Just an update

Had my pre op screening yesterday, got my stoma site marked up.  My surgeon said she just had a first surgery w/  pouch patient leave the hospital in 2.5 days!  That's pretty amazing to hear, I didn't think it was even possible to leave that soon!  She also said you can drink right after surgery and eat the next day; that they don't wait for bowels to wake up or anything.  They are making it sound like a vacation, not surgery

I had my first surgery of three last Wednesday and they sent me home in about 2 days as well. I was pretty surprised because everyone had told me I'd be in the hospital for at least 5 days to a week. But they seemed really confident that I should go, even though I hadn't even had a chance for a solid meal. But it's ok, I have been doing alright at home!

Good luck with everything, though! Are you excited?

I had emergency surgery in May, 2010 to create a temporary ileostomy and I was out of the hospital in just a couple of days. However, I had a couple of relapses which sent me back in on two different occasions for about two and a half weeks. I was also in for five days in July, 2010 when I got the ileostomy taken down (hurray!).

The biggest problem I faced when I got released the first time is that I just don't think I had enough education on what my wife and I were supposed to do, what I was supposed to eat, and how, in general, I was supposed to handle things. I don't think it helped that for one of those days I was in the hospital, I was so doped up after the operation that I couldn't remember a thing they told me. The end result was that I ended up not eating the right stuff. For example, we thought that spinach mixed in with some salmon as a salmon burger would be great for me. We later found out that spinach is pretty bad for an ileostomy. Another example was that they suggested I drink Gatorade to keep hydrated. What they didn't tell me was that I needed to cut the Gatorade with water to make sure I didn't get too much sugar since sugar just zips right through you and takes all the food with it. So, the end result was I got dehydrated and ended up back in the hospital and, just for good measure, I had a small bowel obstruction at the same time. They stuck an NG tube into me to get the blockage taken care of and the net result of that was I ended up aspirating something into my lungs, and that resulted, a week or so later, in pneumonia and another trip to the hospital.

So, I guess the moral of the story is to make sure YOU feel comfortable that you know what to do once they say you can go home and, if you don't feel comfortable, tell them and make sure you know what you need to know before going home.

I wish you good luck with the your procedure.

I am super "anal" lol when it comes to things.

Part of my husband's situation complicated things by an extra 2 days was the pain management part of things. Since he was on a fentanyl patch, oxycodone and gaba pentin prior to surgery he was not discharged until they got him off the IV meds and properly put on oral meds so he was not in a painful state. So his stay would have been 6 days versus the 8 he was in for. Since the Mayo clinic is almost 3 hours away we also stayed for 4 more days next door "just in case" any complications developed as I would have been a basket case to have to drive back there if something went screwy after being discharged.

Fortunately he tapered and got off the pain meds very successfully with no ill effects within about 6 weeks which was really great.

I would go really slow on the eating too so it transits easily too. Smaller frequent meals, chew chew chew, and lots of water and walking.

We left our hotel room at 6am which was about a 7-8 minute walk to the hospital area for a 6:30 appt. They took him promptly prepped him etc. and the first incision was at 8:32 am. My husband's surgery was more involving and the Dr finished up about 4pm and met with me directly afterwards at 4:20 It was the longest 7 1/2 hrs of my life with him in surgery with updates every 2 hours.

The 3 hr drive home really went very well. We stopped at a rest stop on the highway 1/2 way home to get out and walk and go to the men's room and even went to a seafood place on the way home which was too cool actually. He didn't eat a lot - had some fish, scallops and shrimp and a few fries -- we split a meal. Of course he chewed very slowly and a lot. But it was just so awesome to do that and we also stopped to visit with my sister who had emergency surgery 3 weeks earlier before we came home that day. He was pooped out for sure but in a good way.

The inflatable waffle cushion under his butt, a soft bed pillow to position to make him comfortable and a small soft travel pillow I brought to put in between the seat belt and he was very comfortable. I took bumps really easy and slow and no real herky jerky moves with the car either...lol. (10 weeks later we got into a rather bad auto accident and he had NO complications whatsoever from it which was a miracle. We were t-boned on the drivers side by a car of young gals not paying attention...he was driving! I thought for sure he was going to be in some kind of trouble. Plus the wafer and pouch never moved or was compromised. I thought the impact was gonna have him in a bit of a mess.)

You will do just fine. You are certainly taking the "what if" precautions to give you peace of mind. You may find after 5 days or so after discharge you are doing well and can go home. You will know what is best. We stayed for 4 days as I probably mentioned...hubby at first thought it was not necessary but when we left that day he admitted that any sooner would have been too soon for him as he needed those few days to get stronger. Plus it was VERY cold and our hotel connects with the Mayo Clinic so every day we could take a few long walks from the hotel to the clinic thru the connecting hallways. I had a wheelchair with us but he never needed to use it. If we were home he could not have done that as it was just too frigid outside right after Christmas even though we were in Florida. So the ability to walk for those 4 days really helped too.

How many steps are you having your surgery done in? I had 2 step surgery so I had my colon removed and the creation of the j pouch at the same time with the diverting loop ileo. I was in the hospital for 11 days. I wish I could have gone home in 2! I guess if you are just having the colon removed then, it's much quicker to bounce back. My recovery was very tough but I still would do it over again in a heartbeat!

6-8 hours is right...I was on the table for 7 1/2 hours. I don't remember much of the first 2 days after surgery b/c I was pretty doped up on the pain meds...which is a good thing!

I didn't eat too much while in the hosptial (icky food anyway!) but by the time I got home I was eating small normal meals with my family. I remember stopping at Subway on the way home from the hosptial and devouring an italian sub!

All in all, it really wasn't that bad. Just keep your eye on the prize: No more UC and no more nasty drugs!!! Sending you well wishes for a speedy recovery!

6-8 hours is a long time! My surgery was under 2 hours. I didn't feel like eating until day 3 and then only small amounts.

Sue

Well, I made it! 7.5 hour surgery and they only removed my colon. I have to return for the j-pouch to be created. Im still in the hospital day 5 but am on oral meds so I expect to be D/C soon. Getting in and out of bed is the hardest! No UC pain makes it totally worth it though!!! Thanks for the well wishes!

Glad you're doing well. More Yay's: Yay!!!!

hey one more YAY for you! ;)) for leaving the hospital!! and many moreeee.... (YAYS)

Hi Trying,

well you got back to the forum quick enough!
Why didn't they make the pouch this time?
I was on prednisolon at the time of my colectomy, and that is why they are letting that heal before forming the pouch, so I'll have to have the three operations.
I've also heard that they are in general getting better results from three operations than from two, so the trend now is to do the procedure over three operations.
Wishing you all the best and stay in good spirits!
B'Derech

welcome home and I hope you get a qualified nurse to help you with your changes to make it easier on yourself if you have nobody to assist you