Next in line for surgery

 I had a colon resection done in 05 with a temp Ileo. The pain was really bad at first but I was dumb and asked to be taken off the morphene because I was scared I would become addicted.  Once I got out of the hopital I was much better. I got tired very easy for a week or so but otherwise I bounced right back. Once it was time for a reversal I was used to the ostomy. If only I knew that a few years down the road I would get UC I would have left the bag in place.

     My surgeon did not sew the anus closed and I am having problems in the anus.  Two months after surgery he had to drain a hematoma in the anus and I believe it has come back.  I still have mucus coming out too.  My surgeon said there are more complications when the anus is NOT sewn closed.  Perhaps he meant because of this drainage?  Where would it all go? 

oh and i had my bottom sewed shut and that was so hard for me to wrap my head around, i just couldnt' figure out how you take a hole out! and it did hurt at first, but mostly it just itched for a while

You are doing the right thing, and everything will be fine. Try to focus on the fact that you are going to be cured from UC in just a few days! Never again will you have to sprint to the bathroom or have pain after eating. The pain from the surgery is temporary and will be managed with pain medicine.

I recommend asking your CR surgeon for a pain pump, so you can press the button and get a dose of pain medicine as needed. If you didn't have one, you would have to call the nurse and wait for them to show up with medicine, which sometimes can take a half an hour, if they are helping another patient.

Bring a robe and slippers and WALK, WALK, WALK as much as you can after surgery. It will help wake up your small intestine, so you will start getting output. The sooner that happens, the better. Walking helps get trapped gas to move through, too. It can be so painful when it's trapped, so also bring some chewable Gas-X with you. I had to ask the nurse for some, and it took several hours for her to reach the doctor to get their approval and then get it from the pharmacy.

Please remember that the bag you will have on after surgery is NOTHING like the one you will be using on a regular basis. There is this huge wax ring that they use after surgery to attach it to you, and it hurts like crazy to get it off, because it pulls every hair out on your belly! I highly recommend shaving the side of your stomach where the stoma is going to go before surgery. If it's an ileostomy, then shave to the right of your belly button. Also, ask the nurse for adhesive remover wipes to use to remove that wafer. It will save you a lot of unnecessary pain.

They will hook you up with an ostomy nurse in the hospital, who will show you what you need to know and do and will give you free supplies, and we are here to help, as well. If you can bring your laptop to the hospital, that would be good, so we can keep in touch.

Those are the most important things I can think of right now. I'm praying that your surgery goes perfectly!

Cecilia

a little more about the shaving, if you don't already have your area "down there" shave it before you go in! they will try to use a cheap razor, dry down there! that's what they came at me with,but i already had it shaved, thank goodnes! the last thing you need is razor burn too!

     I slept the night before surgery...don't know how I did it ..lol.  You will be fine.  I'll be praying for ya!!!