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Posted 2/14/2010 11:21 PM (GMT 0)
My husband had ileostomy surgery due to 34 years of ulcerative colitis back in 2007 at the Cleveland Clinic.  He did not have his rectal stump removed.  We are returning to the Cleveland Clinic next month to discuss and possibily schedule surgery this summer to remove his rectum.  We were told by the surgeon there would be a six week recovery period.  When we looked into postings, we discovered that there were many people that were having problems two years past surgery and daily nursing care.  My husband is a college professor and is not able to be away more than six weeks and having problems a year or two out from surgery is unacceptable.    We need to know the pros and cons of this surgery from those that have been there.  FYI, my husband is 58 and the surgeon had said that surgery is easier the younger you are.  That being said, my husband is having doubts of having the surgery unless the surgeon and others can convince him that it will be ok.  Your help and advice is needed. 
Posted 2/15/2010 12:24 AM (GMT 0)
I don't think you should necessarily take every post as the way things go for everyone...most people who are out living their lives don't post as often!

I had a proctocolectomy a few years ago (colon/rectum/anus gone at the same time :-) ) and aside from being a little older (than previous surgeries) my recovery was pretty normal for all at once. My dx is Crohn's and I also had fistulas so that made things a little harder to heal. It doesn't sound like your hubby will be experiencing that!

I think having it removed is a good thing...if you aren't going to use it, why keep it?!!!
Posted 2/15/2010 2:20 AM (GMT 0)

Your husband should be fine.

Sue

Posted 2/15/2010 12:05 PM (GMT 0)
I had my proctocolectomy 3 months after my ileostomy surgery and glad I did as I had lots of issues with disease in the rectum and constant muck coming out but now its all good and my recovery for that surgery was pretty good the only problem was sitting down for a little while was not fun but as each day went by I felt so much better. I am 47 years old so I was no spring chicken going through this type of surgery either :-) I have no regrets. Let us know how you go and what you decide.
Posted 2/15/2010 8:16 PM (GMT 0)
Although it it ha taken me a very long time to heal, I pretty much resumed 'regular' activities about 6 weeks after surgery but with a caution. It never stopped me from doing things!
Posted 2/15/2010 10:16 PM (GMT 0)
I had my rectum removed and I was walking around after 3 weeks pretty good and 6 weeks even better. I attribute the fast healing to sitz baths and rest and Polysporine. (like Bacetracine in USA)

6 months-riding a bike 1 or 2 hours a day and feeling like, yeah, it was so worth it!
Posted 2/18/2010 11:33 AM (GMT 0)
Nancy,

Everyone's experience is different. I was out driving and grocery shopping 2 weeks after they removed my colon and rectum and felt really good 6 weeks post-op. I had Crohn's in the rectum, so it felt great to be disease-free for the first time in 7 years.

Best of luck with your decision.

Cecilia
Posted 2/18/2010 7:31 PM (GMT 0)
I had mine done the same time i had my ileo and honestly, it itched more than anything, the itching was horrible!
It hurt for a while at first, obviously, but i found if i didnt sit directly on my butt, kind of leaned back some, and sat on soft things it wasnt bad. going over railroad tracks in the car was hard,lol. Its been almost three years and i still have what are known as phantom pains, like where i really think ineed to go to the bathroom, but i dont, and it goes away on its own.
to me really, it was just weird to think of not having a butt hole, i couldnt get my head aroudn how they take out a hole! lol.
But anyway, i think he will be fine.
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