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Surgery date finally here

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Posted 7/10/2013 12:17 AM (GMT 0)
Well its arrived, my surgery date that is! Been stewing over this for months now and will be having a proctocolectomy and end ileo on Thurs!
I'm scared witless and not sure whether to be happy or sad. Happy that if alls well and the crohns doesn't flare up somewhere else I will be off the meds, but sad that I have struggled a lot over the past 10yrs and now, when I'm feeling ok, I make the decision to give in and opt for surgery.
In an odd sort of way I'm also feeling sad that I'm getting rid of my colon etc because the crohns routine has become a way of life.
Anyway i face the future with trepidation but hoping it is better. It will certainly be different!
I've taken on board all the advice many of you have posted so I'm more prepared than I was 4 months ago. Thanks and here's hoping!
Posted 7/10/2013 12:31 AM (GMT 0)
You shall prevail and be happier and healthier very soon.

Best wishes for a speedy recovery and prayers for minimal complications.

Quality of life is what you need to focus on.

B

Posted 7/10/2013 1:14 AM (GMT 0)
Keep your chin up :)
I can understand the feeling of sadness in leaving your typical way of life with the "chrons routine". Change is never easy for humans, even if it's anticipated to be a good and healthy change for ourselves.
I have the same procedure coming up on Monday morning - hope you can post a follow up :)
Posted 7/10/2013 12:51 PM (GMT 0)
Best of luck! I had UC, but I have to say that as soon as I woke up after the surgery, I felt better UC wise (Obviously, the surgery pain was there) As time went on and the pain went away, it was so nice to get out and do things again while feeling good!
Posted 7/10/2013 1:00 PM (GMT 0)
Best of luck with surgery tomorrow, and you don't have to choose between happy and sad, you can feel both at the same time (something we didn't learn in kindergarten....)

Surgery is not "giving in." You're making the best choice you can among the available options.

I have had sadness about giving up the "Crohn's routine," in that I used to know all the nurses etc when I went in for various things and now I don't.... it's outweighed by the happiness of feeling better and doing other things besides going to the doctor (or the bathroom).... but that doesn't mean it's 100% happy and 0% sad.... doesn't work that way.

Hope all goes very smoothly.... I found feeling better quite astounding.... I'd forgotten what it felt like.... hope that happens for you too....
Posted 7/11/2013 12:29 PM (GMT 0)
Good luck today! You will have downs as well as ups for a few weeks but within around 2 months you will be 98% recovered and enjoying life free of that 800 lb gorilla... I insisted they take photos of my colon so I could say a final goodbye post surgery- half tempted to frame it and put up in the bathroom lol.
Posted 7/11/2013 4:51 PM (GMT 0)
Good Luck today!!

Remember to walk, even though you won't feel like it, it DOES make a difference.
Posted 7/11/2013 8:19 PM (GMT 0)

Best of luck and hope you can give us an update once you are feeling up to it.

YES, please do WALK as soon as you can and as OFTEN as you can.   With my first surgery [colon resection] I walked just as soon as I could get up and had no complications.  A year later with my second surgery [the one you are having] I was so sick and weak going in that I did not walk as much as I should have forced myself to do.   It made a huge difference in my recovery and I did develop complications with my second surgery.    I may have still had the  issues, but wish I had forced myself to walk the second time.

Posted 7/13/2013 6:16 PM (GMT 0)
Many thanks for the support. I survived the experience! It was a 9hr op as apparently my colon was a bit of a mess. So I did make the best decision which makes me feel good. They did it all via keyhole and I have a very neat anal wound. I was in the High dependency unit for 24hrs as the op finished really late.One drain which came out today. Epidural for pain relief which so far is magic. Stoma is working well and I have eaten some rice pudding.
Apart from a little nausea and low blood pressure and O2 levels I'm fine. Have been walking and emptied my bag. Next thing to learn is how to change it.
I was petrified going into surgery but everyone was so caring and understanding.
Here's hoping the progress continues and I'm sure I'll have my down days but this is my new life so I'm determind to get on with it.
MM516, hope this is ok for a follow up. It really is more scary going into it than it is post op. You will be ok.
Posted 7/13/2013 7:09 PM (GMT 0)
Wow, eating already, fantastic!! Sounds like you are doing great, keep it up. Don't be surprised if you get "the blues" a little bit in the next few days... I was on Cloud 9 for the first couple days after my colectomy, so happy, feeling great, AWESOME epidural and well functioning stoma, and then I came down from my high a bit and couldn't stop crying! It's OK! Lots of changes over the next few weeks.
Posted 7/14/2013 1:33 AM (GMT 0)
I've been looking for you to post! 9 hours -wow, mine is supposed to be 6 - 8 tops - but I am having the hand assist laparoscopic procto-colectomy done, probably much quicker.

36 hours on the dot right now before my procedure starts! 9:30 am on Monday :)
Posted 7/14/2013 5:34 PM (GMT 0)
Glad all went well Scarytime, you sound very positive and with that you will be just fine you have done really well and should be really proud of yourself. here's to happier & healthier days ahead! Bev xx
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