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Total Colectomy part 26

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Posted 10/11/2009 8:15 AM (GMT 0)
Shmuel, best of luck to you!!! you'll be in my thoughts and prayers!! Tracy, i hope you feel better soon. adaperl, welcome! i was also grateful to have found this site. it IS an amazing site and i've found the BEST information here about the surgery that i could NEVER find NO WHERE. drs don't tell or explain much, and actually they just can't know all of this info. so really, one can't find better info than reading all the pesrsonal experiences of the women who went through this themselves! THANK G-D AND PETER WAITE for healingwell.com. :o)
Posted 10/11/2009 11:27 AM (GMT 0)
Shmuel, I have had a lot of go-lytley bowel preps, and I found this to work the best... pour 8oz and take a deep breath and hold your nose and drink fast, when finish, still holding your nose and swish ans swallow apple juice! The apple juice totally got rid of any after taste... I was given this tip, and it worked. Still not fun, but bearable. I have a hard time drinking any medications, and I made it!

Tracy, I have never had the barium enema.. and not looking forward to it. I have been trying to find info in our past surgery and our condition.. it does show a small percent 1-2% of women have bowel issues (mechanical obstructions) after the surgery... usually because of a redundant colon.

Lizzie, I'm heading off to my vacation, but thinking of you! Hope you continue with your recovery!
Posted 10/11/2009 2:41 PM (GMT 0)
Shmuel, I always started early with the bowel prep and took stimulant laxatives the day before...but my doctor took pity on me and prescribed pills for me to take instead of the liquid. I seem to have a small stomach and knew I could never hold that much liquid. And it worked. But I took several stimulant laxatives and had a very good head start. I then chased the pills with gatorade and juice. It was still pretty awful though. The pills tasted salty and I couldn't gat the taste out of my mouth. YUK but I didn't throw up. The doctor told me if I felt nauseas, then slow down and wait for the feeling to pass.

Amey, why did you have a hard time pooping into the bag? For some reason, my rectum does not work and it is HORRIBLE! I can pull the rectal muscle up, but can't push down to empty my rectum. I spend way too much time in the bathroom, 20 to 25 hours per week. I just want my life back. I have no idea what to do because the doc wants me to have a total colectomy, but what about the outlet issue? I don't think he is addressing this major problem. I can barely push out water from an enema, can't fart, can't have normal bm's....can't live a normal life. I am a slave to the toilet. My kids and husband always know where to find me, on the toilet. It is funny at times, but it makes me very sad to hear my daughter say, oh mom, please don't go to the bathroom, it takes too long. They have begged me to see a doctor that can "help me". I tell them, I am working on it, but the right doctor just hasn't come along yet. LOL

I am terrified that whatever I decide may make me worse than I am now. What if the total colectomy makes me worse somehow? What then? I honestly don't think I can live with being worse off than I am now, ya know?

As far as walking, that is the only way I can get rid of the gas...oh, it doesn't come out of the rectum, but for some reason walking helps the gas to move and disipate. But there are times when I can pass gas, but it is not very often. I probably pass gas once a day or once every other day. And this can be very painful. That is why I walk and walk.

I think Lizzie had a good idea. Have the total colectomy and get a temporary stoma to give the connection time to heal. My doctor did stress that the connection can narrow in and this could cause major problems. I also read somewhere that total colectomy patients have a 5% to 50% chance of a small bowel blockage. That is scary. It just seems strange that they can sew on the intestines anyway...they seem like they would feel like gummy bears and be impossible to sew together.

I am just terrified to make the wrong decision.

I go back to the new surgeon tomorrow and I will have a list of questions for him that we have not gone through. Thanks Esor for all the advice.

I am still bloated, but have started my miralax, LOTS of it. Hopefully the barium will come out after 36 hours. UGH

Jenise, as far as the mesh, I will ask about that too. I will also ask about the pelvic MRI and the dreaded barium enema. Do you think the barium enema will show a blockage, or a loop in the colon???

