My son is multihandicapped. He is total care. He has a total colectomy with ileo Sept 2008 for severe UC. They left 2-3 inches of colon attached to the rectum. At the time we were told that it may also need removed at a later date. Well, I am afraid that later date is approaching us. He has had rectal discharge since his colectomy. but it was always tan in color. He started to occasionally (once a month or so) have some pink tinged drainage. Now I am noticing about 2x week some definate blood and he has the tan colored discharge daily, Called the GI and they have ordered CBC and sed rate. The nurse also mentions some type of suppositories. My husband and I have discussed this and if the surgery is not too involved we would rather just go ahead and do that esp. since that part of the colon can also still get cancer.
Question. How involved is the proctectomy? Hospital stay, post op period?? I can't seem to find what I am looking for on the internet. We were never considering reconnection so that is not a concern. He is incotinent anyway so emptying the bag is better that runny stools in the diaper.
By the way, he is back to his normal happy self since the colectomy. What a relief after having over a year of meds not working, numerous bloody stools and a child that did not act like himself.
Thanks in advance for your help.