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Total colectomy Part 15

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Posted 7/19/2007 12:19 AM (GMT 0)
Maybe my dr was a little too "happy" with his sigmoid scope because I was screaming and the nurses were holding me down. I am not usually a baby. I have been through natural child birth and I have to say that the sigmoid was pretty close to about the same amount of pain. But again, my dr was trying to dialate my anastomosis because it was too narrow so maybe that was the difference.
Posted 7/19/2007 1:04 AM (GMT 0)
Amey

Sorry to hear that you had to go through so much pain. Once the Dr seen how discomforting it was why wasn't he able to give you somthing.
Posted 7/19/2007 2:13 PM (GMT 0)

Hi Amey,

I was thinking about what you told us about your flex sig and dilation.  I don't know exactly what your situation is but as for me, if the dilation was so painful that they had to hold me down, I would have told them to stop and then would have found a new doctor.  In today's state of the art medicine, no one should have a procedure that causes one so much pain.  It sounds to me that the doctor did not want to be bothered giving you sedation.  That is mean and cruel.  We don't have to take that kind of abuse...we have already been throught the ringer.

Sorry to get on my high horse but doctors aren't G-ds even if they may think so.  I have left doctors who didn't take me seriously let alone caused me pain.

What have you other guys experience d in this this regard.

Phyllis

Posted 7/19/2007 2:21 PM (GMT 0)
I've never had one myself, but the doctors here will advance the scope until it's too much for the patient and then they're done and stop the procedure.

Posted 7/19/2007 8:16 PM (GMT 0)
Phyllis,

It is my belief that most doctors become desensitized to their patients. My doctor was trying to see if he could widen my anastomosis because I had not been able to pass solid foods for nearly 5 years. (I did not wait 5 years to have the doctors fix the problem, it just took them that long to listen to me when I told them that I could not pass solid foods after I had my colectomy in June 2001). Needless-to-say, my doctor could not widen the area and my colectomy had to be revised through surgery which I had June 2006. I appreciate your words about this because I too thought this was a completely invasive procedure and was worried about future treatments. I have been considering trying to find a new doctor. Thank you for your kind words.
Posted 7/20/2007 2:24 AM (GMT 0)
Amey

You had your colectomy in 2001 was it a total? How do you feel now any regrets? Did you have to change much about the way you live? Sorry to ask so many questions but you are the only person that I know of that had the surgery more than just a couple years ago. One of my concerns about the surgery is how my body will be in ten yrs, also that is why I am having tbe surgery because I dont want to be where I am now or even worse in ten years. Sorry for rambling on.
Kimber
Posted 7/20/2007 2:56 PM (GMT 0)
Kimber,

I am not the person to ask when it comes to having a colectomy. My surgeon performed a colectomy in 2001. I immediately became very ill and went back to see him nine days after I was sent home from the hospital. My surgeon said that I was impatient and I needed to go home and wait. After months I still could not move my bowels and I was vomiting. The surgeon sent me to a GI specialists and told me that he "fixed me." For years I worked with several GI specialists and they never could figure out why I could not eat solid foods. After my colectomy I could not pass any solid stools and so my foods had to be liquid only. Finally, in 2005 I was rushed to the ER where I had a multiple bowel obstructions. While the operating surgeon was inside my intestines attempting to fix the obstructions, he noticed that my anastomosis was extremely tiny. Which means that in the place where my small intestines is connected to my rectum there was only a teeny tiny whole made for things to pass. This was the reason I had been sick for so many years. The stupid surgeon who did my colectomy in 2001 did not make my anastomosis large enough for foods to pass. So, finally in 2006 I had to have the colectomy redone and the anastomosis widened.

Again, my experience is not typical and I am not the best person to ask. I wish I could sue this doctor but it turns out all doctors who works for Shands Hosptial in Gainesville are immune from liability. A patient can only sue if the hospital is negligent not the surgeon.
Posted 7/21/2007 12:12 AM (GMT 0)
:-)  Hello and nice to see so many new people - My last post was at the end of June!!  I had to read thru a few pages just to get to know all of you.  I will agree with so many of you, this is the best Forum and the sweetest and most helpful people I've ever met.  A true blessing from God!!

