Had meeting with ostomy nurse and pre-op testing yesterday

     I was over at the PA Hosp for five hours yesterday.  Still wondering if I am doing the right thing.  I am in remission, down to 15 mgm of prednisone, formed bowel movements (1 -3 times a day), no blood, no urgency and feeling well.  The surgeon said I am having a total colectomy with end ileostomy.  Very scary but he said a lot less stressful on the system than the j-pouch.

     Here are some of my concerns though.  His assistant told me over the phone last week that I would have to take a colonoscopy prep the day before.  I have the Golitely here at home because I was supposed to go through a colonoscopy in March but was too ill.  He said that was fine.  Yesterday, when the surgeon came in, he said....no prep, just clear liquids the day before surgery!!!  Even his assistant, who was in the room, looked at him.  Now I am totally spooked.  How could he make sure I am cleaned out?  Suppose some of that feces gets into my blood stream?  Couldn't it cause sepsis???  I will have an NG tube inserted during surgery and this will stay in until they see how my recovery goes.  He said the surgery itself will take about 2 hrs but recovery may take up to 4 -5 hours.  I will have a catheter in too.  I asked him about diet when I got home...low residue?  He said "no" that I could eat anything but have to chew slowly.

     Just need some feed back here.  Does this sound right or do I head in the other direction?  Oh, and finally....I was concerned because I hadn't heard a word from their office until I went yesterday.  Well, the info book that was given to me yesterday really should have been sent to my house about a week ago.  All the info about pre-op testing and how long it would take and where to go...there it was, in that booklet.   Sheesh!

     Of course I received all kinds of encouragement there.  The people who work for the surgeon and lab workers...super....they all say I have the best surgical team around.  The colorectal surgeon is world reknown....just trying so hard to stay positive but I am sooooooo scared.  My blood pressure was 167/97 last night and I had to take a zanax.  When I feel this good I am thinking..."why am I doing this?"  Oh...the ostomy nurse told me to STAY OFF THE INTERNET.....lololol.

My surgeon originally told me as well that I wouldn't need a prep and to be on clear liquids. I think he just placated me when I questioned it and did the prep anyway when he said that would be fine. It is like Ohio said above, everyone is going to have different opinions. I am just going to be honest, but I know you are trying to convince yourself to cancel this by saying you are feeling better which you are because of the stupid prednisone. Your life will be 100% better after this. If you were to stop taking that pred how do you think you will start feeling? It is funny, I was actually questioning going for my takedown surgery because I am feeling so well with my temp ileo and that is a ton harder to maintain than an end ileo. If the prep thing is bothering you, which I know ti is, call the surgeon again and question his advice. Just say, "Hey, listen doc ... i know you are the surgeon but my concerns with not doing the prep are .... ". I don't think by doing the prep either way is going to harm you, but I can't be the one to tell you that because I am not a doctor. I say you are ready to get this behind you and start moving on. You can't be on pred anymore ... it is going to endanger you moreso in the future. We want Christine around here! Also, there is plenty of support with ostomies and tricks and tips to how to get things rolling with that. I just finally got into a good routine with mine, but will be having surgery for the takedown in 1.5 weeks. Keep in touch if you still feel nervous and want some support.

I did do a prep, but someone posted an article or study or something saying that outcomes are just as good with or without prep, I believe.

don't do the prep if he is expecting you not to. My doctor said it was ok for me to do it after I questioned him about it. He originally said I didn't have to do one, but then when I asked him he said it would be ok, but not necessary. There might be a reason that he told you no. So please don't do it because that is what I did.

I was only on low residue diet while in the hospital. After that, the surgeon said I could eat whatever I could tolerate

I've been reading you worry, Christine, but it sounds like you're in good hands -- and making the best decision in light of this rotten disease.

As I'm sure you rationally understand, you're not in remission on pred.  It's just masking the disease right now.

As for prep, don't stress out.  There is a lot of evidence that an unprepped colectomy is less stressful on your body than a prepped one, and the outcomes are no different or better when no prep is used.  They do this all the time.  Here's one such article:  http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19774956 . There are more at pubmed.gov.

Chin up.

   OK...feeling much better after reading that article seconder...thanks.  Thought my surgeon must know his stuff.  Just for good measure, I am on clear fluids today.  I started at lunch, only ate 1/2 English muffin for breakfast.  Had normal bowel movement..wouldn't ya guess....no mucus...happily floating in the toilet bowl yelling...."look at me swim, look at me swim!  Don't I look great?  No mucus! No blood!  No Urgency!"  But I yelled back at it..."Yea and that is because you have your buddy prednisone working with you."  And it gave me the finger.  Anyway....on clear liquids today and again tomorrow.  Getting as skinny as a rail though.  Down to 115 lbs pounds....haven't weighed this since before I went through the change of life.