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Posted 12/21/2015 8:08 AM (GMT 0)
So had my para stomal hernia repaired and also had the remaining anus removed and sewn shut. Just wanted to give a thanks to Christine and Pat for their fine recommendation for Dr Fichera at UW. He did a wonderful job. He was able to do mine a little differently. After the removal he cut around the opening and used a purse string stitch to close the space. I had no pain and almost no drainage. Didn't even need to put any drain in it. He said when it heals it will look like a regular anus and you won't even be able to tell anything was done. He said he can only do it this way sometimes, it depends on your anatomy and how much skin you have available. The hernia still hurts, surgery was amost 3 weeks ago. Especially where they put the mesh but I am off all pain medication. The surgeon is happy with the results. I had two feet of bowel that had pushed through the opening. He was able to do it laparoscopically thankfully. I do have to wait two more weeks before I'm allowed to sit on my fanny, which is the biggest inconvenience right now. Also interesting is they used a new kind of mesh and the surgeon said he really liked it. Two layers, one is a biologic which breaks down over time and the second layer is thin but is what stays permanently.
Posted 12/22/2015 4:01 PM (GMT 0)
Mebythesea, congratulations that you had a successful surgery. So, you had anus and rectum all removed?
Posted 12/22/2015 4:18 PM (GMT 0)
Congrats! It sounds like you're doing very well. I see a lot of people say it's a tough procedure but you seem to be handling it extremely well :)
Posted 12/22/2015 4:19 PM (GMT 0)
That is good news! When you say you had two feet of bowel removed....did you still have some of your colon left after your first operation? Sometimes I get confused with all the different types of operations in here..lol. I still have my anus, as I may have mentioned to you. There is only a few inches in there, but it is diseased. I have a milky discharge which comes out my vagina..go figure. This has been going on for quite awhile. I have had numberous biopsies done and seen my gyn doctor and had tests done in that part. No one can figure out WHY this is coming out my vagina!!!! Long story short...I got another opinion from the head of colorectal surgery at Cooper Medical Center in Camden...he agrees with the surgeon I am currently seeing....no operation. He said it would be too much of an operation for me. Both surgeons agree my original surgeon, who retired in 2013, did a good job and they say they would have done nothing differently. Well...as long as I have no pain, no pressure, no bleeding...guess I leave well enough alone. However, I do need to have yearly biopsies. I am 69 yrs old and NOT looking for further surgeries anyway.
Posted 12/22/2015 8:08 PM (GMT 0)
Answers4me2- Yes had all of the remaining anus and rectum removed. Glad that is over, was dreading it.
NSSG - I was more afraid to have the anus part done than the hernia, I have read so many on here having problems. I think the way he was able to sew me up made a huge difference.
Christine - The two feet of bowel was small intestine that had pushed thru the hernia. They pushed that back into place and stitched the muscle over it. Then placed mesh over that and stitched the muscle to it. Not sure why they wanted my anus out and they want to leave yours as we are in a similar situation. I suppose because of the degree of inflammation. My was still severe and you said yours was mild so maybe that's it. In my case they said the risk ok cancer was too great to leave it. Also said they couldn't do it later because of the mesh they placed. Turned out the Dr was able to do the anus part all from the back and did not need to go into the pelvic cavity to do it. Just glad it's over :)
Posted 12/23/2015 12:08 AM (GMT 0)
When I saw the pictures they took when they were doing the biopsies...sure looked to me like it was moderate/severe, but I am not a doctor. My surgeon classified it as mild/moderate. Apparently, they never know what they are up against once they get in there, so, therefore, they told me it would be too much of an operation for me. The explanation I was given was that they would have to cut from the pelvis all the way around shocked . Nah, not for me! They also said that sometimes people have even more problems afterward...I think I know what they meant by that...you know, drainage tubes and all. smhair So glad all went well for you.
Posted 12/23/2015 3:44 AM (GMT 0)
Dr fichera did my total coectomy 5 weeks ago. He did An awsome job on me too. :)
Posted 12/23/2015 3:55 AM (GMT 0)
IndianaChrohns - Happy you had success with your surgery. His nurse told me people come from all over the world to see him. He grew up and trained in Italy and then was in NY before coming to Seattle. He seems to be very talented. Picking your surgeon is just about the hardest part.
Posted 12/28/2015 8:38 PM (GMT 0)
I am so happy that Dr. Fichera did such a great job. I can't praise him enough. I was in bad shape when he did my hemicolectomy and he saved my life. I had no problems at all after the surgery. Then I went back after 5 months to have my anus and rectum removed. He ran into some complications with it because my diseased rectal stump had adhered to my vaginal wall. Surprisingly, with all that, I had no drains or bleeding, or any complications. There was just some pain and I couldn't sit for 2 weeks but everything healed up quickly. I had only one follow up visit with him after each major surgery, which was amazing, after all the scary stories I had read on the forum before going in for my surgeries. I am so happy that I was able to give you his name and am hoping that anyone in the Seattle area who reads this will know that there is a great surgeon out here that they can trust.

Pat
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