Back home, totally confused and scared!

Well i'm back home after 2 weeks in hosp (4 days in hosp, 3 days at home, back in hosp for another 8 days) with subacute bowel obstruction. Had rectal tube for 9 days which helped and did the trick. I have been home 1 week, was told to go back to my normal diet (liquid with soft 2 - 3 times per week) and to have laxatives 3 x per day as well as bowel washouts bidaily. All went well for first few days (apart from being really week from not eating for 2 weeks) until i started exercising again. Naturally my energy requirements increased and couldn't cope on fluids, so had first soft meal (runny mashed potatoes). I can feel 3 days later that it's still sitting there! Had second soft meal (scrambled egg) yesterday and since then feel another obstruction coming on! So distended, sore, cramping all over again!!! Really don't want to go back to hosp before the op!

My ileostomy is booked for the 21st August here in my hometown 500 m down the road from my house, so YAY I don't need to travel 2000 km and stay away from hubby and kids for 3 - 4 weeks. Now they can visit every day! Only problem is the dr here is a not a registered colorectal surgeon but has lots of experience. He will operate with my normal regular sugeon who i have a tremendous amount of faith in. The doctor down south wanted to do a end ileostomy (temporary) and is would've performed it via open. The dr here wants to do a loop (temporary) and will try it laparoscopically. I have know idea which is the preferred or better option between an end or loop ileostomy? The prof in UK said I should have loop. I am so confused?

Also getting really nervous as to the outcome after reading all your posts, seems like Rosemary, Karen, Sarah, my complete support newtwork, all seem to battling with their stomas and diets and this really makes me nervous as hell. Don't want to go through all of this only to end up with still not being able to poop through stoma or to eat properly. Have been so looking forward to a happy and successful outcome after surgery but now not so sure having read everyone's horror stories!!

Any advice?

Lolly

I am no expert on this insofar as end or loop ileostomy.

But I absolutely agree that you need the BEST colorectal surgeon that you can have even if it is an inconvenience to travel a bit further. We had local ones available and went to Mayo Clinic which is a 3 hr drive...not convenient but I/we wanted the best shot at the best results. This is a very important decision to affect the best quality of life you can have for you and your family.

Best of luck as this is indeed a tough decision weighing all the pros and cons and what is the right decision for yourself.

     I thought loop was when a j-pouch is created and end is what I have.  My surgeon was first a general surgeon and furthered his education to specialize in colorectal surgery.  I didn't have the option of lap or open.  When I asked if he were going to do it lap, he looked at me like I had three heads and said "No way".  I suppose he had his reasons.  My problem was UP (proctitis).  However the entire works had to come out, rectum and colon.  He left the anus open.

     I might add that I also have situs inversus (all my organs are on the opposite sides).  That could be the reason he would not consider lap, maybe he didn't know what he would be up against.  I was his only patient with that phenomenon that he encountered in all his 35 yrs of practice .  He said he just stood on the opposite side of the table when operating..lol.