Thanks, Tracy
Posted 10/11/2009 3:54 PM (GMT 0)
Tracy -

If you are a slave to your toliet, you may want to opt for a bag. My problem was the opposite, I wouldn't go for days and just vomit a lot. I suffer from CI and my intestines does not pull in water so my bowels are very thick. For me, having a bag was like trying to move peanut butter through a straw. Most people do not have this problem and their stools move like water into their bag. My stools were so thick, I had to put a long catheter in my stoma and shoot enemas into my stomach daily to get my stools to pass. The wonderful part of having a bag was that I was never a slave to the toliet. The joke in my family was that I could poop and drive at the same time. Now that I am liiving in the bathroom again, part of me misses the bag. As far as blockages with the TC, you're correct. I had 2 major surgeries from obstructions, but that is just part of the risk. I also had problems with narrowing and had to have my site dialated a few times. It is a scary process and everything has its own consequences. If you get a TC, you'll have some issues with that. If you get a bag, you'll have issues with that. There is no 'cure'. We just have to find the best option and deal with the side effects as they come. Everyones body reacts differently so it is hard to say how your body will react to compared to everyone else. You may have a TC and feel great. No one knows, not even your dr, until after the surgery and after your body heals. My most sincere opinion, if you want to have your life back and get off the toliet, opt for a bag. As long as your husband is supportive, I would definitely consider it. If my bag would have been the answer for me, I would have kept it.
Take care,
Amey
Posted 10/11/2009 5:34 PM (GMT 0)
Shmuel, try mixing crystsal light into the prep mix. It doesnt make it taste like candy but it definatly helps it go down better. Just follow the directions on the crystal light . If its a gallon, I think you use like 2 of the little tubs of it. Its been awhile but thats what the nurses told me to do and it was amazingly helpful Kristina
Posted 10/11/2009 8:01 PM (GMT 0)
Amey, I don't worry too much about making the bowel or intestines produce water. I take miralax and it helps me more than anything ever has. I always had a problem with stimulant laxatives, that they would cause the stomach to cramp, but didn't produce the water that I needed to produce a bm. Were you like that? So, Monday through Friday, I take 1 dose of miralax daily and this produces about a teaspoon of poop per day. Then, Friday night I take 4 doses...Saturday, 3 or 4 more doses, and Sunday 4 more doses. This produces watery stool and it almost impossible to get out, but I disimpact the rectum when it ever comes down. It takes alot of rectal stimulation to even get the poop to the rectum. My new surgeon has not addressed this rectal outlet problem and chalks it all up to being the non functioning colon. I just don't buy it.

Did you ever try miralax with the thick stools. Without miralax, my stools would be very hard, not just thick, but like hard balls. EWWWW How are you now? Has the urgency slowed down? I can't imagine feeling the urge to go every 2 to 5 minutes....since I NEVER have the urge. I only know I need to try to go when my stomach sounds like a washing machine, but even still, I can wait days if I need to. Not a bad way to live actually if only I could empty the rectum in a few minutes instead of the hours and hours it takes me. I would do nothing if I could push the poop out. CI would still be there, but hey, the miralax atleast produces watery movements.

Thanks for the advice. I will probably have the colectomy, but will request that he put in a temporary bag to let the connection heal.

I am terrified I will be one of the ones that is pooping and farting all over the place and not being continent is just not an option. I now never have to worry about poop or farts escaping when I don't want them to. That is always a plus.
Posted 10/11/2009 10:08 PM (GMT 0)
Hello, my friends! Sounds like you are doing pretty well Lizzie. I am so excited for you. I hope you only continue to get better and stronger. Glad to hear the poo is a flowin.

Hodaya, how was your first day of work? I remember my first day was very hard. I only made it half way through then had my hubby come get me. So take it pretty slow.

Jensise-It sounds like you have come to a decision to have the surgery. Thats great. I was also so terrified to make the decision. But once I did I felt good about the decision and I do not regret it at all. I feel soooo much better now.

Jen-how are you? Hope you are doing well.

Judy, Janie, Christy, and anyone I missed, Hope all is well with you all. I am sure everyone is busy. Just dealing with this condition consumes your whole life. Let alone all the other things you have to do during the day. Did you ever think you would take pooping for granted!! I sure did not!!

Love you all, Marisa
Posted 10/11/2009 10:42 PM (GMT 0)

Amey,

Why did you end up having a bag?  I know after your colectomy you still had trouble, but did they ever diagnose it as pelvic floor problems or slow motility in your small intestine?  I'm sure you've answered that before, but I forgot!  Sorry.

