Total Colectomy part 6

Amira - Thanks for the info.  If I need a good flushing out I know what to have.  I love grilled and sauteed onions.  Was planning on fixing them tonight with steak.  I ate lettuce yesterday.  Not much, but a little.  Have not had any problems, so guess what I am taking for lunch tomorrow.  YES, a salad.  Let us know how the corn did.

Cathy - Thanks for your thoughts, they must have helped me.  I will be thinking of you on Thursday.

Zoe - How is the knee today?

I ended up doing a little bit of a sprint yesterday.  Had to take the good car out of the garage when a heavy rain started and I thought it was hailing.  Ran out there and got it inside.  No hail. The little run did not hurt.

I will check back later.

Kelly

Zoe-- it's my understanding that that's all they are asking for. They don't want alot of civilian people flocking to the area. Given your post op status, in front of the television is right where you belong. We sent boxes of clothes to the Houston Goodwill because we heard they were providing clothing to the evacuees and accepting donations.

Did any one do a colonic as part of the prep? I'm concerned about the prep not working enough. The last colyte I forced down didn't touch the blockage I still have. The surgeon told me to take phosphosoda Wed afternoon and clear liquids all day Wed. I don't think she fully understands my situation. I did a 3 day prep for a colonoscopy (which did work). It takes alot out of you though.

Were ya'll nervous too? Or is it just me? Getting my life in order helps keep my mind busy. I am not worried about the actual surgery, I don't think, but rather what it will be like after. The bid D forever doesn't sound very good. Those of you that had a total- how many BM's are you having in a day? Especially Somer, you're the furthest one out right now.

Enough of that. Pity Party over!
Back to CNN and Katrina- my daddy always calls me Katrina.
Thanks for all the support.
Cathy

Kelly- thanks for the reality check, I appreciate it. As to the kidney area pain- let's start with the obvious questions: Does it burn when you pee? Do you feel like you need to urinate but can't? When you're finished urinating do you feel like you still need to go more? Does your urine have a bad smell?

Are you taking lomotil or anything to slow down the stooling? If so, stop. If there's anything that you know makes you go, i.e. sunny D, miralax, tomatoes, etc. take/eat/drink it.

That's all I can think of to suggest, maybe Emma and Somer can add more insight.

Until later,
Cathy

Ladies, help me out here. Neomycin taken by mouth. Some of you have done it before surgery. I am only familiar with the neomycin in topicals or eye drops. Even the 04 PDR doesn't have oral neomycin. Does erythromycin do the same thing? and Amira did you take 3 tabs of metronidazole each time and for 3 times? I'll puke will 1 especially with not eating (liquids only). HELP my clock is ticking.
Thanks,
Cathy

Amira - I had heard of those excersises before. But, never really paid any attention to them. Now, I have discovered the site, but have not taken the time to read it. I promise to do that in the next couple days. Thank you very much for the information you gave. Really, I was not trying to avoid the subject.

Cathy - I have no pain when peeing, no foul smell or anything. I will put a call in the surgeron later today. I did get a prescription for dicyclomine. It is supposed to relax the smooth muscle. I will take one of these.

Getting late all. I must get ready for work, check ya later.

Kelly

Cathy, I took 3 tables of each of the two meds 3 or 4 (don't remember) times a day the day before surgery with the two 1.5 oz. phosphosoda, and nothing but clear liquids.  I thought the pills would make me sick too, but they didn't.  I'm sure we all think our surgeons are the best, and I'm no different.  Everything just went so smoothly for me and continues to do so that now I'm a believer in him and his medications.  Good luck!

 

Kelly, I just wanted to make sure you saw that post.  It's been on my mind because I've been working with a client using the same exercises, and wanted to know if they were benifiting you in any way.  But, hey, you don't have to tell me about having other things on your mind and being busy.  I can totally relate!

 

Amira

Emma, thank you for the kind words   I bet you're anxious and excited about grad school starting tomorrow.  Hope you get off to a great start!  I have access to my course this Saturday and have decided not think about it until then.  I'm so tired from this past weekend -- my hubby has had the flu, yet we still had 10 people for dinner last night -- I just want to sleep for about 3 days, as does he I'm sure!

 

Amira

Hi everybody,
I feel like hell. Today is day three of the 3day prep. I'm tired, and I have brain fog. I have to get my mom from the airport soon, I'll have to take the ground roads in case I have to stop (and go). Still no medical release but they're just waiting on the CXR results. All else is a go.

I've decided on the total- ileorectostomy, that the surgeon suggested. But when I called the surgeon, her assistant quickly changed the topic and has probably forgotten to tell her. I'm thinking of the note thing that Amira did.

At this point, I just want to get it done with. I have a real hard time just sitting around. I also find it hard to let go of control, or having decision made for me by other people. I'm just weird like that. If I could fix this problem by myself, I would.