My story goes all the way back to when I was a toddler.  I suffered 43 years with constipation - going once a month if I was lucky.  The last two years pre-op was an absolute nightmare.  After many tests I was finally diagnosed with colonic inertia and had my total colectomy 11-09-06 which was the best decision I've ever made in my life.

My surgery was done laparoscopic - supposed to be a three to four hour surgery, however, due to my colon being so large and loopy - it took 8 1/2 hours to remove it.  My hospital stay wasn't very long - went home on day four.  I was up and walking (very slowly) about six hours after surgery and continued walking every two or three hours, which I think make my hospital stay as short as it was.  The nurses were extremely surprised by my determination and effort.

I will not lie and say it was easy - it wasn't!!!  This is a HUGE surgery and everyone handles it in their own way.  I felt like a truck had ran me over.  It was a good 12 weeks before I began to even feel "normal" and a good 16 weeks before all the soreness and tenderness went away.  But, if given the chance - I'd do it all over again in a heartbeat!!!!!!

For the first few months post-op I was going anywhere from six to eight times a day, give or take a few.  Now I go about once or twice a day.  I began taking MiraLAX once a day again (pre-op I was taking it three times a day - along with other stuff) as they discovered my small intestine has slow transit time about a month and a half ago when my transit time slowed down to two to three days. 

I'm doing very well and I'm so thankful that I've gained a life I never knew existed!!  I wish all of you the best of luck and know that you will have a new life after surgery!!!

 

Posted 7/21/2007 10:58 PM (GMT 0)
Kimber, it sounds like you have a vert nice nurse.  I'm impatient too, and am just ready to have this surgery and feel better.  Mine is August 8, so I have 2 more weeks of waiting.  I am scared, but the hurting right now outways that.  I have been in bed all yesterday and today, and last night I really thought that my colon had ruptured because I was in so much pain and cramping.  My husband feels bad because there isn't anything that he can do to help me and I'm scared to take any tylenol this close to surgery.

 

I pray that your surgery goes well whatever day you have it.  I hope that you can continue writing on this board, so that I can see if our surgery recoveries are alike.  Can I ask where you are having surgery?  I'm having mine at Cleveland Clinic at Ft. Lauderdale.  It's a long way from home, but I've heard good things about it.  My mom is going to stay with me while I'm in the hospital.  Times like this, I love her being around.

 

 

Posted 7/22/2007 1:50 PM (GMT 0)
Hi everyone:

Just wanted to say hello and hope is all is well.  I'm going to see my

surgeon tomarrow about the hemorrhoids, he thinks it might be

thrombosed hemorrhoids. My surgeo is a hour away and it hurts

to sit, I'm going to be in alot of pain when I get there.

Does any one know if they would take care of the problem the

same day

Any way I hope all is well and I love all of us being able to chat

about all the same problems, nobody would understand what

we all go through but us.

Peace :-)

Posted 7/22/2007 2:09 PM (GMT 0)

Hi April,

I also am having a hemorrhoid problem and would appreciate it if you can tell us what advise the surgeon gives you.

As for those awaiting surgery, remember to do a big grocery shopping before hand..toilet paper on the top of the list...This way your pantry is stocked and no one has to go out right away to do the shopping.

Good luck all

Posted 7/22/2007 2:24 PM (GMT 0)

Phyliss:

Not a problem, I'm not sure what time my appointment will be

he is totallly booked.  It sucks that I have to drive a hour

away........  Let you know tommarow :-)

April

Posted 7/22/2007 5:36 PM (GMT 0)

Hi April,

I haven't had problems with them, but my husband has. Have you tried sitz baths? Those really help a lot. Adding epsom salt to the water is the best, but if you've had recent surgery, I'd just go with the hot water. You can do them every 15 minutes. As to if they can do something in the office, the answer is yes. It's called an enucleation. They give you a local and then removed the blood clot which is what's causing the pain. The relief is immediate. I've seen patients come into our office with them that can barely walk and they practically skip out the door when they're done. Oh, you might also consider picking up a donut pillow for your drive to the surgeon's office. Hope you feel better soon.

