Starting Visicol Prep

Good Morning!  Mom

I just wanted to say "Good Luck" with you pre-op preparation.  You will do fine drinking that "Mr. Yuck" stuff.  If you have to hold your nose, take a deep breath and drink it fast.  I know it tastes nasty, I went through the preparation procedure three times and you never get use to the taste.  I was reading in another forum that some of them mixed "Tang" that instant breakfast drink into the Golighty to kill the nasty taste. 

I really wanted to say "Good Luck" tomorrow.  Go into your surgery with a GREAT AND HAPPY ATTITUDE and everything will turn out fine.  Don't worry about a thing, let you surgeon do whatever he needs to do to make you better and I will say a pray for you.  Are you having a subtotal colectomy through open surgery?   My surgeon first attempt was with laposcopic subtotal colectomy in addition to having stents place before the surgery by the Urologist.  Which in turn being the most complicated surgery (9 1/2 hrs) that my surgeon ever experienced.  I had a anastomotic leak in which my surgeon as his assistant(s) agreed upon a temporary ileostomy to give my small intestine and rectum time to heal before my reversal ileostomy.  I also had done to my rectopexy and a diverting loop ileostomy.  But like my surgeon said he never experienced anything like my surgery before.  It was one for the books he said.  Because I feel I am always that 1 or 2 percent who happens to experience the weird things in life.  Although I was estatic when I had my ileostomy reversed.  To tell you the truth I was starting to get use to my little sidekick.  But I am darn glad my surgeon was able to put me back together minus my large intestine.  He told me it would take a good year for my recovery under the above circumstances.  I have not returned to work yet and I think that my recovery will be successful because I don't have any stress right now.  Just 100 percent family and friends support.

Keep smiling and take excellent care of yourself.  Please let all of here at the forum Let us know how everything turns out for you.  Good Luck!

 Hi! Sasha

I am glad you took my advice and bought the shampoo and conditioner.  It is medicated and it makes your scalp feel tingley and it smell great too.  Now I use it every two to three days.  So far so good.  No hair loss.  I hope it works for you too!

As far as having infections with my subtotal colectomy, I did everything the surgeon told me to do and plus I had visiting nurses coming to my home once a week to check on my stoma (unfortunately, I had the bag for 3 long months) with no infections.  Before my reversal, I had one last test done in the hospital to be sure that my small intestine and rectum healed with no air pockets or adhesions.  I did, however, have scar tissue already built up and the surgeon cut it right out so that I could have my reversal for Christmas.  As far as my reversal ileostomy four months ago, I am doing fine.  I have not returned to work yet.  I am chronically fatigue, battling insomnia and just taking it easy so that I don't get sick especially since my immune system is weak and I am still losing weight.  I just can't seem to keep it on.  I eat six to eights times a day as fast as I eat that is as fast as it exits my body.  I take lomotil three to six times a day, but it really depends on what I eat and drink (no soda or alcohol).  I have an occasional beer but mostly I drink alot of bottled water.  I just pray that I have a successful recovery even if it takes a year like the surgeon said it might.

I am glad you are doing well.  It is a slow process for a better life than what we all had before the surgeries.  Take care and be safe and healthy.

Angel,
I am so sorry you are going through all of that. Have you spoken to your surgeon? What is Lomotil? I hear eveyone talk about it. I go to the bathroom about 4- 5 times a day. What does your diet consist of? I should be drinking more water, but I am a true southern tea drinker. LOL,
How much of your colon was taken out? He took out 5 1/2 feet of mine. When you go into the health food store talk to the owner or manager about your situation. I think they might be able to help you. I talked to mine after I cam home. I was completely washed out too. Just take it easy don't rush yourself. Are you able to afford not to work? If you are don't worry about it, you daughter can help you. I had to have my sons help me especially my 13 year old. He now cooks 2 a week, and does some of the important chores I used to do. My husband helps out when he gets home with our two youngest boys. If you can aford to hire a maid do that too. My chiurch really helped out after I came home with meals for the first three weeks afterwards. I hope some of this helps. I will be praying and thinking about you,
Sasha

MOM23

If you are home from the hospital, please let all of us here at the forum know how you are doing. Take care and keep us posted.

Angel Baby