Has anyone had a colectomy done before??? First time for me

Hello i am a 22 year old girl I have been living with chronic constipation since birth and have tried everything and anything. I have gone through so many laxatives I can't count. My mother has tried countless diets on me with high fiber and everything. My whole life I have been in pain and every time I go to the bathroom sometimes its not for weeks. When I do finally go its huge and it hurts to come out and I have to try and get it out with something. In the past year I have gone to this new doctor who has helped me a lot. I have been through every test there is for your colon. Both my endoscopy and sigmodoscopy and colonoscopy came back normal but it said I had mega colon. I had the marker test and that came back with colonic inertia because after the 5 day period I still had all 24 markers inside me. I have had an anal mamatory done which came back normal and a defecograpghy which showed I had a little leak but nothing serious. Ever since I can remember I have been bloated like I look like I'm 3 months pregnant but I am not and sometimes my breath even smells bad. I have been cleaned out countless times with a N/G tube and it did nothing afterwards as it went back to the same thing over again.
As of now my doctor told me that the only way to fix anything is to have a colectomy done in 10 days. I am very scared, excited and nervous all at once as this could solve all my problems.
What I was wondering is if anyone has had this before or even these symptoms? Has anyone gone through a colectomy and what was it like and the diet after the surgery?

These answers would be greatly appracited

thank you

I had this surgery for colonic intertia. It was done laparoscopically so there was no large incision. I also had no temporary ostomy, was re-connected during surgery. Had there not been a surgical error, recovery would have gone well, I was home initially within seven days but back in the day after discharge.

I did end up with two more surgeries. The first one was about three weeks later as I ended up with small bowel obstruction due to the ends of the anastomosis being twisted during initial reconnect. This was found during the second surgery which was done because the SBO was not resolving. This surgery was an open surgery.

I ended up with yet a third surgery four months later, exploratory, due to issues with not being able to eat solid foods comfortably. This surgery was also open. I was found to have tons of adhesions. The surgeon used SepraFilm on the third surgery. I have been fine ever since.

I list all of these things just to let you know things may happen but certainly my journey is the exception rather than the rule. Given all of that, I'm still glad I had the surgery. The discomfort you describe is all too familiar.

Hi Jacki - On June 25th I had a total colectomy for colonic inertia. I pretty much have or shall I say had similar problems. After the surgery the nursing staff woke me up and I said "you're done already". It was a 6 hour operation. My small intestines is now connected to my rectum. I was supposed to be in the hospital total of 5 days but my stay was a total of 14 days. It took extra time for my system to wake up. The day following my surgery I walked a little. I was swollen from head to toe. The third day my system did not wake up so I began to vomit green bile and was nauseated in the worse way. I am thankful that I was not given the NG tube although my surgeon wanted. For many days I was on ice chips. So far I lost 20lbs (not complaining about that). My bowel movements are anywhere from 6 to 12. I do have time to get to the bathroom. I now have a GNC Lean Protein shake for breakfast. It has 25 mg of protein and 24 minerals and vitamins. The taste is awesome. My hubby makes my homemade soup with lots of good nutrition stuff in it and I have just the liquid from the soup. For dinner I have no sugar added apple sauce mixed with ground turkey. Also delicious. I am walking better. I still get tired easily and take a nap when I can. I never took naps before surgery. I take vitamin D and C along with a chewable multi-vitamin. My recovery is different than many because I have Ankylosing Spondylitis, asthma, severe food allergies. I threw away my enema bag...yay!!!! I have at least five more weeks of recovery but each week I get stronger. I pray that my food allergies go away...time will tell.

Jackie - You will need to be on a low residue diet after your surgery. Saltines, white rice, ramen noodles and such. You will probably be on a morphine drip so the pain won't be too bad while you are in the hospital.

I had surgery on Wednesday and came home Sunday. Within two weeks I was back at work.

One piece of advice: Walk. Walk as soon as you can after surgery and every chance you get. That should help get your system moving.

Val I was actually wondering because I live in Miami the city of fun and I was wondering when it would be ok to go out and chill with friends and have a good time again?

Yea I hope so because I have such a sweet tooth. That's good only a month of recovery and yea 2 1/2 weeks after surgery I hope to be getting ready for the upcoming school semester as it is my last and I am graduating in December.

thanks val