Total colectomy Part 15

Phyllis, you've been a great friend.  I feel like I know you so well..  Your name will always make me smile, and yes will help to get me thru tomorrow and the days to come!  I am very blessed to have my mom and husband.  My poor husband has gone thru so much with me during this.  I can't tell you how many times he's taken me to the hospital for impactions, or taken time to help me with warm water enama bags just so that I wouldn't cramp all night.  He's been an angel.  Your daddy sounds like an absolute angel, too.  We all need as much support as we can get during times like this and as well, we have to encourage others, too.  You have been a wonderful source of encouragement to me, and I am going to stay positive and see this thru.  Forgive me if I upset you because I would never ever want to do that.  I just don't understand how any husband could dare to be unsupportive to you with all you have gone thru and the special person that you are.  How did you manage to get thru such a trying time without him being right by your side?  I think that I would wring my husband's neck if he copped out during this.  I do understand partially, though.  I am remarried.  My first husband didn't want anything to do with me when I developed depression.  It was like I had grown martian ears or something.  Sometimes men are the hardest thing to understand..  OK, I'll get off my soapbox now.. I'm glad that your dad was so wonderful and I hope that your hubby realizes the woman that you are now.

Lori

Hi Lori,

I had a bout of depression about 8 years ago and with a good counselor and med I am doing great.  But I did notice that after the colectomy, I felt even better emotionally, mentally and physically.  So I was just wondering if the colon toxicity was a contributing factor....

Irish mom, thank you... I'm on my way to the hospital in a few minutes.  I have to be there at 5:30am this morning..  I'm not sure when you're having surgery, but I sure do wish you all the best and more.. Believe it or not, I slept well last night, and was afraid that I wouldn't fall asleep..

Phyllis, I'm glad that you're depression free and have been able to feel better thru all of this.. You're a true Wonder Woman and a very strong one, too.

Robin, hugs to you...

Kimberly, I'll be crosing my fingers and praying too, for you tomorrow..

Lori

Phyllis - You've been a real blessing and asset to so many here.  I get the feeling that you're led here too to help and encourage those preparing for the surgery.  I know when I was facing this surgery, those who were still posting and encouraging help me beyond measure!!

You asked about being toxic and it possibly being related to the depression.  That really is a good question!!  Seeing my entire life was spend constipated, for me I don't know.  I do know that I've suffered many, many years with depression, anxiety, and OCD.  My OCD goes all the way back to grade school and the bouts of depression and anxiety about the same.  For me, within the first two weeks post-op, my depression went south and I felt more out of control then than I had for a very long time.  I also know the surgery messed up my sleeping cycle.  For the first three months post-op I was only able to sleep two or three hour intervals, which could have contributed to the hitting rock bottom with the depression.  Like so many other things with this surgery, no two people are alike.  I was also told that being under for the 8 1/2 hours that I was may have possibly thrown things off.  I was put on one more medication and within a month I started to feel somewhat "normal" again.

Lori - Thank you for the hugs!!!  Also, thank you for all the kind words.  I'm not quite sure what time your surgery is or if you will have a chance to read this, but in case you get the chance, in NO way do I feel upset with anything you said.  I was, and I guess I still am upset that my husband of 27 years handled this entire situation the way he did.  But what is done is done and nothing can change the past.  At least I am blessed to have the love and support of my daddy.  Sorry for the soapbox here!!  One more thing that upset me was the negative vibes from my husband that I should have been up doing everything I did pre-op within a three week time frame and I absolutely heard about it too.  I believe it was said that I needed to stop wallowing in my "surgery" - SAD!!

Irish - You too have been such a blessing here and you haven't even had the surgery yet.  You are sure no stranger to surgery and I'm so thankful you're on board with so much knowledge and the willingness to share it with us.  You are a true testiment of survival and this blesses my heart - hugs to you!!!    

Amey - I'm so sorry to hear you're sitting in the hospital waiting on your surgeon to return from vacation.  I'm sure you're having a flood of emotions right about now!!  Sorry to ask this....when was your surgery?  I don't think I would jump the gun on any decisions yet.  I don't blame you for not wanting a bag - I wouldn't either.  Surely there is away to correct the situation without such a drastic measure.

Did you begin to have problems with bm's?  If so, what kind?   

I'm so sorry that I cannot help but know you're in my thoughts!!! 

You and I are close in age and I can tell you that I never knew what it was like NOT to be constipated - I suffered all the way back to toddler age.  This was one of the best decisions I've ever made in my life.

I think all that in your neck and shoulders is STRESS - I've suffered with that as well.  This is a very stressful time no doubt.  Everyone is fearful of the "unknown" but within no time you will have regained a life you so much deserve!!!!

Keep us posted and if you have any questions - know someone on here may have an answer for you or can give you some advise.

Robin

You're such a sweetheart! I'm the one that is lucky to have found this site. I'm a member of a breast cancer forum where there are a lot of other forums, but there is nothing for colostomy, colectomy, Crohn's, UC, etc., people. Actually, there is a Crohn's forum but it's pretty much inactive. I always keep an eye out in case someone posts there, and then I refer them here. I'm thinking of maybe starting a GI forum there for the sole purpose of pointing people in this direction. I saw your other post where you mentioned your OCD. I also have it...I'm a checker. I can remeber my 'routine' as far back as the age of five; I'm 45 now. At it's worst I was taking 100 mg of Prozac a day for it. I had to stop taking it prior to one of my surgeries and just never started it again. I still have issues with it, but it's not half as bad as it was. It used to take me four hours to check everything before going to bed and Lord forbid if one of my kids interrupted me during that because then I'd have to start all over again. It's a vicious cycle.

Amey

I'm so sorry to hear that you're back at the hospital again, but since you have an obstruction it's probably the best/safest place for you at this point. If your surgeon is returning on Thursday, I would hope that he'd come to see you right away instead of making you wait until Friday. If you don't mind me asking, what hospital are you at? Is the anastomosis stricture caused by inflammation/swelling because of the recent surgery?

Lisa61

I'll be a couple of weeks after you having a total colectomy done...we can compare notes perhaps. I've noticed that I've been getting a lot of headaches recently. I get migraines, but these are just normal old headaches. I think it's my body's way of saying get this poop out of me! I've been on two antibiotics (Flagyl and amoxicillin) for two months and have to continue it until surgery, so maybe that has something to do with it too. Here's to all of us feeling better and 'lighter' too!

Hi Irish Mom, 

Thank you for responding.  I would love to compare notes with you. Hopefully we will be rid of the other aches after our surgery.  I tell you, fear of the unknown is the pits.  I will definitely be posting during my recovery so that I can get advise from everyone who's been there.  I do look forward to feeling lighter and getting rid of the distended, hard abdomen, which is extremely uncomfortable and appears to be getting worse.   

Irish_Mom said...

Robin

You're such a sweetheart! I'm the one that it lucky to have found this site. I'm a member of a breast cancer forum where there are a lot of other forums, but there is nothing for colostomy, colectomy, Crohn's, UC, etc., people. Actually, there is a Crohn's forum but it's pretty much inactive. I always keep an eye out in case someone posts there, and then I refer them here. I'm thinking of maybe starting a GI forum there for the sole purpose of pointing people in this direction. I saw your other post where you mentioned your OCD. I also have it...I'm a checker. I can remeber my 'routine' as far back as the age of five; I'm 45 now. At it's worst I was taking 100 mg of Prozac a day for it. I had to stop taking it prior to one of my surgeries and just never started it again. I still have issues with it, but it's not half as bad as it was. It used to take me four hours to check everything before going to bed and Lord forbid if one of my kids interrupted me during that because then I'd have to start all over again. It's a vicious cycle.

Amey

I'm so sorry to hear that you're back at the hospital again, but since you have an obstruction it's probably the best/safest place for you at this point. If your surgeon is returning on Thursday, I would hope that he'd come to see you right away instead of making you wait until Friday. If you don't mind me asking, what hospital are you at? Is the anastomosis stricture caused by inflammation/swelling because of the recent surgery?

Lisa61

I'll be a couple of weeks after you having a total colectomy done...we can compare notes perhaps. I've noticed that I've been getting a lot of headaches recently. I get migraines, but these are just normal old headaches. I think it's my body's way of saying get this poop out of me! I've been on two antibiotics (Flagyl and amoxicillin) for two months and have to continue it until surgery, so maybe that has something to do with it too. Here's to all of us feeling better and 'lighter' too!

Regarding them leaving a percentage of the colon in - that souds somewhat different than me, as my way of transit now is totally from the small intestine.  After removing 5 1/2 feet of dead and loopy colon they connected and attaced the small intestine directly to my rectum.

I do believe Fibro is a very real condition.  Unfortunately there are so many people who have been told that Fibro is a "phantom" diagnosis.  In fact, that was what I was told just like you.  That is a very real and sad thing that people still believe today. 

There are several women here that have said their Fibro symptoms improved greatly after having this surgery.  You are so correct about your body being full of toxins.  Prior to surgery I'm surprised I wasn't walking around neon green!!!

Irish - Thank you so much for the compliment!!  If you feel lead to start a GI forum directing others with colon trouble here - I say go for it!!  This place has sure been a blessing to so many, especially me!!!  I do have to say you've been thru a lot and you're outlook always amazes me - thank you for that!!!

Oh, the OCD is so awful!!  It really can drive you silly.  I'm so thankful that the medications I take for it, along with depression and anxiety, have changed my life.  Medication is no means a cure, however, it helps us cope and deal with everyday life and how we choose to live it.  I still have bouts of depression and anxiety and I guess I always will, but there is help if one seeks it!!