I am so tired of worrying about pooping.  This is my day on days I work:  get up, drink an iced coffee (for some reason iced coffees help me go, warm coffee, not at all!), then maybe for lunch have a yogurt.  If all I eat is a yogurt, I feel really good during the day; no pain and no sore rectum.  I don't eat anything else until I get home from work.  Around 4:30, I drink prune juice when I get home, then have dinner.  After dinner I start going (diarrhea usually) for several hours and usually by 10 or 11, I'm done.  The next morning the coffee finishes up whatever else I have in me.  On days that I'm home, I eat during the day, but if I don't drink prune juice I start getting this terrible pressure in my rectum.  I keep feeling like I have to go and I may go, just little drops at a time, but then my rear end is so sore; I live with lotion on it.  I ytry not to drink juice on days that I'm home and have no where I have to go to see what happens.  I may go a little now and then, but I have to run and sit alot more than I actually go.  I feel full, but can't push the poop out.  By evening I give up and drink prune juice or use an enema, but if I drink prune juice late, I'm up alot at night.

Today I got up and had a bowl of cereal and my iced coffee...went to the bathroom...felt great...  Then we went to a bar to watch football with my husband and around 2:30 I had 1/2 chicken sandwich and some fries .  Came home and ate a slice of watermelon.  Right now my bottom feels so full and uncomfortable.  I just drank grape juice, I'm sick of prune juice.  If it doesn't work, it's ok because I'll be home tomorrow.

This is how I live.  After my colectomy I was running to the bathroom 20X a day and sometimes more.  My bottom stayed raw, but I felt empty, which was wonderful.  After 3 months, that stopped and I've been drinking juice and using enemas like crazy ever since.  Without the prune juice, I usually don't go much at all.  If I don't have an iced coffee in the morning to get me moving then, I feel like I have a rectum of poop all day.  Once in awhile I'll have a good day, and things will flow through me good...a little bit several times in the day.  That doesn't happen more than once every week or so though.

I'm waiting to see what my sitz marker test shows, but I did drink prune juice almost every day because there's no way I could hold 6 days worth of poop without my colon to hold it.  Before surgery I could go for days without going, but now I just can't.  My rectum starts feeling sore and itchy and full of stool within an hour or two of eating.

I guess I'm telling you this because if the Dr. comes back and says this is just the way it's going to be, I honstly think I'd rather have an ileostomy....or would I?  I've never had one, and what if that's worse than this?  I can't imagine anything being worse than this rectal pressure/pain, but maybe it would be!  And then what?  A reversal like you have?

I'm so tired of worrying about this, tired of this controlling when and where I go, and when and what I can eat....was your ileostomy so bad?  If you hadn't had trouble with it not working right, would you have kept it really?

Marissa,

It sounds like you're doing well...weren't you having issues for awhile?  What have you done to help?

Lizzie,

Hope you're home and feeling stronger every day.  Take it slow, though!

Hodaya,

How was your first day at work?  Glad you're feeling so well and I hope your day was great!

Everyone else,

Hi and hope you're doing well....Tracy, I SO relate to how you feell now.  Before surgery I could take senokot and it would usually blast the poop out.  Now things are much slower coming out....but I don't have to take the strong laxatives at least.  It was a trade off for me, I think.

Janie

Posted 10/11/2009 11:34 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Janie, 2bcolon free, Jenise, Judy and Ada-perl and all the other women in this little friendly group- I think what I will do is dilute the go-lytley with water and stick the bottle in the fridge to cool it, then around 12noon I got some straws and will drink it with the straw around every 20min, then after that swish and swallow motts apple juice- the toddler- low sugar version. The surgeon told me to keep doing this till the stool is yellow clear. I think I will take 2 dulcolax tabs monday night to get things moving. A friend will be in my home to coax me along. Dreading this -drinking this horrible poison- more than laying on the operating table. Also, going to get a movie to watch to get my mind off of this, and sit real close to the toilet. Got my little chihuahua on my lap all the time. Going to miss him for a week. Was thinking  today, that I think I was 11 yrs old when it was the last time I felt a normal urge to have a BM. I don't have a laptop- so after Tues. I don't know if I can communicate with all of you, but maybe once I am up and moving can find a computer somewhere. Wish I could meet a bunch of you for lunch tommorrow. I feel bad about loosing my job, but I know that for 2 months I wouldn't be able to work anyway, I am a nurse, so alot of physical labor. I know that when I recover there will be lots of places to work, once I get out of the Norfolk, Va area. Can't wait. take my puppy, sell my condo, pack it up and try to forget this town, except for a special few moments. Like yesterday, when Shmuley and me were walking in

Colonial Williamsburg and we (again) met General George Washington, he spoke to me and Shmu in colonial dialect and my friend took a photograph of the pup and the general, that was a high point, I will picture this scene while I fall asleep on Weds.

