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Posted 12/17/2012 10:42 PM (GMT 0)
Well my memory is not that fantastic to begin with, LOL. But no, I have not noticed any effect on my memory. Was just like I woke up from a nap.
Posted 12/17/2012 10:52 PM (GMT 0)

bootstrap said...
@Marianne - The only thing I'm counting in days right now is how long it is taking my guts to wake up after surgery. The hospital won't release me until I can eat some solid food and pass it out my j-pouch. (Right now all that seems to be passing is bile for the most part, and in very small amounts.) My intestines are still paralyzed/shut down, so that is all I am waiting on right now. Trust me, I know I still have a long road ahead of me and will not be counting days once I'm out of the hospital. ;-)

So here we are, top of day six. Still no change. Still no gas. Still very bloated/distended. Still only taking in clear liquids. Haven't eaten any food in ten days. It kind of feels like it's right around the corner - I feel movement, and it feels like I might have to go soon... *Sigh* But for now still just waiting and walking, waiting and walking, waiting and walking...

.

Oh boy, I didn't realize you we're still in the hospital. Sounds like you are doing everything right. Keep walking....I'm sure it will all start flowing soon. :)
Posted 12/18/2012 12:44 AM (GMT 0)
Somedude, I am struggling with my memory and recollection of things. My surgeon and GI suspect that it is from the anesthetic and from the drugs they used to keep me in an induced coma. I am trying to complete a university course and have my final on Wednesday. I have been reading and re-reading my notes and nothing is sinking in. It's like I have never seen it before.

I went into my office last week and saw a lady that I meet with on a weekly basis and I could not remember her name. I was totally humiliated. I knew who she was but couldn't recall her name.

Both doctors said I should see improvement in 6 to 8 months...but that doesn't do much for my exam on Wednesday......

Kelly
Posted 12/18/2012 1:04 AM (GMT 0)

Somedude said...
Hey, do you have memory problems and stuff from the anesthesia? Do you feel like you forgot stuff?

The dad of a girl that works with me, had U.C., had surgery and has trouble remembering stuff prior to surgery. I think he was in his 30ies when he did it. Back in the 80s...

that's scary. shocked

I was under anesthesia for 8 hours for my 1st surgery. I was just discussing this with my husband yesterday. My short term memory is SHOT. Like really bad and I totally blame being under for so long. I never has this issue before my surgeries.
Posted 12/18/2012 1:16 AM (GMT 0)
I thought my step one would have been at least seven or eight hours, but it was under five. Don't know how she got it all done in that amount of time (proctocolectomy, j-pouch construction, and loop ileo). Wonder if it has to do with how long you're under.
Posted 12/18/2012 3:12 PM (GMT 0)
....aaand we have lift off!! yeah Yeah, my butt has basically been a faucet since around midnight. I barely get settled back in bed before I have to go again. I try to hold it for a while, but then I just get up and go because if I relax my muscles down there I will leak on myself since it's still straight liquid. Maybe I should just set up camp on the toilet for a while, LOL.

No gas yet, but things are finally woken up and pushing through, and the bloating is down. Woo-hoo! :-)
Posted 12/18/2012 3:16 PM (GMT 0)
Hey great news! Keep up the progress so you can get out of hospital and back home!
Posted 12/18/2012 3:27 PM (GMT 0)
I remember the post-op 20 times a day business. Just be sure you rinse with water after each go, because the post-op fluid is the nastiest to your skin.
Posted 12/18/2012 7:26 PM (GMT 0)
Yay! Sounds like you will be home soon now. I second the rinsing of your bum after each BM. And if you don't have some yet, get some Calmopseptine ointment. That stuff is a God send.
Posted 12/19/2012 5:07 AM (GMT 0)
Yet another step back. Was feeling great this afternoon, but by evening suddenly was super sick and spewing green bile out both ends again. 1.5 liters of vomit and a bunch from the behind, too. NG tube was discussed. Since I'm more or less resting comfortably now that it's all out of me, we're going to wait and see where things go from here, and if I start getting worse again, we'll go ahead with it. Surgeon will visit in the morning and decide if she wants to do some sort of scan to try and figure out the root of the problem.
Posted 12/19/2012 5:24 AM (GMT 0)
Bootstrap--
So sorry to hear about your set back. Hang in there and thank you so much for keeping us posted on all the ups and downs. I'm sure it's tough for you, but it helps those who are going through this or have loved ones that are going through this to hear about others' experiences. Thanks for being so open.
Posted 12/19/2012 6:58 AM (GMT 0)
what day are you on now? i was day 9. hopefully it all clicks in sooner than that! i hope you make it without having the NG tube. wish for farts! wish for farts!
Posted 12/19/2012 8:58 AM (GMT 0)
Hang in there, Bootstrap! We are rooting and praying for you.
Posted 12/19/2012 1:32 PM (GMT 0)
wow boot. so sorry definitely sounds like its scan time... hunting for a leak? hopefully nothing is wrong, but seems like they sure should be checking by now.
Posted 12/19/2012 2:00 PM (GMT 0)
hunting for leaks...that's annoying. I wouldn't want to hunt for anything.
Posted 12/19/2012 7:40 PM (GMT 0)
somedude if you were in boot's situation.. you would definitely want them to hunt for something. They need to figure out what is going on... leaks, abscess, strictures,... its gone on a bit too long to just wait it out for boot.
Posted 12/19/2012 8:15 PM (GMT 0)
Today is day eight. Have a CT scheduled, but told them there was no way I would be able to drink and hold down the two bottles of barium they normally have you chug for a CT, so they're gonna have me drink two cups water on the way down and do an IV contrast with that. I hope it is effective enough with just the water to see whatever they need to see in order to find out what's going on.
Posted 12/19/2012 8:32 PM (GMT 0)
It's just that she just had the surgery, everything is supposed to be working right, right off the bat.(hehe that's what I want)

