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Posted 7/12/2010 11:35 PM (GMT 0)
I got home yesterday from the hospital with success. I was in the hospital for only 4 days because I followed the rules by walking and doing the breathing exercises constantly. I must have walked a mile everyday. I started having bowel movements on day two at night and all seemed to have gone well so now I am at home. I will tell you it is a weird sensation. For some reason I am only having about 3-5 Bm's a day. I mean I am not complaining at all, but I was expecting the 10-15 BM's a day. The sensation you get when you go to the bathroom is so much different and will def take a little time to get used to. Although there is no urgency at all. I have to say that I am very happy with this. I do have very bad gas pains and ab pains from time to time, but I am assuming that is so since I am only day 4 out of surgery. I just had a question about the area where the stoma used to be. They didn't suture it up for reasons of skin flapping etc, so they left the area opened and it needs to be packed with gauze so it doesn't heal over itself. Has anyone had to go through this? How long does it take to heal? It looks like a meteor hit me in the stomach. I do want to thank you all for your support. It has been extremely valuable in my travels with this disease. I am well on my way to getting that fireman job now!
Posted 7/13/2010 1:44 AM (GMT 0)
They stapled my stomas but only like 2 staples. I didn't have to pack them. They healed within days. My big wound was left open in large spots for 2 of the surgeries and that I did have to pack for about a month. It didn't hurt or anything, though, and healed well
Posted 7/13/2010 1:47 AM (GMT 0)
3-5? haha wow, i'm jealous of you already. congrats!

yeah my surgeon let mine heal the same way. looks like you were shot in the stomach, doesn't it? i forget how long it took to completely close up, maybe 2 1/2 weeks... not sure. i used to keep a band-aid over it in the shower.
Posted 7/13/2010 5:01 AM (GMT 0)
Wow, Anthony, congratulations!! yeah So glad to hear you're home already and are doing well!

You might want to take some Gas-X for the pain. The chewable cherry ones are my favorite!
Posted 7/13/2010 11:40 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks everyone. Yeah, I am a little uneasy about the little BM's. It almost sounds too good to be true. I haven't had that number in like 10 years. This question may sound odd, but what is it that you feel when you have to "go"?
Posted 7/13/2010 12:18 PM (GMT 0)
Anthony - as long as you are getting plenty of fluids, good nutrition, following your surgeons orders, I don't think you have anything to worry about. I had the good fortune of having an excellent surgeon I've been told, numerous times, from nurses to my Gastro doc, etc. Well he performed both my surgeries and then left his practice, moving 1,000 miles away. His partner took over my care. As he would listen to my woes of having so many multiple bm's per day he admitted he would have taken a much different approach to my tumor (barely inside the sigmoid). He would have removed my colon and given me a J pouch. But as he said this at the time I was having about 12 bm's a day, he said I would have had at most 6 - 8 with a J pouch. So you're not too far from that 6 -8 mark. As long as you're not struggling to have bm's, don't worry. Ask your doctor to be certain but if you ended up with 3 - 5 a day, wow I'd be SO happy for you!

I was also amazed you were in for 4 days, that was great news to read too. The walking and breathing exercises paid off!

Wishing you continued success with your J pouch and for you to return to your dream job.
Posted 7/13/2010 1:38 PM (GMT 0)
Anthony, glad to hear things are going so well. You deserve a break after all you've been through. Good luck on your new life!
Posted 7/13/2010 7:20 PM (GMT 0)
When I first started using my pouch, I had to manually empty it with a catheter tube or digital stimulation every 4 hours because my surgeon was concerned about me developing a fistula again and did not want it to get full. The first time I had the pouch, I had a hard time going and he thinks that may be why I had the fistula. So, at first I wasn't going much per day....then it picked up A LOT and I was going all the time
Posted 7/14/2010 4:49 PM (GMT 0)
Anthony....
I am so happy that things went so well. As long as your doctor is happy I would only be excited about the number of BMs. However, how are you eating considering you are only 4 days post surgery? I remember that the first few days, Dillon had fewer BMs which increased about a week later. I think it was attributed to the amount that he was eating.

As to the stoma....Dillon's was stapled so I do not have info

Again.....I am so happy for you!
Posted 7/14/2010 5:07 PM (GMT 0)
I have been eating quite a lot. I fluxuate between 4-8 BM's a day, but a lot if it is because I have a lot of gas and I tend to run to the bathroom for that.
Posted 7/14/2010 6:41 PM (GMT 0)
Nice to know you are doing fine, Anthony. You are so brave.
I don't have the courage and patience for another surgery so I opted for a permanent ileostomy, which I am very happy with.
Good luck.
Posted 7/14/2010 7:45 PM (GMT 0)
Also your frequency will be lower if you are on pain medication or antibiotics. If that's not the case, good for you Anthony! I was in the 15-20X range right out of surgery!

Sue
Posted 7/18/2010 1:44 PM (GMT 0)
Anthony....I am sooo happy you are doing so well. Continue the good work buddy! I can't wait to eat a south Philly cheesesteak with fried onions.....think that will ever happen?
Posted 7/18/2010 5:02 PM (GMT 0)
Christine I ate at Chilis a week ago and Mexican the other day. I can pretty much eat when I want to now. Tacos and Fajitas mmm
Posted 7/18/2010 8:02 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks, Christine ... I see philly cheesteak on this topic and then you start another one with pork chops haha ... I would venture to think you are a tad hungry.
Posted 7/19/2010 4:03 PM (GMT 0)
after reading your post about pork chops and philly cheesteaks I couldn't get them off my mind. So, the only way to remedy that problem was to actually eat them ;) And eat them I did.
Posted 7/19/2010 7:14 PM (GMT 0)
HURRAY....I bet they tasted wonderful
Posted 7/19/2010 8:08 PM (GMT 0)
Congrads on your new pouch. My surgeon did not staple mine either and I had to pack it everyday. Boy, did that hurt!. Took about a month to fully close up.
Posted 7/19/2010 10:24 PM (GMT 0)
The idea of sticking my finger nearly two inches into a hole in my stomach was not the most pleasing thing in the world. It is surprisingly healing fast though. I expect another week or so and it will be closed up.
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