  Love, Shmuel's mom-Shmuel is a 5 month old 3-4 lb black Chihuahua, and loves his mommy. He looks like a bunny when he runs because his big ears flap back.

Posted 10/11/2009 11:49 PM (GMT 0)
Shmuel,

That sounds like a good plan; you've got everything covered! Actually I always took laxatives the day before to start getting cleaned out as well.

Good luck, I hope it's a complete success! Let us know how you're doing with the prep!!

Janie
Posted 10/12/2009 12:05 AM (GMT 0)
Oh Janie, I feel so bad for you. The colectomy was supposed to fix your problem. You sound like me and I still have my colon. LOL I think a bag would be preferrable than living like this. Sitting on the toilet for hours everyday is just not right.

I will ask about the mesh tomorrow Jenise...

I have atleast started to get some of the barium out. I wonder how long my poop will be white. Hopefully this will not clog up my septic tank like it did last time. My husband wants me to do something ASAP. He was a little perturbed with me for drinking the barium anyway...but he has calmed down about it now. Since I was so sick last night and even had a fever...but, the fever has been gone since I started moving this barium out of me. I also always get an off and on pain in my left side when I don't move my bowels for several days. Is anyone else like that? My husband is actually worried that I may die in my sleep one day. I told him, sweetie, this condition is not life threatening. He seems to believe that it is life threatening and doesn't believe the doctor. But, hey, his mom thinks all of us should take a laxative when we are sick with a cold, flu, fever, sick with anything. So, he is old school from her.

Hope all is well Lizzie...I wish I was in your shoes and had the surgery behind me.

Tracy
Posted 10/12/2009 12:08 AM (GMT 0)
Tracey,

I had a bag for 4 months. I used the type of bag that had like a little Tupperware type bag. After a month or so, i got use to it. I totally recommend the M-9 drops. The military didnt cover them but so worth the extra cost. Its not as bad as you would think. Thats why if it ever came down to it, i could live with a bag. I dont know how dating works with that cause when i had the bag, i was married. I have a boyfriend now who is very supportive. It is what it is.

Does everyone live on the east coast? I know one is in isreal, but anyone out here in the west?

Lizzi, i am so glad to hear your going home. Good luck with healing.

Shmuel good luck next week, you will be in my thoughts and prayers.
Posted 10/12/2009 12:25 AM (GMT 0)
Why did you have to have a bag for 4 months? It just seems easier than living on the toilet for hours everyday.
Posted 10/12/2009 12:29 AM (GMT 0)
Just a dumb question. Why do some poeple get J-pouches? Because it seems like we would need a J-pouch too to help with continence and holding the poop longer?
Posted 10/12/2009 1:39 AM (GMT 0)
Hi all,

The forum has been a very busy place.  Lizzie I hope you are doing well and Hodaya I hope you had a good first day at work. 

Marisa I hope you are doing well.  Jenise I don't know if I missed a post, have you decided to have surgery and if so when will it be?

Shumel good luck with your surgery I'm sure everything will turn out fine.  You have to keep a positive attitude.  At least that is what I am trying to do with two weeks left before I go under the knife.

I am scared to death but at the same time I am sick of living my life around taking 20 pills every few days to have a bm. (the number of pills just keeps getting higher and higher)  I feel terrible after taking the pills for about 36 hours. I am having trouble just getting them down.  Just the thought of it makes me gag.  I can't even take MOM anymore.  If I think about that terrible liquid too much I can actually make myself throw up at just the thought. 

I took my pills Friday night so I would be sick Saturday instead of today.  We went to Virginia today to ride the Creeper Trail.  It was a nice bike ride and very scenic.  I recommend it to anyone and it was great for the kids.  I was very careful not to eat much so that I would not blow up and feel sick.  We at lunch before hitting the trail, and I just sat there watching my friends and family pig out while I ate a cup of potato soup.  I am sooooo tired of all this.

Well the countdown is on for me, and I am ready.  I just hope I don't end up worse off......of course I can't keep living like this either.

Everyone in this forum is in my prayers.  I am so thankful to have the support of people who understand what we go through.

