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Bad cramping after takedown surgery

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Posted 2/18/2015 11:40 PM (GMT 0)
I am home now from my takedown surgery. Old ostomy site doesn't hurt too bad. I get little twinges of pain here and there from it. The part closest to my belly button is left open. Hardly any opening there anyway. They rest is stapled shut with 4 staples. They get removed on my 2 week post op appt. it hurts a little but not huge. Most pain is cramping. My stomach cramps pretty bad. Gets a little better when I go to the bathroom and have a movement but still pretty bad. Surgeon said this should subside. Also had 2 accidents last night at hospital. He said that will stop soon too. Just wanted to know if anyone else experienced severe cramping and the accidents, and how long it took to get better? Thank you!
Posted 2/18/2015 11:47 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Amanda. I didn't have accidents, but I had a lot of cramping. Walking is the very best remedy for that. I walked a few times a day around the block, and was pretty constantly walking around the house. The severe cramping went away in a little less than a week for me, but I still would get mild cramps for about a month after my reversal.

I remember the open wound, too. That is one bizarre feeling. The surgeon showed my wife how to clean it out each day and it was a trip to see the swab disappear into my abdomen.

Wish you quick healing!
Posted 2/19/2015 12:27 AM (GMT 0)
Hey Amanda, I'm about 15 days post takedown surgery and yeah I had cramps for about the first week that seemed to be gas pain that has pretty much passed, as far as accidents yeah I keep reading how no one had any urgency or accidents but I have and in my opinion it's about strengthening the muscles around that area again. I'm doing the kegels daily and it seems to allow me to hold things in longer each day, though at night in bed it can be a little tricky, granted I had a 3 step and about 15 months with Ileo's so I dont think my muscles are up to par. :P

Post Edited (Virdent) : 2/18/2015 7:18:01 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 2/19/2015 2:20 AM (GMT 0)
I never really had any gas pains per se, but I know others have posted about them being pretty unbearable at times. For me the first month or so the majority of the time I went to the bathroom after takedown was really because of gas, but it was never painful. Just pretty abundant.

As far as accidents I havent had any since the first week post op.
Posted 2/19/2015 1:50 PM (GMT 0)
I had some gas the first week or so but that went away. It was hard for me to figure out whether it was gas or general pain from the surgery (my ostomy closure site hurt quite a bit for about 3 weeks but is fine now). I have not had any daytime accidents but have had some while sleeping. Doc told me same thing...it should go away in a few months as the sphincter muscles get stronger. I have found that if I don't eat anything in the evening (say after 7) I don't have accidents. Gotta give it time...you only had your surgery 3 days ago!

Vicki
Posted 2/19/2015 4:51 PM (GMT 0)
Amanda, cant halp you with that but hope you feel better soon. k
Posted 2/19/2015 9:06 PM (GMT 0)
I had bad spasms (for lack of a better word) for about a week and a half. They weren't really cramps. But it would feel like all my insides would contract for a few seconds then let up and it would do it over and over again. It was really annoying. But then one day it just stopped. Not sure if that's what you are experiencing but it does all calm down as the healing process takes over. Just keep in mind the first few weeks are pretty crazy. So don't panic or get too upset over what's going on right now. It's all part of the healing process.
Posted 2/19/2015 9:36 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks everyone. I think I've just been through so much and was so excited to have the reversal that I expected everything to just be better right after. I wasn't expecting to feel this bad right now even though I had another surgery just because I was expecting this one to be so much less than the first. I guess I just have to get through the pain as best I can and believe that everything will be better soon.
Posted 2/19/2015 9:57 PM (GMT 0)
I felt the same way. This whole process takes just as much of a toll on us mentally as it does physically. But soon you'll be able to put it all behind you. Just know you aren't alone....we have all been there and got better.
Posted 2/19/2015 10:26 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you(:
Just wondering about the possibility of blockages after the reversal. I am on vicatin for pain and have heard taking your pain meds can make it easier for a blockage to happen. My cramps subside after taking my medicine and I have been trying to not run to the bathroom all day today. I've only gone twice today which seems like very little since most people say they go a lot after the surgery. Just wanted to know what the likelihood of getting a blockage is right out of surgery and if it is something I should worry about.
Posted 2/20/2015 12:51 AM (GMT 0)
I wouldn't worry too much about blockages. Take your pain medication as prescribed by your dr. No sense suffering needlessly. After takedown I only needed the pain meds for about a week then all the pain subsided. As long as you're eating appropriate post takedown foods, you'll be fine. Chew your food well too. It's been over four years for me a knock wood....I've never had a blockage. And I'm not particularly careful now either! I eat all kinds of bad stuff...popcorn, nuts, ect. Some people are more susceptible to obstructions because they have too much scar tissue. But that's not the norm. Was your surgery open or laparoscopic? Laparoscopic procedures greatly reduce the amount of scar tissue.
Posted 2/25/2015 12:51 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you for the great advice(:
My first surgery was both. I had 3 laproscopic holes and then my incision that was like a c section. This time was through the stoma opening. I think they may have cut it more for better visibility so I think it was open.
Cramping is a little better. Still hurts very bad but it is less frequent. I can at least function a little now. My first few days home the pain was constant. At least I can see a little improvement and hopefully won't have any pain soon!
I am worried though about not packing the opening right. When I took it out at home there seemed like a lot was packed but when my mom and I do it, it is hard for us to put a whole lot in the opening. Is there a certain amount needed or as long as something is there it's okay? It hurts to pack it as well, not sure if it's normal.
Posted 2/25/2015 2:01 PM (GMT 0)
The pain I had from the takedown was worse than the initial surgery (which didn't seem possible but was!). Surgeon explained that their were adhesions which had to be forcibly separated and the j-pouch moved to the correct position. So even though there was no incision (just the stoma opening) a lot had still be done down there!

