me dressed to come home and like I said,he had to help me do just about every,as the nurses were no help at all.

          I don't want to scare any one who has not gone through it,and maybe facing it.Every surgery is different.The doctor did tell me that one of the reason that my stomach is because he had to cut through sever layers of scar tissues from prior stomach that I have had in the past.Plus he scraped away a lot of scar tissues that were in my stomach.Plus like I said,the doctor that did my Colostomy,did a sloppy job,which did not help the removal of the Colon at all.He had a lot to cut away,that was just left there.That is another reason why I was having all of the drainage that I was having.

          When I say that the doctor relieved  pressure from my anus,I mean that I had staples on my stomach,and the kind of stitches that will desolve on own,but he cut one open to let the build up of blood flow as well as all of the air that had build up inside me.But I only bled for a few minutes.Then it was just a very mild flow.

          I hope that I have not scared any of you that have not had it done and are about to.Just remember I had a lot of work done inside me,and everyone of us are different when it comes to pain.If and when you are give pain medicine,stay with it,don't wait for the pain to come to you.Alway stay a head of the pain.

          Well once again,thank you for reading this,and may God Bless all of you

                                                     Take care and with Hugs & Prayers

                                                                                  San's

          You don't have to be scared of having everything removed.Everybody's surgery is different,and all of the doctors all operate different.I don't regret for one minute having my surgery,even after everything I went through.I feel better in the long run.But I was going through a lot before the surgery,so I was looking forward to the surgery just to get rid of all my problems.I was having constant drainage from my rectum and vagina,all because my Colostomy was done in a sloppy way.If it had of been done right to start with,I probably would not of had to go through what I just did.I had to travel 280 miles one way each time I would go to this doctor.I live in Martinsburg,W.V.,and the doctor and Hospital are all the way up in Pittsburgh,PA. So the whole time I was in the hospitall,the only visitor I had was my Pastor,and he came up one time,only because his mother lives up that way.Other then that I was in the hospital for a week with no visitors.It was kind of lonely,but I also enjoyed the peace and quiet,when the nursed,people who took my blood all of the time,and my blood pressure was really high,so they kept coming in every hour and checking it.

          But remember what I said,everyone is different when it come to surgeries,so don't let mine put a scare into you.I had a lot of work done to me.That is one of the reasons I was so sore and misserable.

          Like I said,I am now waiting to see what my new Urologist is going to do about my bladder.I spend about an hour every night in the bathroom,and I can not get in the car and go any more the five to ten miles when I have to stop and go to the bathroom.All of the medicines I have on do not work for me.I will find out next month,when I go back to him.

          Take care and God Bless                                      Love and Prayers

                                                                                                                    San's

  Hi Ohcountrygirl;

           I am glad that my story did not scare you about having surgery. Do you know when you surgery is  going to be scheduled for?

           Do you know if you are going to have an Illiostomy or a Colostomy done?If you are having that much problem with your stools coming out of you vagina,I would suggest that you ask the doctor to remove your rectum at the same time.Just as a percaution that you don't have to go through what I had to go through.It make give you a little bit more pain to deal with,but you will be in the hospital,so you will be in a good place,for the pain,that is going to go along with the surgery.I just wish that I were able  to have my Colostomy and my Rectum Removed at the same time,years ago.But every doctor that I want to for four years,kept blaming it on I.B.S.,when that was not really the case.I have what is know as Fecal Stress incontinence.It is not that well know and not to many people get,but I was the lucky one.

           Well that is all for now.Good luck and stay in touch.

                                                Take Care and God Bless                                       San's

HI Ohcountrybear;

          You are having your surgery done on the same date that I had my Colostomy surgery done on three years ago.

          I know deep down in my heart that all will go will with you.I might not be there in  person with you,but just remember I will there in spirit.

          If you will be seeing the doctor anymore before your surgery,don't forget to ask him HOW LONG THE SURGERY WILL BE,AND about HOW LONG WILL YOU BE IN RECOVERY,if for nothing else,just to let you family know,ASK WHAT KIND OF PAIN CAN YOU EXPECT TO BE IN,AND FOR HOW LONG,AND HOW LONG DOES HE THING THAT YOU RECOVERY WILL TAKE.Thesse are question that I wish that I had of ask my surgeons,but did not think of it,and when I did,they got me side tracked talking about something else.

          Where to you live and what hospital will your surgery be done at,if you don't mind me asking?

          I know that you will feel much better when everything is over and done with and you are back on your feet again.There is one thing that no one ever told me,when made my problems worse,is no to lift anything over fifteen pounds.If you do,who could cause yourself to get a hernia.They are not fun and can hurt.Since my rectum removal,my husband willl not let me lift anything heavier then a dish.I have had four stomach surgeries with in ten years.I guess that is why he is so protective of me.

          I wish all the luck in the world,and remember I may not be there in person with you,but I will be there in spirit.I hope that we stay in touch before and after your surgery.

                                    God Bless You and My Prayer Are with you.

                                                                                            San's

  Hi Ohcountrybear:

     I just got your e-mail,and am so glad to hear from you.

     While you are making out list of questions to ask the doctor,don't forget to include the ones that I told you about.

     I wish that we could exchange addresses so that I can send you a get well card.I don't think they allow us to give out  our address and phone numbers over the internet.I guess all we can do it try if you want to try and send me yours,and it is allowed,I will send you mine.

     When do you go back to see your doctor again?

     Remember what I said about not being able to be with you,but I will be there with you in spirit.

     I know that all will go with you.Just take time out and have a long talk with God,and he will get you through this with no problems.He has been saver for many of years now.I have had thirty seven surgeries,since 1966.Some of them have been major and some have been minor.I am hoping for one surgery,and that is to get my bladder fixed,All of the medicines that my Urologist has had me on,have not work.I have already had five bladder surgeries and none of the held either.So I am just waiting until next month when I go to see him,when he has to say and what his next move is going to be.I what it out,It is more trouble then it is worth.

     Well this is about you,so don't forget your list when you go see your doctor,and don't let him out of the room until all of your questions have been answered.So lets stay in touch and you take care of yourself.      God Bless You and Lots of Prayers be with you.     San's