Jen

Posted 10/12/2009 1:45 AM (GMT 0)
Hi all,

TDR, good luck with the doc tomorrow. I hope he answers all your questions. Hope the barium comes out tonight.

To those with their small intestine hooked to the top of the rectum who have had a total colectomy, how do you maintain continence in between going to the bathroom? I have an ileostomy and I'm basically always going into the bag; liquidy poop. After I eat, the amount that comes out increases. When the bag gets one-third full, I empty it.

I'm trying to understand how anyone would maintain continence if the small intestine was hooked to my rectum with no internal pouch to act as a reservoir. Wouldn't watery poop just always be coming out of the rectum like it always comes out of my stoma. OR does the rectum itself act as the reservoir?

Info on this might help Tracy with her decision, and I must admit, would satisfy my curiosity. (I'm just medically interested, not meaning to pry.)

Sincerely,

Rosemary (esoR)
Posted 10/12/2009 1:56 AM (GMT 0)
Hi again,

I forgot to ask a question. I keep losing which thread I'm on, but someone mentioned that they had their small intestine hooked to their rectum and they had just been dirt biking, wiped out and didn't get hurt. (Glad to hear that!) Anyway, they made the comment that they were still trying to figure out the food thing and if they ate wrong, they really paid.

I have the ileostomy and even though I have the bag for a reservoir, I can really get into bad diarrhea trouble if I eat too much ice cream and not enough solids. One day this week I did that and the next day I woke up with a full bag of yellow water (all bile I think). Luckily I did not have any leaks. But I then ate bread, banana, dry toast, to calm the diarrhea. It did work luckily.

I also suffer from lack of energy. I don't know if it's because all I eat leaves me so fast or what.

I'm sorry I cannot remember who posted about this, but if you find the answer to the lack of energy problem or the what to eat issue, please let me know as I can use that info too.

Thanks,

Sincerely, Rosemary (esoR)
Posted 10/12/2009 2:21 AM (GMT 0)
Hi ladies....this site has been busy and I am trying so hard to keep up on everyone.

I just got home from the ER, I started feeling really crappy around midnight last night. I knew I regretted coming home. I wwas in so much pain and the oxycodone was not working and I could barely move. This morning I got a fever and the pain was unbearable. I have this open wound that is about 2 inches wide and an inch deep and its horrible. I called the on-call surgeon and he said to go in. They were pretty sure I was going to be admitted, but my CT looked ok and my bloodwork was ok, so they gave me a liter of fluid and 4 mg dilaudid ( and i was still hurting). They told me to double my pain meds and call my surgeon tomorrow and to keep a close eye on my temp because infections usually take a couple days to start up. I really love not having a bag and I AM POOPING 12 times a day about and I do not feel any rectal fullness, but complete emptying. I just ate for the first time today. I do not have much of an appetite. I am quite excited that I am working normally, but scared that I feel so crappy and scared an infection is coming.

Tracy-

Good luck tomorrow with your doctor. I hope he can give you some answers. If your colon is not working why keep it....you should just either get a TC and then loop ileostomy in prep for a reversal. I think maybe a lot of us should have had temp ileos so the connection could have rest and the body could return to full fxn and then be re-connected.

Janie- I am so sad for you.....I wish I could help you. I hope your tests show something and I hope you get an appt soon with another doctor. You can fly up here and stay with me and see my surgeon...he is wonderful and knows his stuff. I am praying for you and for some relief. I wish I could take all the pain away. Love ya.

Marisa- Good to hear from you....thinking of you always. Glad your doing well.

Hodaya- How was work? hope your doing well sweetie. Miss you and love you.

Amey- How you feeling sweetie? How is your appetite? I know you were really into fitness. Are you still able to do the stuff you love or do you feel to crappy. I remember when you first got your ileo you were biking like a week later!!! maybe I am dreaming. Thinking of you and praying for you.

Jen- I am worried about you? How is your weight?? Feeling sick after your pills and not being able to get them down is a sign??? you are sick and going to be to ill for surgery!!!!! You need to see your dr. now!

Adaperl- Welcome....I do not know your story...i am way behind. But thanks for your wishes? If you dont mund what has gone on with you....

Schmuel- Best of luck sweetie!!!! Thinking of you!!!

