Having a total colectomy - UC

did you also post this on the ostomy forum ?

I didn't/haven't had any depression issues since/with my colectomy. I'm actually happier now that I feel better; being sick and feeling sick can really wear on you and add-in some steroids and it can be very depressing.

With that being said, everyone is different and react differently. There are some people who are vehemently opposed to having surgery and their colon removed, there may be some depression because of that, I think that would only be natural and understandable.

For the most part, I think many of us who have had good outcomes with our colectomies are happier than before the colectomies. The people who are upset/depressed are usually the ones whose surgeries haven't improved their quality of life.

Having a colectomy can be life changing, for the better or worse. I think most of us have better outcomes than before the surgery. My surgeon did ask me about depression before he agreed to operate on me, I think it is a valid concern with any major surgery.

Yes, I had rectal discharge every day, it is normal. I did leak once the first day after the surgery, after I was more mobile I had no problems with discharge. You just sit on the toilet and go to release the mucus.

Bag leakages aren't much of an issue if you change it on a regular basis and do it properly. Also you need to empty at the appropriate times, don't let the bag get too full or it will cause leakages/blowouts.

Waking up from surgery is interesting, the only way I can explain it. Can't really remember how I felt physically, probably exhausted and hurting. The staples and open cut were the worse I'd say as far as pain goes, and trying to move abs wise.

I haven't had a leak or anything in 7 weeks (thank god, and knock on wood). I change my bag every 6th morning. So I changed it this am, will change it again Tuesday morning if that makes sense. I do empty it quite frequently I guess you could say. Maybe 6-7 times a day? Once a night for sure. Every time I wake up I grab my bag and "weight" it to see how full it is. I've actually noticed a bag full of liquid is way easier to empty than a bag that has thicker output so I prefer liquid output, minus the sounds etc. The main problem I think with mine at least is that 1-2 hours of eating it is so full I need to empty it, so I still can't go out to lunch etc. without having "to go" within a certain period after. No urgency or pain etc. just a full bag.

I had problems with rectal discharge for about 2 weeks or so after being discharged from the hospital. Once they pulled the drain, the liquid that formed inside my body would push on the pouch I guess (according to my surgeon) and causing the mucus to be discharged unwillingly, also it's pure liquid so harder to hold in obviously. I wore a diaper to sleep (couldn't even nap for a short time without discharge) for those 2 weeks or so. Now I still have rectal discharge daily, it's just uncomfortable at times and every time I go to pee since the muscle that controls the bladder is the same / close to the rectum (I think don't quote me on that) it almost feels like I release the mucus as well especially with a very full bladder which happens a lot since I drink A LOT now a days. I usually just release the mucus once in the am and once at night before bed.

Hope that answered some of your questions. I'm 7 weeks post op.

Oh and in 8 months with permanent ostomy and 3 months with loop I have only had 2 leaks. Both minor and found them before the leak left the barrier so it was still contained.

When I had my loop ostomy and stil had my rectum I had mucus discharge daily. No accidents but sometimes just a smudge seemed to leak out. But just a drop, at first I wore a panty liner but towards then end didn't need that anymore.

cupcakespinkgal said...
Good luck on Monday!

When I woke up from surgery it was a weird feeling because although I was in surgical pain my body felt very calm and Crohns pain free. My surgeon said lots of patients feel this way. My body felt like it stopped fighting the war because My body not the disease finally won.

My GI said that some people wake up and they feel like the Monster is out of their body. I did feel much better after I woke up.

NSSG,

My blood work always came back with my levels of b12 being normal but I convinced my GI to write me a script for monthly b12 injections. It has made a big difference, A few months ago I forgot to give myself 2 months of injections and I felt so fatigued and rundown. I gave myself the injection (2 months late) and I started to feel much more energetic.

notsosicklygirl said...
I've never had any leaks. I've always been able to get to the bathroom. A few times, right a the beginning after takedown, I wasn't familiar with gas vs BM and I had a shart, but I didn't have that with the ileo. The only time I ever passed anything out of my bottom with the ileo, would be first thing in the morning when I sat on the toilet and pushed. Waking up from the first step was tough, simply because you're confused and on a lot of medication. Everything went pretty smoothly for me. I got to my room and people took care of me for a few days. It took some time to be able to get up and down on my own, but once I was able to do that I just wanted to learn to change/empty my ostomy so I could go home. I had a drain tube in my bottom for the first few days, which was not comfortable to say the least. Absolutely horrifying and probably the worst part of the whole experience for me, but i am thankful I got through it and I live like a healthy person now.

Wafer leaks, I've had. With my loop, I had the worst luck getting a perfect seal. it wasn't like it would be exposed, but i could feel the output around the 1mm edge and it was burn. I would change all the time because of it. It didn't cause any odor, just discomfort and frustration. The output itself is not pleasant to smell (AT ALL), but what poop is? I recommend getting some spray for home, even a travel one for if you're out is helpful.

I'm not sure I consider those leaks. I have that all the time. I had a problem at first the wafer was cut too close and whenever I'd bend over the top would pinch my stoma and it would hurt pretty bad and get sore. So I cut the wafer bigger around the stoma and now I have it where my skin gets a little irritated and is still purple/red where there is no wafer covering my skin (that 1mm or so around the stoma) but that is much more comfortable than when it was too tight. It just has a little burn every now and then but not constantly or consistent. If I hear leak, I think output leaking out of the bag or wafer completely and having to change the wafer/bag/clothes etc.

Sublingual works well for certain vitamins. I take vitamin D as sublingual drops since surgery and it is much more effective then when I took pills.

I know i am nuts, but i just went on amazon and they had drops. I bought some already. They will be here Saturday! Hoping for a boost :)

Ziggs said...
I've always wondered about how the brain and the gut are hand in hand with emotion, I read that the gut bacteria directly affect mood and that most of the bodies serotonin is made in the large intestine.
However I've also read about studies that say that serotonin levels don't really play a part in depression.

What happens to the emotions once the colon is gone? Is there any major change or am I severely wrong about this?


I don't want to sound silly 🤐

aside from a bout of depression immediately postop, (which is pretty common for major surgery) I have had no mood changes. I've been without my colon for six years now. If anything I'm way happier now not dealing with the struggles of life with UC.