It's like if I bring my car to the shop because it's steering to the right, they fix it, I get it back and it wobbles to the left...motherf.....

always f... something.
Posted 12/19/2012 8:35 PM (GMT 0)
Oh Bootstrap!

Greetings from Mississippi...I am SO very sorry for what you are going through...I had some of these issues last March 2011 with my colectomy, ileostomy, hysterectomy, AND a surprise diagnosis of ovarian cancer!

I have been following your story, and like you, I had the support of my parents. They were a Godsend. I had wonderful doctors and nurses too, so just try and hang on, it's going to be better, I promise!!

Thanks for doing the fabulous job you are of posting, I know you don't feel like it most times. It is good to know there are others of us who truly can sympathize with you. Misery does love company!

Merry Christmas, and love!!
Mollie
Posted 12/21/2012 12:37 AM (GMT 0)
How are you today? Had you on my mind!
Posted 12/21/2012 2:47 PM (GMT 0)
Hi boot, I follow your blog and was getting worried after so long without a post so I'm glad I found you here! I am thinking of you as well. I was talking about your case with my friend who is a surgical resident and he suggested asking your surgeon about Entereg if you haven't tried it yet. We are all pulling for you!
Posted 12/21/2012 4:52 PM (GMT 0)
Well, here we are on day ten. Several days have passed with no change: sill bloat/distention, little-to-no gas (all coming up and out as belches), inability to digest food, if I make an attempt to go beyond clear liquids, or if I even just wait around long enough, the digestive juices will build up on both sides of the blockage to the point of eventually making me feel incredibly sick and starting to spew forth all the digestive junk in there that's making me ill via vomiting and diarrhea.

Yesterday I had a CT scan to try and figure out what's up. What they found was exactly what I expected to find: healthy bowel, with the obstruction midway up (meaning well-above my former stoma/current anastamosis site). Everything above that obstruction was large and swollen with fluids, including the stomach.

So yesterday afternoon, I could start to feel that bloat coming on from those fluids that causes nausea and eventually leads to the vomiting. I told my nurses that it was time to start the NG tube.
Well, the insertion of it was pure hell. I'll just leave it at that. Once I got drugged up enough, I am able to tolerate it, but still an in pain and pretty miserable with it in. At least it will keep the intense vomiting away, though.

Oh, they also inserted a picc line so they could start giving me IV nutrition.

Other than that, I am just extremely tired all the time. Unable to keep my eyes open. Dozed off at least two doezen times while I've been writin this one update, so I'm going to get back to sleep.
Posted 12/21/2012 5:31 PM (GMT 0)
Bootstrap, I am very sorry that you are not having the easiest kind of take-downs. What you are describing happens sometimes, and it resolves in a matter of days. I know it's absolute crap with the pain and vomiting and nausea and everything else. But it really will resolve. You hit a speedbump. Sometimes it happens in the hospital and sometimes it happens after - I had no blockages and no gas but had to get through a hellish time beginning life with a jpouch as a sort of incontinent person. And your present obstruction will resolve too. If you can manage to sleep through most of this time till it's nearly over or at least on the way, well good. We're waiting for your next progress report.
Posted 12/21/2012 6:51 PM (GMT 0)
I know NG tubes aren't the most comfortable things, but they help. I had one in for a week one time. Did they give you spray to numb your throat? If not, ask for some. Makes it a bit more tolerable.
Posted 12/21/2012 9:20 PM (GMT 0)
Getting the throatspray twice a day.
Was running a slight fever earlier, and now WBC is high, indicating infection, so they're sending me out with another order for anorher CT scan to check for pooled fluid in my abdomen. Can't keep my eyes open still. More sleep.
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