Lizzie

Posted 10/12/2009 2:43 AM (GMT 0)
Lizzie,

You are so sweet! Thank you for your offer...you never know!! But I warn you, I am a WIMP about cold weather!! LOL

Glad you're pooping, and I hope there is no infection. I know you wanted to be home, but I wish you could have stayed in the hospital a little longer. You really need to rest now!

Rosemary,

I had my small intestine connected to my rectum 6 months ago. The first 2 months were alot like you would imagine....every time I ate, I had to run to the bathroom about 5 or 6 times for an hour or two. Then after a couple months, things just slowed down. I'm not sure why; my doctor thinks my small bowel may also be slow. I definitely have problems with emptying. I never really had any trouble with incontinence except for the first day I started pooping in the hospital. I wore depends for a few weeks when I left the house, but really never had a problem; they just made me feel more secure.

Before surgery I was very afraid of incontinence, and now I'm still constipated. Go figure!

Janie
Posted 10/12/2009 3:01 AM (GMT 0)
Lizzie,

GLAD you are having complete bowel moves. I'll pray for you that you do not get an infection. Sounds scary. Take care.

Janie,

Thanks for the info on the small bowel connected to rectum. My small intestine, over time, has slowed down just a bit now that it supposedly realizes my colon is no longer in the loop, but the output is still so liquidy and at times so much. Glad you didn't have any issues with incontinence. BUT am sorry to hear about the return of constipation with no colon. That is such a mystery. Likely some outlet issue. Best of luck with that.

Sincerely,

Rosemary
Posted 10/12/2009 5:44 AM (GMT 0)
Hi, this is to everyone. I hope i clear somethings up for everyone and help you.
As I am reading a lot of these posts, I can tell you all have only been living with your total colectomys for a short period of time.
Most of all my adult life i have dealt with the Military health care system. 20 years ago it wasnt so good. I would go in and all thy told me was drink more water/eat more fiber. Or, they would do GI series and saw no defect in the structure of my bowels so they told me nothing was wrong.
My ordeal has been going on since, well, the Saturday after 9-11. Really my whole life i have had problems but it wasnt until it almost killed me did any one care or do anything.
I ended up in the ER for pain and they thought i had kidney stones. I had a cat scan done and it wasnt stones. My intesting was almost 4 times the size in one area.
They at first tried to do it laproscopic but when they did that my bowel already had a tear in it. They cut me from pelvic to sternum and when they went in i already had almost a foot of bowel dead from the blockage. They removed a foot of bowel, and then gave me the colostomy bag so my intestines could heal.
During the time I had the colostomy bag, they ran a sitzs marker test. Thats when they realized i had no motility. A week or so later, i had to prep for a gi test and when they did the test, i still had markers inside. So, after 4 months, they did the reversal and just re-attached my small bowel to my rectum. Anastamosis is what they said. Its been a while and my technical lingo isnt as good as it once was.
My healing afterwords was slow. I mean, moving aroud and day to day was slow but i was terrified of another blockage so i really didnt eat a lot. by my 6 week follow up i was starting to be constipated and of course the Dr's were like, you cant be.
Now. i have had the privilege of knowing a colon cancer survivor who also had her large bowel removed and she Was in the bathroom a lot. I think for people that some how loose there bowels for other reasons than constipation, they have those issues with haven to know where the bathroom is at all times. Not me. I drink a lot of plum juice because its not as harsh or nasty tasting as prune juice. I have done a ton of research on the digestive system in whole. I worry about everyone taking so many enemas and other things just to go. I know we need it but i have also learned that the digestive system works on Nerves and hormones.
I will do a supository every now and then but laxitives make me sick. Again, i live by Plum juice. Anyway, it has been 8 years since i had a total colectomy and i do everything. I work, play softball, walk, work out (sometimes) go on vacation, go to the beach. Everything i did before.
I even made it thru divorce and dating again. My small bowels have slowed down also over the years. I might have to go to a permanent bag when i am older, but if it means i get to live, I will. I actually have a better quality of life now. I do get tired alot, cant digest certain pils (comes out whole ) and really watch what i eat. That is what helps me the most. Less of anything is better. I mean, I only drink water and coffee and plum juice. No soda and i really dont miss it. I do miss pizza and certain veggies i dont eat like brocholii or brussel sprouts. Its not worth the pain.
I have learned that every one is diffrent but we all go thru the crap of Dr's not knowing enough about it. I mean, if i go to the er, i have to tell them what tests will actually show a blockage ( it has happened) I had a double hernia due to all the surgeries. I mean, it didnt hurt that after my divorce i worked for 5 years at the Post Office moving and lifting heavy trays and tubs and boxes. I recently switched to a less stressful job and i am not in as much daily pain as i was.
Does anyone else have a problem with wearing jeans or anything tight? I havent wore a pair of panty hose in years, and i cant even wear oversized sweats if the elastic is thin and press's on the right spot. I think its from all my scars, but since I switched jobs, i wear dress pants everyday and I love it. I still dont wear tight dress pants, but what a diffrence. Lizzie, be careful of infection. If you feel like your body is not digesting your antibiotics, make sure you call your doctor. i have to go in and get the shot a lot of times for an infection.
Posted 10/12/2009 8:36 AM (GMT 0)
hey all, thanks for asking about me, well i went to work for my first day, it was really nice seeing everyone again. it was o.k but hard. the thing is that prior to surgery i used to work evenings, cuz i needed about 5-6 hrs in the mornings to produce a bm, and i didn't empty at one time, so every 30 minutes-hr i would go a bit more, but even then not all was out. well now i'm back to working evenings, but that's not working out for me anymore, cuz the way things work now is that in the morning i go 3-5 times a little each time and that takes about 2-3 hrs. then i have a break till about 6 p.m, usually at around 5-6 pm another series of bms starts and the evening series is A LOT more, i go at least 5-8 times and it lasts till i go to sleep. if i stay awake till 2 am, the bms will keep coming, only then i'll have less in the morning. so i was working 3-7 pm yest and didn't feel good at all. i started to feel whirlpools in my abd at around 5 pm. the weird thing is that if i'm not home i won't get to feel the urge, so i'm like twisting with pain and discomfort. i'm gonna have to talk to my boss if there's a way i can come to work earlier, cuz actually it's just typing reports and they don't really care what the exact time i do it as long as i finish the job that day. i hope he agrees, cuz i must be at home in the evenings. so as you can see, i'm pretty much tied to my home, i mean besides going to work when things are calm, the rest of the day is in the loo..... how will i ever have a normal life this way????? don't get me wrong, it's MUCH MUCH better than not going at all, and i can't stress that enough, i'm glad it's out and NOT in, but how do i schedule anything besides work?? i can't go anywhere. the only way i can get out of the house in the evenings is on condition i won't eat anything during the day. so sorry to ramble so much..... didnt really have the time to catch up with everyone, but i'll read it later, gotta go now, love y'all so much and hope you're doing well!!
Posted 10/12/2009 8:51 AM (GMT 0)
You are not rambling Hodaya. Oh gosh you must be exhausted staying up til 2am.  I am sorry this is happening for you and the bms dont come at once.

