Whoa....

I wish you a speedy recovery. Keep us updated :)

WHat the F???No pain pump or epidoral... Who was your surgeon? Dick Chaney... Most people would consider a Colectomy on only oral pain meds Torture.

I had both an epidural and a pain pump for my surgery and I had almost no pain at all, maybe a 2-3 max.

Keep walking as much as possible, it really does help with your digestion and healing.

I just got out of the hospital 3 days ago and I asked for a 5 day script of Ambien to help to get my sleep schedule normal again.... They never let us sleep in the hospital...errrr

Believe me- Monday was a wash, I don't remember any of it. Tuesday thru Wed. AM were pretty rough, then things settled into a routine. I was kind of horrified about no pain pump, but my pain never did get to 10, and only to 9 once or twice. We had to play around with what I had available to find the right combo at the right times, etc. And now, funny enough, I'm scarfing down a grilled cheese & chkn. noodle soup! And, I think I get to go home tomorrow!!!! Today my surgeon said that the only thing we're really doing in the hospital is managing my pain, which can be done at home. I can use oral oxycodones, oral dilaudids- he wrote the order for either. The nurses here were giving me IV dilaudid, which is like 10x the oral dose. It worked great!!!! But that's why I've been so spaced out. I changed my bag today, no problems, just took a long time- 20 minutes, maybe??? I could still be here until Saturday, but we're hoping for tomorrow. I can't believe how much my life has changed in 1 short week... I'm still a little freaked out about getting the supply ordering process going, but I will have a home nurse. I need to nap now! In hindsight, I could kick myself in the you-know-what over & over & over... To have that horrible bathroom obsession just gone is amazing! Not to mention to have that horrible diseased organ gone!

Sounds like your doing really well!..I would imagine it feels like a weight has lifted off your shoulders.

So happy to hear you are doing well, Eva. I have been thinking about you all week. Good luck with your at-home recovery.

yup, getting ready to go home today! I'm so glad it's all behind me.... no pun intended, seriously. I couldn't have hoped for a better surgery outcome, so far. Not one complication! Stoma woke up fine, started doing it's stuff... I just had clam chowder & a roll for lunch. My appetite is really small, I expect to eat like 6 mini meals thru the day. RV fistula totally gone- from the top of my butt crack, well... closer to the actual "opening", it's nothing but staples all the way down to my vaginal opening. Talk about horrow flick! That's what's most painful, not the incision or lapro spots, or stoma. I go back to the surgeon on Wed. for staple removal. No rectal anything for this kid anymore! No preps, ever! Love it!!! So far the stoma doesn't gross me out at all. I'm sure in a day or so I'll be sobbing uncontrollably in the bathroom... but.. whatever. It's just so easy- I go in, open it up, dump it out, close it up, wash hands, done. I'm used to spending literally hours daily either on the toilet or rushing to the bathroom. And still pooping myself everywhere! I'm like a newbgoren, for gosh sake! haha.....

Great news Eva! Glad it is "behind" you..lol. Keep us posted!

Whoa is right. Your signature is going to have to read:

"No more! Asacol, Rowasa, Pred, Cortenemas, Uceris, Rocephin, Cipro, Flagyl, Imuran, Remicade, Humira, turmeric, slippery elm root, marshmallow root, probiotics [well, maybe keep these around] . . . "

Thanks for the updates.

FYI, I had 29 staples from my first surgery and 22 staples from my 2nd surgery. I had very little pain when they removed them so don't worry too much about the staples. The surgeon's residents removed the staples each time so if your surgeon is removing them then you'll probably be better off.

Welcome home and I hope if you do any crying in the bathroom they are tears of Joy because your life will be better now and won't be revolving around UC anymore

I've been thinking of you and great to hear you getting by. Thanks for sharing such great firsthand knowledge.be well!

I am new here, but wanted to commend you on your bravery! I hope that you feel tons better!!

It's nice to hear everything is going well....good for you!

Oh Eva, I'm so glad you're doing so well with it physically and even emotionally!!!!! It's truly amazing, I know I couldn't be as brave and upbeat about it like you!! I'm so glad your nasty fistula is finally all gone (but also sad at the same time that surgery like that is what it took to finally get rid of it) no more suffering for you and that's the main thing right!!