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Final surgery-rectum removal-Questions regarding recovery

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Posted 1/22/2007 7:15 PM (GMT 0)
Howdy!

So I had my colon removed a little over 2 years ago and I was originally going to have a j-pouch.  But when it was determined I have Crohn's not Colitis the j-pouch was taken off the table.  My surgeons want remove my rectum since the disease has moved on down into that area.

My question is-how long was recovery?  Are there any specific questions I should be asking my doctor?  Any suggestions would be helpful.

 

Posted 1/22/2007 8:19 PM (GMT 0)
i had the surgery done dec 30/06, and my surgeon has put me off work until april 1/07. so there ya go, 3 months if everything goes well.

--matt
Posted 1/23/2007 9:11 PM (GMT 0)
Matt-

Was it the just your rectum that was removed or did you have the protocolectomy in December??? Because if it was the the proctocolectomy perhaps my recovery will be quicker?
Posted 1/23/2007 9:20 PM (GMT 0)
It will probably depend upon how the surgery is accomplished. Does the surgeon go in through the belly? Losing the rectum should not be painful but the incision will be.

Sue
Posted 1/24/2007 3:26 AM (GMT 0)
Yes, they said that they will have to go through my belly.
Posted 1/24/2007 8:10 PM (GMT 0)

EricaM said...
Matt-

Was it the just your rectum that was removed or did you have the protocolectomy in December??? Because if it was the the proctocolectomy perhaps my recovery will be quicker?

i had a proctolectomy.

i don't know if your recovery will be quicker, i doubt it, because...the incision in my tummy is all healed up already, (albeit still sore) and my stoma is doing very excellant. the rectum area is a different story though...it's taking forevvver, i'm having leakage and a couple areas have separated...the docs say i will definitely need until april 1 for this to heal up. on the plus side i have no pain in the bum area!

--matt
Posted 2/4/2007 10:40 PM (GMT 0)
I had my second surgery (proctectomy) 6 months after the first. I healed in about 6-8 weeks, but I wasn't employed, and I don't know if I could have gone back to work at that point. My incision healed just fine without gaps, and no leakage, etc. The big problem I had afterwards was a significant disruption in the pelvic floor muscles (due to trauma to the nerves when they had to go through it to take out the rectum) which no one had warned me about, and I couldn't pee! I had to cathaterize myself frequently for several months afterwards, and was supposed to have gone for pelvic floor physical therapy (really! lol) but was too overwhelmed by too much other stuff going on in my life, the therapist was on the other side of town, etc... so I let it go, I never went back after the first session. I felt fine though, so I didn't really worry about it after that.

Now, 1 1/2 years later, my pelvic floor is apparently "falling", and I'm having generalized cramping and aching in that area. Most of the time after intercourse I really cramp up for quite a while, and I also had a much worse period this last time - I started cramping 2-3 days before, and cramped well past the first day. I'm going out of the country for 3 weeks in 2 weeks, so can do nothing about this until I get back.

Anita S
Posted 2/4/2007 11:09 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you so much for the information.....I have read articles on how this surgery effect women differently (especially when it comes to having sex) . I will look into getting into therapy. I guess I should not sign up for hustle up the hancock which will be 4 months after surgery (it's runnig up 52 flight of stairs for lung cancer-even healthy I would't try the full 92 flights!)
Posted 2/7/2007 3:11 PM (GMT 0)
I had the total proctocolectomy March 17, was in the hospital for 6 days, home till May 1st, went back to work 1/2 days the first two weeks and full time after that. I was feeling pretty good but looking back on it I wish I had taken another 2-3 of being home before starting back. I really don't know what my rush was because my job and everyone I work with is very supportive and understanding about all of this. I think I have a very overdeveloped work-ethic (thanks Mom and Dad) that sometimes gets me into trouble with this disease. As others have said, take it SLOW. You'd be amazed what tires you out even 2 months later - vacuuming (I never know how to spell that) the living room carpet would put me on the couch for 2 hours afterward!
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