I hope it improves as time goes on.  If not then you dont have to live your life like that forever - it know it is not something i know you want to hear but you can always have an ileostomy - it is not as bad as it seems.  The only downside is that it may show under plain tightfitted clothes and you cant wear a bikini.  But at least your life will improve ten fold.  I can get away with wearing some tight clothes as i like wearing them. 

Anyhow i may end up not getting on with a reversal so i may end up with a bag forever we shall see.  My worse nightmare is being tied to the loo and getting up all night long.

i do feel for you right now. x

Posted 10/12/2009 2:15 PM (GMT 0)
Hodaya what you are going through now is one of my fears with this surgery. As I have posted before I am a child care inspector and go out three days a week to inspect facilities. I am in and out of daycares all day. I CANNOT USE THEIR RESTROOMS! Well some of the supernice corporate daycares yes, but most NO! So I guess I may have to go all day without eating or go out in the morning drive back home at lunch and then go back out. So much to think about.

This upcoming surgery totally consumes my thoughts. I have two weeks left. I am making more inspections this week than I think to care about, then a week in the office to get all my 67 centers turned over to another consultant while I am out. It is so hard when all I can think about is this surgery and the outcome.

Lizzie thanks for asking about me. My weight is holding steady at 112-113. I am eating just enough calories to maintain that on most days. I probably should go to the doctor but I don't know what they would do. Still have to take my pills so I can go to the bathroom at least 3 or 4 more times before surgery. I am seriously dreading the prep. I don't even know what the prep is yet. I go to pre-op on the 22nd.

Jen
Posted 10/12/2009 5:12 PM (GMT 0)
Kristina, thanks for posting back. You have really been through it. When you had the blockage, did you take laxatives?
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