Hello!

Welcome Lauren.

There are a lot of great people here that will be of support. My 19 year old son, Dillon, went through this just over a year ago and I know had hard it is.

This was really major surgery that you have gone through and you were probably very sick before hand and it has been such a short time since your surgery. Your body needs time to start to regain its health. As hard as it is, you really need to think in terms of months before you really notice a difference on how well you are. Take it one day at a time, eat and drink as best you can and make sure, even though you may not feel like doing it, that you get up and be active...it helps so much!

Dillon was very sick going into his first surgery and it took him months to start to feel really good...but those days did come for him and they will for you! He has since had a J pouch built and then a "take down" and he is doing SO WELL. He has put on about 30 lbs, but that took months to happen and he is now healthy in every way. He is out there doing what all teenagers should be doing....which only creates more worries for us parents...lol... There are truly better days ahead!

Hey Lauren, just wanted to say hang in there. I had my colon taken out on the first of December and the initial few weeks really were terrible. My appetite took a little while to come back after I got home as well; things WILL get better with time. I had lots of tea and toast for a while there, but at six weeks now I'm eating pretty much whatever I want.

What kind of pain medication are you on? I know I needed heavy duty pain killers (norco) the first two weeks out of the hospital.

I wish you the absolute best of luck with your recovery. Like others have said, it will likely take at least a few weeks before you're feeling really good again.

Hi Lauren

Hang in there sweetie it will get better day by day. Do stay ahead of the pain and discomfort and make it at least manageable so it isn't making you depressed. There is enough to deal with and cope with initially without being in unnecessary pain while the body is trying to heal itself.

It was a month yesterday for hubby's sugery. He is doing very well but still has to take it easy. His regular Gastro Dr visited him in the hospital and told him not to get discouraged if he is doing well and then all of a sudden feels like it has regressed. He said this is very MAJOR surgery and takes time to fully heal...so don't rush it. We go see the surgeon in a few weeks for follow up.


Whatever the procedure, it is a lifestyle change for sure but nothing we all can't handle when things heal and finally let you get on with life. Once the pain and suffering and all that frequency and urgency anxiety are gone you will finally be in control. That in of itself has been a Godsend for hubby. He spends so little time in the bathroom every day now and has the emptying of the pouch down pat. We went to lunch the other day and I ran into Target -- he decided to also come in.... he needed to use the men's room and did so for the first time out with ease.

(By the way the hydrogen peroxide 3% max strength works very well in the pouch eliminating the odor.)

Best of luck and definitely hang out here....lots of great people, wonderful support group and great advice. Plus you can be here in your jammies, coffee and not even have to leave the house to go to support meetings!

Lauren I am sure you were told the importance of drinking enough "good" fluids and protein is very important to help you heal faster. Of course chew, chew chew. If you can't eat much at least try to get the protein into you to help you get your overall strength restored.