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19 days till proctocolectomy-any tips?

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Posted 5/12/2012 7:46 AM (GMT 0)
Hi guys,
I finally got my date for my proctocolectomy- it's on may 31st! So not long to go-any tips for before and after surgery? It will be done laproscopically. So far none of the docs could or would tell me how long I'll be expected to stay off work, just that'll be in hospital for one week all things going well.
What I way to spend the queens jubilee...looking forward to watching the Olympics thou while recovering. Not looking forward waking up from the op and having that constAnt nausea.
Thanks
Monika
Posted 5/12/2012 12:43 PM (GMT 0)
I had the cut open from breastbone to pubic bone variety so I am sure my experience was totally different from what you will have!

Take it easy on eating at first - your body has to adjust to all the plumbing directions. My doc suggested waiting 6 weeks before I tried anything that I didn't eat before surgery. After that, go for it - at least that is what I learned here LOL! Try things in small amounts first to see how they will process for you and then you can just keep adding.

I hope your surgery gives you much relief and allows you your life back - I know mine did!
Posted 5/12/2012 2:20 PM (GMT 0)
1. First, start counting down the days until you feel awesome!!! My surgery gave me more health than I'd had in 10 years. Any surgery is tough for a few days afterwards, but before you know it, you'll feel great.

2. I had the same surgery you did, and it was also done laproscopically. I was in the hospital 5 days and then recovered at home for 5 weeks before going back to my very physical job. I could probably have gone back in 3 or 4 if I had had a desk job.

3. In the hopspital after surgery, walk as much as you can...it'll get thigns moving faster, help with nausea, help with gas, etc, and get you out of there!!

4. Keep to a pretty bland diet for the first few weeks after surgery. Most people say to not eat anything super fibrous for 6 weeks while you're healing.

5. Keep a positive attitude and remember that you can do anything (literally) with an ostomy. You can swim, you can shower, you can run, you can take a zumba class, whatever. Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it.

Let us know if you have any other questions! We are here to help!!
Posted 5/12/2012 3:32 PM (GMT 0)
I had the same surgery you had on may 1st. although mine was for FAP. I have a J-pouch and will have a reversal in 6-8 weeks

It honestly wasn't bad at all. it takes about 6 hours and that day by the time your in recovery all you want to do is sleep. You will wake up with a catheter(also I was freaked and it wasn't anything to worry about)

Anyway. That day they want out to get up and out of bed. It will be one of the hardest things you every do. BUT the pain I had in my back from gas was much more worse then the pain of literally holding my husband and rocking in place. plus it isn't necessarily fun walking with a catheter in.

From this point forward getting up and out of bed will not feel anything like it did on day 2. You will feel sore(muscular mostly) like you did WAY to many crunches)

I started eating regular food right away. Literally day 2 I had a grilled cheese sandwich. It took me a while to eat the whole thing but I did. I didnt really need pain meds, mostly advil. They let you leave the hospital when you pain meds r controlled orally, your urine output is over 200ML and your ostomy output is under 1L a day. and your eating.

My surgery was tuesday 7:30am and I was home friday 6pm. now its day 12 and I can change my ostomy myself and kinda cook small things for myself. i am showering by myself at this point and my staples came out yesterday. I am still having trouble sleeping all the way through the night bc I get stiff and sore. although I can now manage to get onto my sides and in and out of bed alone.

It is annoying having on the bag and it takes some time to get used to it. I still am not comptlty there but AM looking forward to my take down surgery in 7 weeks. Its day 12 and I have already lost 20 pounds.

I cannot have raw veggys or salad yet and that's all I really want at this point. While you dont want to eat anything hard to digest you need fiber. it will help with leaks and the time between BMS. I tried Metamucil and I was really sick from it.Now I tried Benafiber and it doesn't seem to be working. I tok Immodiom this morning and have noticed a slowing in everything although it is still watery. You may want to try the fibers before surgery...I wish I had known to do so.

People will drive you absoultly nuts about your beverage consumption. I am right now drinking about 2L-3L a day. you do need to drink alot! but as I have been trying to tell people the last thing you really want is drinking my taste buds were really thrown off for about a week and my smell was heightened when I came home. Couching sucks but YOU MUST DO IT and try and take lost of DEEP breaths(it does help you feel not so stiff) also I finally sneezed twice yesterday and it was a little painful.

the car ride home is scary but if you allow your body to relax(even if you keep your eyes closed) it will help I noticed the more tense I was the more bumps hurt. yesterday we were out all day for the first time since before surgery and it felt great and I had no pain. I was scared bc I was so thirsty and I haven't needed to use a public bathroom yet. I am concerned about that part, I am sure i will do fine though. I am a student and on break now so I am sure about going back to work. I think if I felt comfortable using a bathroom and I wasn't scared of leaking that i would be able to leave the house longer. I get winded going up stairs so take your time with it. make sure the 1st day or 2 you have someone with you when you try. just in case.


I wish you the best of luck and a speedy recovery!!! You will be fine!!! but if you have any questions contact me. I dont knwo everything but Id be happy to work on figuring it out together.
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