Posted 7/22/2007 10:11 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Everyone,

I haven't posted lately but thought I would say Hello to all the new people on this forum.

For those of you who had a terrible stay in the hospital, I am sorry to hear that. The nurses who took care of me were wonderful.

I also have hemorrhoids. I asked to have them taken off at the same time as the surgery but my surgeon would not do it.

I am 19 weeks post-op and I still have watery stools at times. This is mostly caused by what I eat and I have found that FAT makes it happen the most and I must say I need to get to the bathroom in a hurry. I need to watch my fat intake because even a small amount of Mayo will do it.

Anyway to all the new people who are awaiting their surgery you will feel so much better afterward. Having a BM without the aid of any fiber, pills, potions, etc. is so wonderful.

Everyone take care.
Posted 7/23/2007 5:11 PM (GMT 0)
flbutterfly

I hope your feeling better I'm sorry to hear that you are in so much pain right now. Just think a couple more weeks and your on to a new you. I am having my surgery in wenatchee its a very small town in eatern Wa. I could go to Seattle and have it done but it would be with Dr's that I do not know and its 2 1/2hrs away. My mother lives in brandenton Fl and she is going to come stay for 2 weeks to help me. I find out tomorrow the exact day of surgery.
Kimber
Posted 7/24/2007 12:24 AM (GMT 0)

Kimber, aren't moms great at times like these?  I'm glad that your mom is being with you (they make the best nurses).  My mom is staying with me in Ft. Lauderdale for 2 weeks, too.  I've never been to Washington, but I've heard that it's beautiful.  It's good that you know your doctor.  I hardly know mine at all, but he recommended this surgery, and he's well recommended so I'm putting a lot of trust in him. eyes I'll cross my fingers that you can have your surgery date soon.

To all of you veterans, I have a question.  I have to take four different medications every day.  My question is, how do you make sure that you're getting the benefit of your meds if you're having loose bowel movements all of the time?  I haven't found anybody that can answer this yet, but I'm wondering. confused

 

Posted 7/24/2007 1:14 AM (GMT 0)

Hi flbutterfly,

Concerning your meds, most are absorbed either in stomach or small intestines so you should be getting the benefits...but you should double check with your physician....

You could also google the meds and look in the descriptions and see where they are absorbed..

Phyllis

Posted 7/24/2007 1:22 AM (GMT 0)
Flbutterfly,
I take potassium, magnesium and other minerals daily to prevent having an electrolyte imbalance and going into the hospital. Because I do not absorb medications like I use to, I have to have blood taken every week at the lab and sent to my doctors to make sure my electrolytes are not too low. I have to do this every week for the rest of my life. If I do not, I end up in the hospital and nearly dead (which is where I ended up 3 weeks ago - ICU on life support). While I was in the hospital the doctors would give me an IV of electrolytes and I was only able to absorb about 1/2 of them. The doctors could not figure out how to help me store these meds. I kept asking them to please tell me what to do to help my body store my meds but they could not figure out a way. The only solution any one could come up with was for me to have my blood tested every single week for the rest of my life to ensure absorption. Then, if my blood shows that I am low, I can immediately increase my medications for a short period of time. I know this does not answer your question, but sometimes it is nice to know that there are others out there similar to yourself.
Good Luck...
Posted 7/24/2007 2:37 AM (GMT 0)
Phyllis,

Just wanted to let you know I saw my surgeon today and everything
was ok, no thrombosed or cyst. just very inflammed, he gave me
supporties, I'm supposed to see him next week only if I'm still having
problems let he will do a rubber band procedure. Not sure what that
is.
Do you.
Hope you are feeling well.

