Colectomy

I am new to these forums and am really nervous about my upcoming surgery    I will be having a colectomy removing my whole large intestine and reconnecting my small intestine to my rectum.  I will be going in for surgery on Monday February 10th.  Is there anything I should prepare myself for?  Diet changes?  I know my bowel movements will change and be more frequent.  Just trying to get as much information as possible before I go in.  I can't really find anything specific on the net anywhere so I figured these forums would be my best bet. 

I am a 30 year old female and am having this surgery because I have had 100+ precancerous polyps in the last 8 years. 

I myself have an ileostomy, but I know that people who have their small intestine reconnected say that they can't handle spicy food as well. I don't know much else about it...
However, I hope your surgery goes well! Do be sure to bring more than you think you want to the hospital...I always take toiletries and clothes because I prefer not to wear hospital gowns when they don't make me.

Thank you all for the tips! I already have a list going of what I want to bring to the hospital so that is growing lol. I have already started freezer meal prepping so my boyfriend (who is horrible in the kitchen) and my 6 year old daughter will not starve while I am gone or dont feel up to cooking.
I think I am more nervous than I need to be (I stress over everything...even when there is nothing to stress about). I know this is what needs to be done, I have been dodging this bullet for almost 10 years and it is about time I just go through with it.

OnlyMe83 said...
I am new to these forums and am really nervous about my upcoming surgery [img]/community/emoticons/shakehead.gif[/img] I will be having a colectomy removing my whole large intestine and reconnecting my small intestine to my rectum. I will be going in for surgery on Monday February 10th.

Thats funny. I'm also scheduled for surgery (j-pouch construction) on the 10th at Cornell!

ActiveUCer said...
I've become such a hospital pro that I now know that I need to bring an extension cord. That way you can keep your phone near your bed where you can read it ;)

Funny you mention that, I found an extension cord helpful connected to the IV pumps, that way I was able to go about my room and bathroom freely without needing to disconnect and draining the battery which results in annoying beeping...

Hi OnlyMe :)

I'm 19 and had my emergency colectomy/end ileostomy on Jan 2nd, 2014 after an acute flare up of Ulcerative Colitis.

Everyone's different, but I'm getting on really well with my new little stoma friend. After the operation, be prepared to be fairly drugged up for a few days - I had a full laparotomy rather than keyhole surgery, not sure what you'll be having - but taking the painkillers kept things at a manageable level for me after the op. Put it this way - even though it was an emergency and the complications (severe anaemia and malnutrition) were pretty intense, I was updating Facebook after a few days and so long as I was dosed up on time, my pain was kept really under control.

There's a few foods I've been advised to avoid for the first 6 weeks after surgery - things like greens, wholegrain bread and brown rice (basically high fibre things), veggies with skins, and nuts. These things can apparently cause blockages (but blockages very often resolve on their own and aren't serious). After 6 weeks I've been advised to re-introduce everything I used to eat, but one thing at a time to see if it causes me a problem.

Be aware of foods that cause wind - more of an inconvenient than a 'don't eat' - anything that makes you windy now, still applies post-op!! :P

My stoma was huge and swollen after the op, but this was partly to do with my malnourishment. 3 weeks post op it's now shrunk a great deal and is a lovely little size! So if yours happens to be quite large at first, they do change shape quite rapidly post-op (nearly every day in fact)

I'm not the most experienced ostomist but my surgery was very recent so might be able to help more with questions about that. Feel free to PM me with anything you like :)

Best of luck! xxx

Welcome to the forum

I'm so glad your going ahead with the surgery. There was a young girl on here awhile back with FP. She was 19 and had a temp stoma for 6 weeks. She's doing great, we are friends now despite living in different areas. Her mother died of this, so her urgency was eminent.

Glad to hear that you will be having all this done in one step.

I had a colectomy with ileo rectal anastomosis. It was ruff at first, but hitting the pain pump is a blessing. If that doesn't work too well, ask for a break through pain medicine. I had morphine with Tramadol. Didn't walk until day 3. Walk alot, eat slowly and carefully. Even through there is food on your plate, be mindful of the veggies, fiber and sugar. Bring slippers, chapstick, soft tp, squirt bottle, tucks wipes, butt cream, pads for bm accidents (if you forget the aid can go to postpartum for you), reading material, all cords for your devices, pajama pants to walk in, and I'm sure if you forget or need something, loved ones can get it for you. If I think of anything else, I will add.

Take care of yourself and wishing you my best!

Those genetic testing are not always accurate. As you now know. It is better doing it now before something happens. It's life and death. Sorry to hear of all those that have passed on in your family.

A couple of years ago, my surgeon told me of a current 38 year old male patient. 25 years prior during his fellowship, he removed his mothers colon for FP. The mother had recently passed of other causes, and this son has been complacent and unstable with life in general, letting his FP go. He also didn't have insurance, making it difficult for my surgeon to get a hospital in assisting and doing it for free. My surgeon had to make compelling arguments to 2 hospitals that if not done, and his severity and family history, he'd soon die. One hospital agreed. His FP was the worst my surgeon has seen, he has even written a paper on this case and presented it to Mayo during an FP symposium. During his colectomy, he needed a temporary ileostomy and my surgeon wasn't sure if it would be possible in having it reversed because there was something also wrong with this stomach. But months later, my surgeon successfully reversed it and he's doing fine. Point being, not good waiting too long.

Relax this weekend and wishing you all my best Monday! Keep me posted and keeping you in my thoughts!