I worked late last night, so I took the mag citrate late, so I didn't sleep much last night. I fell asleep at 11, but was awoken at 2 running to the restroom, and I was up and down for the rest of the night. This totally sucks. I met a friend for breakfast and brought my own jello. I had to run to the restroom there, does the noise get better after surgery? I hope.

Gotta run.
Cathy

Hello everyone. 

It has been a very long time since I posted.  To sum it up...I did a transit colon study to determine whether to do a subtotal or hemi-colectomy and the surgeon screwed up on the RX -- he blamed it on the hospital but it was actually his office's fault since I had a copy of the RX -- and the test was a waste.  I waited three weeks for the surgeon to review the films, which he did not.  Finally I called him and his nurse said he referred me back to my gastro.  I was crushed!!  I finally see my gastro and he tells me the surgeon recommended me for surgery???  Now, I was just plain mad.  What a waste of my time!  Luckily, I already had a second surgical consult scheduled in the next two weeks.  Surgeon #2 was great, so bye bye #1.  Long story short, surgery is next week, Sept. 14, the anniversary of the day my Dad died.  I am freaked about the date.  

I am happy, nervous, excited, scared, thrilled, terrified... and most of all worried that it won't happen. 

Tomorrow I have blood drawn and a meeting at the surgeon's.  The surgeon's assistant that handles the surgeries and insurance has still not called my insurance company.  She told me she would do it two weeks ago, then last Friday when I checked with her she said she would do it that day and call me back -- not.  She was also supposed to have mailed me paperwork two weeks ago that she had also not done.  I talked to her today and she said she would try to speak with my insurance co. by my appt. time tomorrow.  This is really making me nervous and frustrated.  I need to know if insurance is going to pay and if so, what amount I have to pay.  FYI -- she never did mail the paperwork so I am picking it up tomorrow.  It has been almost a month since she scheduled my surgery and gave me a time table of when each component leading up to surgery would be done.  Here I am exactly one week from surgery and she has not done anything like she said she would, and she was so nice in the beginning but not now.  Has anyone else experienced this fun?  Thanks for letting me vent, I need to get some frustration out.    

A huge THANK YOU and HUG to all of you!  I have gone through all the postings 2+ times and everything ya'll wrote has really helped me prepare.  I have a copy of the low residue diet, my grocery list is written with shopping planned for this weekend, my hospital bag list is written and will be packed this weekend, Scarguard and lightener ordered for delivery on Sept. 13, and so much more all thanks to all of you!! 

Again, my sincerest thank you to all of you! 

 

Catch up with you later after tomorrow's appt.   

Callahan

Amira:

You are so right!  I am not going anywhere until she gives me the scripts, post-op info. and calls my insurance company.  I plan to grow roots at her desk if I have to!  I have to know if insurance is going to cover it and if yes, how much I owe, or if they say no (which is something I am trying not to think about).  She is stressing me out and that will not help tomorrow when I have blood work done and a blood pressure check.  

I am already worried about my levels and blood pressure.  My sister-in-law's family, and a huge family at a grand total of 80 including relatives, all live or should I say lived in New Orleans.  Her, my brother and nephew (they live in FL) were visiting us in AZ when it happened.  All her family evacuated to Houston prior to Katrina and are safe, but have lost everything and I mean everything.  They lived in St. Bernards Parish in Chalmette, one of the worst areas hit by the floods.  Our donations go to her family instead of the relief funds.  However, I did donate to the fund at church and did a separate donation to The Humane Society of the US that is rescuing animals from this nightmare.  This is so horrible and it is only going to get worse.   

I was thinking of taking the assistant some yummy goodies in the hopes it might help.

I feel like a frazzled wet noodle or an old tethered shoestring that has seen better days, and it shows.

Callahan

Callahan-- where do you live in AZ, if you don't mind my asking. I live in AZ also (PHX). I grew up in New Orleans too. My brother was hit in Baton Rouge, but the rest of my family have all moved out of N.O.
Cathy

Callahan, I'm so sorry your family experienced such horrible losses.  But, thank God they are all safe.  I'm sure you and your relatives are going through an array of various emotions.  But remember, you can't be of help to others without first taking care of your own well-being. 

 

Callahan, bringing goodies to the assistant is always a good idea!

 

Cathy, I wish you well!

 

My thoughts and prayers are with you both as well as with your families,

Amira

Very quick post this morning because I have class in an hour! 

Cathy - good luck with your surgery... I hope everything goes well and please keep us informed!

So embarrase yesterday, all the stress had me having a touch of the diarrhea, so I was late for one of my classes because I couldnt get out of the bathroom.  I had a little nervous breakdown yesterday, just feeling very overwhelmed with all of the assignments and homework I have to do in the next 14 weeks, but now my stubborness is kicking in and I am telling myself that I can do this!

Gotta go, spending 9 hours at the hospital with the nursing students today..

Hugs,

Emma