For packing I wet the gauze with saline and push it into the opening with a q-tip (which is how the nurse taught me to do it). And make sure the gauze is wet when you remove it...way less painful! The pain completely went away at about 3 weeks. The first couple of weeks it didn't seem like it would ever heal. But the last week or so it's getting smaller every time I change the dressing...I'm guessing another week and packing will be done. One other thing...make sure to remove the dressing before taking a shower. For the 1st 2 weeks, I left the dressing on in the shower and then removed it when I got out. When I went for my follow-up, they told me to make sure to remove dressing first. Then let water and soap run over the opening. This has definitely made it heal quicker (or at least it seems that way!).

Vicki
Posted 2/25/2015 4:05 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks a lot Vicki! I will have to shower without it then. I get worried doing that since it seems like it wouldn't be good for shampoo and such to run into the opening, but it must be okay! It usually gets really wet anyway since I work the tape off while I'm in there and then just take off the rest when I get out. But, I will see if showering without makes a difference. I also noticed that it comes out easier if it is wet, learned that after changing it dry the first day! How do you know when enough gauze is packed in there? Do you keep going for a while or as long as you get a corner in there it's okay? Getting my staples out a week from today, how does that feel getting them removed? You'd think after all we have had to go through the pain from removing staples would not even be on my mind, but I'm still a bit of a scaredy cat when it comes to any of this! Thanks again!(:
Posted 2/25/2015 7:08 PM (GMT 0)
I had 5 staples...2 on left and 3 on right. One hurt a little (because it was healing already) but the rest were fine. And it took about 10 seconds total so no big deal :)! The nurse taught me to push enough gauze in with the q-tip to fill up the entire hole (and to make sure it was tucked up in places that weren't quite as visible (I stood in front of a mirror so I could see better). I use the 4 x 4 gauze pads and cut them so that the strip I'm using to pack with is about an inch wide. Right now very little gauze goes in cause the hole is maybe only 1/4 inch deep. Figure in another week or less I'll be done with the packing (when I asked the surgeon when to stop packing he said when gauze wouldn't go in anymore...duh...guess it was a bit of a stupid question :)). BTW, I thought the same thing about the shampoo, etc. which is why I kept it covered. Guess that's why I'm not a medical professional!!!

Vicki
Posted 3/1/2015 7:55 AM (GMT 0)
I spent 3 years with a colostomy after my sigmoid burst, and i had lots of complications. I wasn't a candidate for a take down until my stoma prolapsed and I was in danger again. I had my takedown January 2nd of this year. So now after an open take down with 55 staples and an open gallbladder removal, I was excited to lose the bag and wear jeans again. But I instantly got an illeus, and after 10 days I returned to the emergency room due to excruciating low cramping spasms. They come in waves like hard labor, curling me up in agony and reducing me to tears. They have lasted from several minutes to 15 hours depending on my level of activity prior. Sexual activity or a short walk produce a lighter attack. Anything strenuous, or walking several miles triggers spasms so intense that I can't walk, or eat, or talk. Just crumple up clutching my low pelvic area and bawl and pant through the waves. It happens daily now. Nothing relieves the pain. Not even spending the whole day in the bathroom, with very little, but frequent results. And I am still only tolerating a bland low fiber diet. My vit D, potassium, calcium, vit B are depleted. I'm exhausted and feel weak. Sorry, that's not the inspiring success story I'd like to tell, but I am very lucky to be alive. I crashed during the first 2 surgeries and my odds were low with this one, but I made it with flying colors!
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