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Posted 4/26/2009 12:25 AM (GMT 0)
I just had my colon removed on April 17. I had a proctocolectomy with diverting loop ileostomy and j pouch. The surgery went amazing, I was home in 4 days. I am eating things again with no pain! I can't believe it. I am having a little bit of pain yet on my right side where my stoma is. Is this normal? How much pain should I expect and for how long? I really hate taking pain meds because I keep having these falling dreams that jerk me awake and it hurts! Sometimes my stoma throbs too! Does this go away?

I really can't complain, everything else is going great but I would appreciate any help.

Thanks

Holly

Posted 4/26/2009 1:17 AM (GMT 0)
yeah you should still be having pain thats totally normal! I had my surgery on april 17 too, only it was in 2007, lol.
But as for the throbbing thing, the stoma itself doesnt have feelings. Probably what you are feeling is the stuff coming out and the muscles around the stoma going back together. I didnt explain that well i know but i dont know another way to explain it, lol.
You will probably have some pain for at least 2 months. Not horrible pains or anything, just dull pains. I had random pains for months, and sort of a tingling feeling across my scar for probablly 4 months.
Glad you are healing well!
Posted 4/26/2009 1:42 AM (GMT 0)

I know exactly what you mean.  I swore my stoma hurt and that it did throb.  However, now that it's all said and done for me I understand more that it was the swollen area around my stoma.  It's very interesting though b/c you can really feel the pressue of foods coming through your stoma for awhile...it's weird really. 

The pain your feeling is definitely normal.  I wouldn't try being 100% just yet.  : )  I know the meds are crazy but do what you gotta do for now.  I was one that had super bad pain for awhile, but some are pain free fairly soon!  Anyway, I felt it was all worth it b/c I am now UC free FOREVER!!!  AND SO ARE YOU!!!!!  Yea!!!!!!!!!  : )

It is amazing eating foods that don't hurt!  But do stay away from broccoli for awhile, and I learned to eat it mushy and only the flowerets.  : )  My first and only (so far) blockage was from broccoli.  Holy Hell!!!!  I thought I was over excruciating pain...I chew my patoot off now and haven't had broccoli since...I was traumatized.

GOOD LUCK!!!  : )

: )  Robin

smurf
Posted 4/27/2009 1:30 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks guys! I think I have been over doing it a bit, but I'm going to be attached to the couch tomorrow.
Posted 4/27/2009 3:46 AM (GMT 0)
If you just had surgery on April 17, it is certainly normal to still be having some pain. Like summerstorm said,the stoma doesn't have any feelings (thank goodness) but your insides are still healing. I made a point of taking my pain medications with no regrets because I didn't want to use my energy hurting too much.

Take care and good luck.
Posted 4/28/2009 7:45 AM (GMT 0)
glaciergirl,

How are you feeling? Did you stick to being a couch potato for a day? Sometimes, it just doesn't take much to call it "overdoing" it and a day or two of MINIMAL tasks will help get you back on the right track. Be sure to eat healthy and continue your protein intake. It will help with the healing process too.
Posted 4/28/2009 11:58 PM (GMT 0)
I would ask for a different pain med...I've had terrible dreams associated to the pain med! I have found the two that work for me without scary dreams and that's all my doc gives me now.

Take it easy...even though you feel great, your body has to recover from MAJOR surgery...but it won't be long until you are pain free:)
Posted 5/1/2009 2:36 PM (GMT 0)
Peggy,

I am doing much better now. Thank you. I did relax a bit more even though I feel like an unproductive BUM!
The only problem I have now is itching underneath my wafer. The pain isn't so bad and I'm hardly taking any pain meds.

Holly
Posted 5/1/2009 7:31 PM (GMT 0)
if you have the itchies and they last more than an hour or two you should change the bag. It usually means there is some output under there.
glad you are feeling better though!
Posted 5/4/2009 1:45 AM (GMT 0)

I'm only two weeks post-op and my stoma's throbbing, too. I'm glad to hear this is normal and will go away.

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