HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Three Days Post Surgery

Support Forums
>
Ostomies
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 11/12/2012 5:35 AM (GMT 0)
This will be a short update on my Protocolectomy with the end ileostomy.  I'd make it longer but right now I'm living in the wonderful world of pain meds and I'd like to stay here for a while.

Things went really well.  My surgeon discovered a rare opportunity to reduce the incisions and was able to do everything laparscopically (no robotics which was the original plan) and remove the colon and rectum through the anus. This left me with only 3 samll incisions plus the closure of the anus.  My stoma is about as perfect as it can be right now and I sure hope it doesn't change too much if at all.   The stoma is loud and proud.....and stinky but it works just fine.  Today I was allowed to begin my low residue diet and so far no problems. 

The WOC nurse will come tomorrow to school me on all things about the bag.  I already emptied once on my own.  I have also developed some redness around the stoma area so they've put me on an antibiotic and the WOC nurse will take a better look tomorrow when the bad comes off for a change.

So, for now thats the short update.  I'm walking the halls, have no more IV's and best of all......I actually feel no more disease in my body.  It's really, really gone.

Posted 11/12/2012 7:55 AM (GMT 0)
sounds so great so far. keep up the awesome recovery and you will break out of there soon. And I know what mean ... after my colon got removed the rest of my body felt like it was jumping for joy. It was weird.. I instantly felt better, even with surgery pain.
Posted 11/12/2012 9:36 AM (GMT 0)
Desert- Congrats on your successful surgery!! Like ddd, I can also relate to the feeling of the disease being gone. It was the first thing I noticed when I woke up from surgery - great isn't it? Just wait until you can start really eating all sorts of foods again, then it will get really exciting (and frankly quite interesting to watch how the different foods look as they come out, I must say).

Those stomas certainly seem to have a life of their own down there with their wiggles, farts, squirts, and noises, especially once you start eating more. That's why some people choose to name theirs. Mine is named Stella. :-)

Keep up with your pain meds as you heal so you can sleep comfortably and walk around as much as you need to.

Sleep, sleep, sleep; walk, walk, walk; chew, chew, chew!!

And keep us posted on your progress!
Posted 11/12/2012 2:12 PM (GMT 0)
Desert...YAY!!!! Sounds like everything is going really well. Stay ahead of the pain and don't let them release you too soon if it is not managed and under control. Get whatever oral meds you may need to help you upon discharge.

My husband was on a pain management program prior to surgery. I was very concerned he would have a hard time tapering. He did so well tapering and getting off everything that his doctors and pain mgt. Dr were very proud too but he did need the assistance. (He is no woos and lived with a lot of pain and discomfort even with medication. Once that rotten colon was removed it was instant in how he felt better overall and recovery was the easy part for him in comparison.)

Keep us posted and hope every day you get stronger and stronger. Pay attention to what foods you eat for the upcoming few months while your body adapts. And as mentioned...WALK, CHEW WELL and keep HYDRATED. Protein is your friend and helps speed up your healing too.
Posted 11/16/2012 9:51 PM (GMT 0)
Its now been a week since my surgery and I've been home for 2 days.  Being home is good and my husband is trying his best to nurse me, but I kind of miss the level of care in the hospital.  Right now my most pressing issue is pressure and a bruising sensation in the anal area.  The incision sites are OK but I do feel very sore across my abdomen.  I can only sleep on my back with lots of pillows.  Also, getting up to empty the bag is taking some adjustment since it's about a 10 min. process so no quick pee and it's back to bed.  I am fully awake by the time I crawl under the covers.  The smell is a real issue too and I'd apprecitate any suggestion there.

Home health care came out yesterday and said everything was looking good.  She made me change my bag so she could be sure I knew what I was doing.  Currently I'm using a 1 piece hollister which goes on easy and stays in place.  Fortunately for me, I have about as perfect a stoma as you can get (all the doctors and nurses said so) and the prediction is that it shouldn't change much and that someday I may be able to get the pre-cut bags if I want.  Still, I do have a phobia about getting the fit right cause the thought of getting any of those nasty skin issues scares me.

I'm able to walk just fine so I've been taking little trips down my driveway and back and since my driveway is very long, it feels like beneficial walk.

Has anyone tried the EZ VEnt for gas ?  I'd like to try them and was wondering if I should order them on my own or have my Home health care nurse do it.  She'll be back on Monday and I'll find out if insurance covers them.  My insurance so far is paying 90% of all durable medical equipment once we start ordering.

Sure looking forward to each week getting better. 

 

Posted 11/16/2012 10:29 PM (GMT 0)
I used the Hollister M9 Odour Eliminator drops and found they worked pretty good for me.
Posted 11/16/2012 11:11 PM (GMT 0)
The smell is much worse at first -- shouldn't be as bad after a while.... I use hydrogen peroxide (learned on this list).... about a cap full, comes in the first aide section at a drug store (brown bottle).

Glad you're doing well.

I didn't like the EZ vents, as they popped open w/me.... but others swear by them... something about my stoma location.
Posted 11/16/2012 11:47 PM (GMT 0)
Really, peroxide?? I am going to try that! You put a capful in each time you empty? Great idea....and so inexpensive!
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply