Total colectomy part 17

NanaJ

You are doing just fine with posting to this site --- and Welcome!! 

You mentioned possibly having gas... well, one thing that was recommended to me to release "pockets" of gas that can lodge even up under your rib cage, was to lay in bed or on the floor and slowly roll from side to back to other side.  It did help me at the time I had those issues many years ago.

As far at your bottom being "itchy", again things probably have changed since I had my surgery, but at that time the surgeon did not recommend that I put anything, including any lotions or ointments on the incision.  That was then tho.  Others sound like that belief has changed.  I'm sure someone will come up with a name of something for you to check with the dr. about.

Be patient with the healing process.  It sounds as if you are doing just fine.  Be sure to visit and post with us often!

Terri

When is your balloon dialation scheduled for?  Hopefully then can get you scheduled soon and get you some relief, right?

Robin

Good luck with your cat scan tomorrow - I'll be thinking about you.

My concern now is this "large lump/mass" that I've had since May which causes a lot of tenderness and discomfort.  In all reality it could be nothing more than where my small intestine decided to take up residence, but I want to rule out something more serious.

Thanks everyone for keeping me in your thoughts and prayers - I appreciate it so very much!!  As soon as I find out anything I will post.  Thanks for all the support and the shoulders to cry on!!!

Nana J,

Can't help you with this one....my appetite is very robust.  I guess it will depend on how you introduce new foods to your diet.  Even if you are not hungry per se, you do need to eat your 3 main meals and also 2 snacks.  Also you need to drink water as we get dehydrated very quickly.  My only advise to save you pain is do NOT eat seschuan chinese food (hot & spicy).  There was heck to pay after I did this....

Happy Halloween everyone..  I haven't written in awhile, but have been reading all of your wonderful messages.  For any of you that have medical experience or have had total colectomy's for awhile, I have a BIG question that I need an answer to..  I had my surgery back in August and am still limited on what I can eat or I get to spend the day in the bathroom.  When I have bad days, I have to wear "diapers".  Unfortunately, they hurt me terribly.  For some reason, I am allergic to the elastic in the legs and the insides of my legs turn purple and hurt immensely from wearing them more than a couple of hours.  I have never been allergic before.  Can anyone tell me what to do?  I've searched the net for something that will work but have came up with nil.  I even searched for hypoallergenic ones but came up empty.  Is there such a thing?  Any information that you can give me will be much appreciated as I am really at a loss as to what to do.

On my good days I have started wearing women's short little panties like boxers because they don't have elastic around the legs and they let my legs heal.  A pharmacist told me to put A&D ointment on my legs to heal the purple and that sometimes helps heal me but I am just stumped as to what to do.

Lori

AJ - Congratulations on going out for the first time and enjoying yourself since surgery!!  Is the knot you're speaking of around the incision?  I have a lump in the abdomen that causes a lot of tenderness and discomfort.  I went today for another CT scan to see if they can find out what it is.  I have a feeling it could be where the small intestine has taken up residence but I want to make sure it's nothing more serious.  The amount of bm's you're having seem great - not too much.  I think that is an ideal amount, unfortunately some here still have so many, but I do believe over time, like in my situation, things slowed down considerably.

LORI - I'm sorry to hear you're still having issues with the amount of times you go in a day, as well as, the food you can tolerate.  I think you're still in that stage where your body is very sensitive and learning it's new function/transit via the small intestine.  I don't think there is a time frame where things all come together - it's an individual thing and everyone is different.  Don't be too hard on yourself - I think it's still too soon and your body is adjusting.

I'm really at a loss regarding your skins reaction to the materials of alternative panties.  Maybe just trying different ones will make a difference.  I wish you all the luck in finding something that your body can tolerate.

How is everyone else doing?  I love when people come back and fill us in on what's going on with them.    

April - I'm so sorry that you're having the feelings that you are and going thru this, too.  I know that I'm not you and only you know how you're feeling right now, but I do have a lot of empathy for what you're going thru.  You have to give yourself credit and fight to get thru this all.  It is temporary.  When did you have your total colectomy?  I had mine in August. 