Peace April
Posted 7/24/2007 3:58 AM (GMT 0)

Hi April,

Glad to hear it was only inflammation...Thanks for the info...will try to find out more about the rubber bands

Posted 7/24/2007 6:23 PM (GMT 0)
My imagination tells me that a rubber band procedure would be where you might place a rubber band around the hemorrhoid to decrease flood flow in hopes that the hemorrhoid will eventually get smaller. Of course, I could be wrong. No matter what, the words "rubber band" do not sounds pleasant... YIKES.
Posted 7/24/2007 7:25 PM (GMT 0)
Hi

Went to gyn today for popst d&c visit and the first thing he said is how inflamed the hemorroids looked.  The problem with treating them he said, was the fact I go to bathroom 12-15X/day and that will be difficult...Will see after sigmoidoscopy...

Posted 7/24/2007 7:42 PM (GMT 0)
Hi everyone,

Well it's almost time, i have my pre surgical testing tomorrow and then 2 more days til the surgery! i am so nervous! i know i've already asked but can people tell me there experience one more time? i am really curious about the scar (my surgery is open), the recovery, how much i'll be going to the bathroom, if it will cause weight changes. please tell me everything you can possibly think of!!! i am getting so scared i can barely concentrate. is it really awful? i am so bloated and feeling fat and uncomfortable all the time, do you think that will go away after the surgery? i really appreciate any help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

by the way i had felxible sig when i was at the mayo clinic, into my large intestine not small, it was so bad i was screaming, hope yours is better!
Posted 7/24/2007 9:12 PM (GMT 0)
Rose,

If you look back I mentioned that my flex sig was horrid! The nurses held me on my left side and I screamed like a baby. I thought I was pretty tough until I felt that kind of pain. Then again, my backside has never been treated like an enterance, only an exit. I think that pain was much worse than my surgery pain.

Post surgery, I felt very sore. My stomach felt very sore and it hurt when I sneezed or coughed. The first couple days were tough but I slept through most of the day. The hardest part for me was (1) being hungry - I was not allowed to have any food, water, or ice for 8 days because my bowels were "quiet" and (2) feeling overweight - I gained 25 pounds from all of the saline flushed into my body during surgery so I was very bloated (I did pee most of the water out by the time I came home). My scar goes from my pelvic to the top of my navel. The doctors do not cut through your navel instead they go around it. I used to wear fitness shorts and a small sports bra to the gym but now I have to wear a tank top to cover my scar...no big deal. To be honest, I thought the surgery was easy to recover from. I walked 2 hours in the hospital from day 3 - day 9 when I went home. I gained a little weight after the surgery but not much...I went from 117lbs to 124lbs. But I am 5'6" so this is ok for me.

As far as bowels, I have very small and very few BMs in the hospital. In fact, I still struggle to have BMs.

What type of surgery are you going to have? Total Colectomy, J-pouch...?? Are you going to have a bag??
Posted 7/24/2007 11:01 PM (GMT 0)

Kimber, did you find out the magic surgery date?  I hope so, and that you don't have to wait long.  I've had to wait over two months from my scheduling.  My doctor was booked up.

To all of you that have had painful flex sigs I have learned from you.. I will definitely request pain meds.  I am sorry that you all had to endure that after all of this.  It appears that the doctors were very insensitive.

Rose, I will be thinking of you during your surgery, and I hope that all works out and that you have a speedy recovery (if not speedy, just more happy than you feel right now).

Amey and Phillis, thank you so much for telling me about the absorbtion of your medicines.  It has been a fear of mine.  Amey, I hate that you have such a tough time with your electrolyte balance.  It seems like it is a difficult thing to control after having a colectomy.  I have read alot of bulletins where others have this problem, but it didn't seem as bad as yours.  I'm glad that you can have it monitored weekly, though.  There's always some sunshine.  Phyllis, I am going to look up my medicines and see where they might be able to be absorbed.  I would never have thought of that.  I tried to google colectomy medicine absorption, but got nothing.

Friends, you're the highlight of my day.  I don't think that you can ever be educated enough for this surgery.

Wish you all well, tongue

Lori

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