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Got an appt. for a surgery consult

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 8/6/2010 2:03 AM (GMT 0)
So, after my missed trip and basically not being in any kind of remission for 2 years, I decided to ask my ARNP if she would schedule a surgery consult. I would like to explore the option of getting the inflamed portion and diverticulum out of my sigmoid colon. Has anyone else here ever had parts of their colon out with success? Is it a rough/risky surgery? I know bowel surgery is no walk in the park. I heard some can be done laparoscopically.

This colitis has hijacked my life, my work is suffering and I can't make plans. I've had so many trips ruined and if I worked the kind of job where I had to be in the door at 8 am, I would have been fired a long time ago. I can sometimes work from home and work flex time but with the current economic situation, it worries me that I could be perceived as someone who isn't as productive as others. Sooner or later, it could cost me my job. Missing a conference this week due to illness, it is $1100 out of my pocket for non refundable registrations and plane tickets! At least the appt with the surgeon made me feel better b/c my GI sure isn't able to get me in remission.
Posted 8/6/2010 2:48 AM (GMT 0)
Do you have UC or Crohn's? Your signature is kind of confusing. If you have Crohn's a resection might be possible but only a CR surgeon will be able to confirm that. If you have UC the recommended surgery is a removal of the entire colon and rectum. Again, a surgeon can explain this to you.

Sue
Posted 8/6/2010 3:55 AM (GMT 0)
if you have UC they wont do a partial, it would only help temporarily. Because the UC could come back in the other parts of the colon.
If you do end up with surgery, life will be much better! good luck!
Posted 8/6/2010 1:31 PM (GMT 0)
Well, so far they say it is garden variety colitis, biopsy does not say it is UC or crohn's so far. However, I do have a positive blood test (ASCA) for crohn's which is suspicious if you ask me. I also have a positive ANA, horrible joint pain at times and auto immune thyroid disease. So, it is confusing for sure! I would like the diverticulum out though but we'll see what the surgeon says. I guess he'll consult with my GI. I suspect the GI will not recommend surgery but my ARNP is more understanding.
Posted 8/6/2010 1:53 PM (GMT 0)
A small but still signifigant percentage of UC'ers are ASCA+. I assume they've taken this into account in the considerations for surgery. Are you pANCA+ too?

I'm anti-Cbir1 postive which implies CD of the colon that follows a UC like pattern.
Posted 8/6/2010 2:35 PM (GMT 0)
It's not up to your GI whether or not you are a candidate for surgery. He or she can be opposed to it but it's still your right. Your CR surgeon will determine if he/she thinks your a proper candidate. Get the consultation.

Sue
Posted 8/7/2010 3:14 AM (GMT 0)
No, my pANCA was negative. I haven't had the tests repeated in a while, so it been over a year. I would hate to have a surgery though and have it not help. That would really suck. So, I hope this surgeon is good. I guess it is still my decision. I have IBS on top of it and that sucks because surgery won't take care of that.
Posted 8/7/2010 4:07 AM (GMT 0)
I had my sigmoid colon removed laparoscopically. Had been though to have endometriosis in the sigmoid colon but it turned out to be chronic colitis which did not show up on colonoscopy biopsies, despite frequent bleeding. Endometriosis was found in other areas though.

For a couple weeks after surgery, no more symptoms. But they're back. I guess at least I will not have issues with diverticulitis (had diverticulosis at time of surgery). But colitis is still in rectum and possibly higher up. Had talked to GI dr twice prior to surgery and he recommended having it removed despite no positive diagnosis from colonoscopy as he said many have relief after surgery even with no positive diagnosis. I think he was wrong.

Hope you have some improvement soon. UC sucks. I have the auto-immune thyroid issues too.
Posted 8/7/2010 1:20 PM (GMT 0)
Sorry the surgery didn't work too well for you. Sounds like we have some things in common. Someone further up in the the thread said that with UC you need to get the entire colon removed to get relief-:) I dunno........ In the pack of my mind I am worried some of my symptoms will return due to IBS but that used to be under control for me. Now with the IBD, it kicks back into action too, so it seems. I've often wondered if I had endometriosis in there as well since I was never able to get pregnant.
Posted 8/7/2010 1:32 PM (GMT 0)
Surgery, that is a total proctocolectomy, would rid you of IBS too. I had IBS but no more!

Sue
Posted 8/7/2010 1:33 PM (GMT 0)
Did you get a lot of diarrhea from the j pouch surgery? Was it hard to recover from it?
Posted 8/7/2010 2:56 PM (GMT 0)
I've had my jpouch for 9 years and I don't have diarrhea! Recovery is not easy, I can't imagine a surgery that doesn't have a recovery, but it was made easier because I wasn't battling UC anymore. Immediately I was healthy which makes a huge difference. I went back to work 3 weeks after surgery and back to normal activities.

Sue
Posted 8/7/2010 9:38 PM (GMT 0)
yes all surgeries have recovery times, even wisdom teeth removal has a recovery time!

But the healhier you are going in, and the better physical shape you are in going in to surgery, the easier the recovery will be.
Posted 8/8/2010 1:45 AM (GMT 0)
Yea, we were visiting relatives today when my stomach started acting up. I know I had to use the restroom about 8 times in a few hours. It is so embarassing. I would like to be done with this. Imodium won't help either.
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