I am bipolar, too, and I'm on many of the meds that you're on.  Our surgery was huge for most of us.  For a Bipolar person it is magnified by us and our feelings.  The anesthesia from this surgery meses with our thoughts, sleep patterns, and body.  You're on the best track right now by reaching out to a therapist.  Please don't give up.  If you don't click with your therapist (this has happened to me, too) try finding another one or get referrals.  Many psycotherapists will see you for free if you don't have insurance.  I've seen the same therapist for 8 years and he's helped me get thru all of this.  It's difficult seeing a new therapist that wants to hear your story in 10 minutes or less, so try to find one that you like and stick with them..

Also, it has to be difficult going thru this and taking care of your children.  My bipolar episodes are usually depressive episodes.  When my children were little, I wanted to go to my room and not come out when I was majorly depressed.  Our sickness makes us want to do that, but we have to love our family and hope that they'll love us and help to take care of us, too.  You have to take care of your children as best as you can, but you also need to take care of you (this isn't selfish).  If you have anyone that can watch your kids for you, if only for a few hours (try to relax, maybe take a nice warm bubble bath and listen to music) let them help you.  My therapist has had to teach me how to deep breathe and do relaxation excercises to calm myself down.  Even think of a picture that makes you happy and concentrate on it when you're thinking and feeling stressed and out of sorts.

I really do pray that you realize how special you are and that you're doing the best that you can, even if it is just by reaching out to others on this message board.  We truly care about you and I hope that you keep letting us know how you're doing.  My counselor has a saying that he likes me to repeat and it makes me feel the best that I can on the worst of days.  It is "I'm doing the best that I can, with where I am." 

Lori

So here is an update on what is going on.  I saw the gyno...he confirmed that the rectocele is NOT causing my constipation that I am a candidate for a TC...I absolutely loved this doctor.

I saw the surgeon yesterday.  He said that there is a 50% chance that this surgery will be a success and I will no longer be constipated.  There is a 25% chance that I will end up with chronic diarrhea and the last 25% is unsuccessful, meaning I am still constipated.

He left it up to me to decide.  He said that he did have a patient that came back to him after a TC with chronic diarrhea and was nearly suicidal....he offered her a bag.  There are some patients that have a general dysmotility and it helps with the constipation a little but still needs to take some meds....I was thinking of you Robin.

He was very confident as far as his ability to do the surgery, he would be doing it laproscopically.  He said most of his patients are in the hospital for 5-7 days and recover pretty well by 4 weeks.

I have 2 other surgeons I could interview.  I like this doc, but maybe I should interview others...what do you think?

He did say that if I can live with my lifestyle the way it is, then do it.  But if this is consuming my life, then have the surgery. 

AJ,

I'm glad you're feeling better after your surgery.  I, too, had my surgery in September and had problems post-op in the hospital and had 3 NG tubes inserted and pulled out in the 12 days following my surgery.  In my case, they had to insert them because my intestines were distended and not moving so I couldn't eat or drink anything without throwing up.  They actually tried to discharge me after pulling the 2nd NG tube and pulled my staples out and put steri-strips on the incision.  I only made it to the lobby before throwing up and in the process pulled about 2 inches of my incision open, which kind of freaked me out.  They had to re-admit me and I stayed about 5 more days after that, for a total of 15 days in the hospital.

I'm feeling much better now and have been back to work since about 6 weeks post-op.  I know what you mean about trying to figure out what you can eat now.  Cole slaw seems to cause me about as much trouble as anything else.  Sometimes I try too many different things at once, too, and so I really can't tell which food caused problems.  My wife, daughter, and I went out for mexican food last weekend and that didn't cause me as much trouble as I thought it might, though it was less than perfect.  I've decided to go back to a less adventuresome diet, at least for a few days, to give my intestines a break. 

Rick

Our bodies have taken a big hit and it not only affects us physically but mentally.  Maybe our new way of transit and how quicly things move thru - it could affect how the body absorbs the medications we are on - just a thought.

Please keep up posted - even if you don't feel like chatting - DO so anyway.  We are all here to support and help you thru this. 

To all of you

 First of all thank you again for your kind words and prayers. I have question, regards to working. If you did not have a job before the surgery and searching now what do you say,  on a interview and they ask why is there a gap with employers, what do you say?  I'm looking for a job and whenever I go one a interview they all asked why is there a big gap after your last employer. I said that I had major surgery (don't tell anyone what kind) and I took the summer off to spend it with my kids.  Also for those who are working and going to the bathroom so often does any on say any thing and what about the oder after????

Thanks................