Just Home from a Total Colectomy and Have Questions

Hey everyone,   I just had a total colectomy (Last Friday) and this is my first day home. I’m very happy I had it!!!  Having about 2-3 BM a day now, but the first few at the hospital were nothing more then watery blood, which I'm told is normal. Before surgery I dealt with SO much bloating...pregnant looking bloating. But now , after surgery , I'm still very bloated    Has any one else gone through bloating and distention after surgery? Will it go away?   Danielle

Hi Danielle,

I am glad that you are feeling okay from your surgery.  The bloating is normal, you just had major surgery and a lot of manipulating of your insides has occured!  It is natural for your stomach to be swollen but it should go away within 2 weeks or so.  I had my surgery on March 13 and was also quite swollen and tender.  Give yourself lots of time to recover and don't push yourself...it takes quite a while to get back to feeling normal and to get your energy level back.  I wish you luck in your recovery.

 

earthgirl

Thank u all for ur kind words. I know I just had major surgery and there was a lot of “adjustments” done that need time to heal, but going in with really bad bloating and being coherent enough (once I was!) to realize I’m still bloated was a bit of a bummer. Actually the bloating has gotten better since yesterday, but I’m sure those of you who have had this or any surgery, ur overly cautious. Every time I pee or try to cough I’m thinking that I may tear something. I find it easier to brace my arm up against my stomach while “pushing” and using a pillow on my tummy when I feel the need to cough or blow my nose.

rbowden:

Trust me I understand!! There have actually been a few times, pre op, that people came over and touched my belly and asked when I was due. No kidding, people thought I was pregnant. At times it really pissed me off but I learned to joke around about it and would say that I’m due in May or something like that. The bloating I have now is very different. It’s concentrated around the area that was operated on (around 2 inches above the belly button and about 4-5 inches below) Not pregnant looking though at all. Very tender, more like a big bruise that’s swollen without the black and blue marks.

For me, I got the operation date really fast and only had around 5 days to prep. I had a pre-op visit with my primary, blood work, ekg, chest xray, etc.. All normal stuff b4 surgery. You get the option to have your own blood drawn for transfusion if needed or another with the same blood type. I chose someone else’s because it would have also delayed my surgery. I think that’s how it always works.

Then I saw my surgeon for a pre-op visit and to get all the prep directions. I almost went laparoscopic but decided on that visit that open would be a better choice for me.

I was put on a liquid (not clear) diet for 4-5 days b4. I was given NuLytley and began the “evacuation” process the morning b4. I started at 9AM, but more then a 3rd way through I realized it’s not going to work for me and started cleaning myself the ways I know that worked prior. Wasn’t 100%, but good enough.

The day of, my parents came w/me to the hospital. I was already registered so I was taken upstairs right away. I waited for what seemed a very long hour then my name was called. My parents came in with me while I got weighed and got my vitals checked but were told they had to go b4 I entered pre-op.

I changed into a gown, paper shows and hair cover, like a paper hair net. The nurse started an IV and put these knee high stocking like things on my legs which improve circulation which is good considering u’ll be lying down a lot. On top of the stocking was a machine, like a BP machine also to improve circulation. The anesthesiologist came in and asked me questions and gave me something to relax. Then in about 5-10 minutes I was wheeled into surgery.

My doc was there and said hi, asked how I was doing etc..I had no idea that I was getting the anesthetic through iv but b4 I knew I was half awake, dopey. I remember some but not all.

The next few days are kind of a blur, but I did get up the day after for a walk down the hall and showered the day after that. I walked a bit everyday, a couple of times a day.

I was on a NPO for the first couple of days, then a liquid diet. As soon as I had a bowl Movement I was put on a low fiber diet - restricted diet (still on it) but honestly I wasn’t hungry (still not very hungry)

My pain was managed intravenously and now I’m taking 1-2 Vicodin every 4-6 hours as needed.

I’m getting really tired now, sorry for writing a book. If you want to know more just let me know. I wrote a lot because I would have loved a step by step to help me understand what to except.

I do have advice though, your behind will burn and the TP at the hospital is not soft at all !!! Bring ur own if you can

BTW, Hopeful2BWell walking does help, but I'm really nut passing that much gas yet.

Danielle

thank you for the inside look at things. i needed that kinda info.  my email is [email protected].  i am really nervous but so ready if that makes since. if you feel like it you can email me. it is nice to have someone to chat with about all this stuff. people do me the same way. come up and touch my belly. some days i can take it ok, depends on my mood and how i feel as to how i take it. lol