Takedown Success - So far so good!

My husband had his takedown on 5/2 and I have to say thank God that everything is going great. The surgery was quick and the doctor told me that he didn't have adhesions or anything when he put everything back together.

When he woke up he was in moderate pain but only used his morphine button twice and then told them he didn't need it anymore. After that, he pretty much had no pain at all. We got him up and walking the first night but he did get slightly dizzy and sick to his stomach when we came back to the room. But we believed it was because of the morphine. After he stopped using it we didn't have any more problems with nausea.

He started doing clear liquids and was tolerating juice, coffee, and broth. We could hear things going on in his tummy but no pain or discomfort. We continued walking and getting around. Then on the morning of day 2 they removed his catheter. A few hours later he was peeing on his own.

Today, he had scrambled eggs for breakfast and the doctors said if everything stayed down he could go home today... Even though he hadn't farted yet.

about an hour ago he got up to use the bathroom and he had his first bowel movement!! So, we didn't have any problems with gas pain or anything.... So, they are pretty sure now he can go home today.

I am so relieved after the nightmare of his first surgery. This has been a crazy journey so far but I'm really optimistic now that his pouch will work out. Now I just gotta go buy him his special cream and stuff. They also said he just needs to stay away from raw fruits and veggies for awhile cause his intestines may have a narrow spot where they put him back together.

I also had some great advice and support from everyone here! Thanks.

Glad to hear it all went well. I was very relieved that my takedown surgery was smooth and easy too. I had a rough time with the first surgery so I was hoping for a break! Sounds like it's smooth sailing for him and it only gets better. Just go slow with food the first couple of weeks and especially these first few days. He will get a sense when he can become more adventurous with foods. Get him some Calmoseptine for his butt. You can get it at most Walgreens. Happy healing!

Now 2.5 years post takedown I usually average around 4-6x a day. Sometimes less and sometimes more.....it can depend on what I eat. Immediately after surgery it was about 10 to 12x a day but quickly slowed to what I am now. The good news is its not like going to the bathroom with UC . There is no pain, no cramps....just sit and go...bam you're done! Now I just go whenever I have to go pee even if I don't have the urge, there is usually something in there to empty.

Awesome...thanks guys!

Yea, we are home now... and its like he never had surgery? In and out of takedown in 3 days and he's pooping like normal already. Its like a pudding consistency and he's gone maybe 7 times total all day long? Usually to pee but he just tries to get some poop out too. Not having any problems with urgency or anything ... only thing is he has a moderate discomfort in his tummy with his muscles when he tries to get up from a seated position or tries to lay down.

Honestly I'm shocked... I'm just waiting for the ball to drop or something but I'm really hoping after all we went through to get here its just a blessing. :)

Yea, you're right... however, I guess we had a small wrinkle in the success... or at least I have some questions... his poo has gone from just pudding consistency to both solid formed stuff mixed with pure liquid... Its kind of strange to have both at the same time, is that normal? He is also having some abdominal pain now that he didn't have before. Its not constant though... its like when he can feel something moving in his intestines then it hurts but once it gets past the sore spot it goes away. Then, he'll also get stomach pain which he has figured out means he should go to the bathroom and then after he goes the pain goes away. He also seems to get really uncomfortable when he lays down flat in bed.

I'm making the assumption that this is mostly cause of the surgery and his insides are still a little raw? The place where his stoma was is also quite a battlefield. The surgeon closed it up really awkwardly and I know its gonna leave a horrible scar. He stitched it in the middle but also fused it together? So there is a huge scab on it and the skin is all buckled. The area around it is really tight and slightly swollen. I also assume this is to be expected but the only strange part is that there is a tiny area underneath the main scab that keeps opening up. So, like when he moves the wrong way it will start bleeding a little bit. Its not bad but it doesn't seem to be able to form a scab where it starts to bleed. So, I bought some of that "new skin" stuff and only sprayed it on the tiny area where he keeps bleeding.

BAH! And just as I write this he told me the new skin didn't hold and now its bleeding a bit again. Its not a whole lot but the blood is actually kinda thin and watery ... I'm wondering if he still has heprin in his system? Is this something I should call the doctor about or is just putting a bandage on it enough?

Thanks Marianne,

He is mostly pain free but it seems like the big pain comes when the stool is passing through this one part of his intestines. Its actually quite an intense pain for like 10 seconds and then he can feel the stool bubble through the area and then the pain goes away. The doctors did tell us that he has a narrow passage of bowel where they sewed him up and to be careful what he eats and to make sure he chews a lot... so, I'm wondering if this is the pain he's having as the stool (food) passes through this area.

I'm not sure if its gas pains he is having or not but aside from this random pain, he is doing ok. His stomach muscles are still really stiff and its hard to get up and down but that's expected since its only day 4. But he's not having any nausea or vomiting or anything.