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How does it feel to have yourrectum removed?

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Posted 1/27/2010 9:28 PM (GMT 0)
I have been reading alot about Brooke ileostomies, K-pouch, and BCIR.  I have my colon removed, but still have my rectum.  For each of these surgeries they remove the rectum.  Can anybody tell me how this feels or how bad it is and if it takes a long time to heal?

 

butterfly

Posted 1/27/2010 11:08 PM (GMT 0)
It feels weird, lol. It hurts for a while, but its not awful. Mainly it itches, eek the itching!
After a few weeks it only hurts when you go over bumps in the car, lol. And then a little while after that it doesnt hurt at all.
Posted 1/27/2010 11:15 PM (GMT 0)
Everyone is different, but for me, it wasn't as big of a deal as I thought it was going to be. I had Crohn's in the rectum and was in constant pain before I had it removed. Once it was gone, there was such a relief from that chronic pain that I didn't miss it for one second. Still don't miss it.

My surgeon left the wound open to heal from the inside out, so I packed it with saline-filled gauze twice a day to keep it from getting infected. It took about 6 months before it completely closed up, but I got into a routine of packing it before work and then again before going to bed. It took all of two minutes, which was no big deal.

If there was any pain in the beginning, the pain pills took care of it. I had my colon removed at the same time, so the abdominal incision was much more painful than the rectum removal. In my opinion, you've already been through the worst of it.

Hope that helps! :-)

Cecilia
Posted 1/28/2010 2:29 AM (GMT 0)
I had zero pain or discomfort from having my rectum removed.  Like Cecilia, it was a relief to have it gone!

 

Sue

Posted 1/28/2010 3:59 AM (GMT 0)
Ditto to flchurchlady and suebear...the rectum area didn't hurt at all (I thought it was going to) but some people do have issues with it. I think staple pain was worse:(
Posted 1/29/2010 5:30 AM (GMT 0)
Like most, I didn't feel it. I was, and am, so enamoured of Oscar that I really didn't pay it much mind. Now though, I still get the occasional "phantom" pain. I had such severe Crohn's in my rectum and area that it was a relief to have it sewn up and done.

-Allie
Posted 1/29/2010 7:32 AM (GMT 0)
Due to uncontrollable bleeding, they weren't able to remove my rectum. 
Posted 1/30/2010 11:32 PM (GMT 0)
Am I the only one who thinks it feels like my butt cheeks were taped together?? I wonder if my procedure was a bit different than the norm b/c I had so much skin breakdown at the time of surgery? Oh well...being Crohn's free is worth it.
Posted 1/31/2010 3:59 AM (GMT 0)
i think i know what you mean, sometimes it feels  like its stuck together down there or something.  Kind of like a wedgie, even though i know i dont have one!
Posted 1/31/2010 7:38 PM (GMT 0)
LOL @ Summer & Justjen....it does feel like that sometimes doesn't it???

-Allie
Posted 2/1/2010 7:58 AM (GMT 0)
I don't remember exactly how it felt because I was 3 years old when mine was removed...
But, have you considered a J-pouch? With a J-pouch you only have a temporary ileostomy, and the pouch takes on the job of the rectum. It might not be for everyone, but I've had this set up for years & am so thankful I don't have a permanent ileostomy!
Posted 2/1/2010 11:33 AM (GMT 0)
Before my first ileostomy surgery, the docs said that I was unable to have j-pouch surgery.

butterfly

Posted 2/1/2010 7:38 PM (GMT 0)
I still have my rectum but the phanthom pain, feeling like I need to poop all the time, bothers me daily. The docs all say it is normal but it seems like it is taking forever for it to go away. Seven months of thinking you are going to mess yourself is too long.
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