2 Months After Surgery

[Buckshot323]

The 10” scar(it shrunk a couple inches since surgery as the swelling went down) still stands out and is very red. It's been 2 to 3 weeks since I've felt any unusual pain spikes in my abdomen that I reported earlier. They were short lived and I believe it was just a little movement and everything getting back in position. I still have mild bladder pressure when I urinate. Although I only had 25 % of my bowel removed, it seems that when I feel a BM is ready I need to get to a bathroom quicker than before the operation. I don't know if that will change as time goes by. I am back to work in the construction field, but I am still easing my way back into the heavy lifting type work.

I have posted regularly to try and give a measuring stick for those of you considering surgery or in recovery. Hopefully it will be helpful to those recovering and provide a guide to those considering surgery. I had as good of a surgery experience and recovery as one could have expected. I know I’ve been fortunate not to have any complications with the exception of the hernia the doctors found prior to my surgery. I have scheduled the hernia surgery for this summer. My only disappointment was that I did NOT lose a few pounds. I’m not obese but I would have liked to shed 10-15 pounds. I am starting an exercise routine now as part of my recovery and as an effort to improve my health and physical condition. I will make better food choices and chew my food better in the future to try and avoid future problems.

I only have a 6-month check up remaining and that will serve as my pre-hernia surgery appointment as well. There is not much I would do differently looking back. My recommendations are: I am glad I had "Open" vs. Laparoscopic surgery even with the longer recovery. I like the idea of the doctor having plenty of room to get his hands in there and check things out. I recommend the epidural although I had a few problems with it. Take only the amount of pain relief that you have to have and get on your feet and stay off your back, your recovery will be quicker. A small thing to do is shave the arm that you want the IV's in. It was much more comfortable this time as that tape was not constantly pulling on my hairs. I shaved from my fingers all the way to the elbow. Don’t forget to consider having the appendix taken out at the same time. It was only $118.90 extra!

I will not post any further about my surgery unless I have future complications. However, I will respond to any questions posed. Good health to all.

[Les H]

Good for you man!!

I'm inbetween surgeries, had the Sigmoid procedure (emergency surg for a ruptured diver) and am hoping to be put back together in a month or so.

I want to back up what you've said about the surgery. Have it if you can. I too am looking into having my appendix out at the same time, great to hear it was so cheap.

I met with my GI yesterday to discuss having a colonoscopy done to see the state of my colon before the next surgery. He will remove any polyps at the time of the procedure so I'm hoping I won't lose anymore tubing

I did ask him about any physical side effects I'll face in the future with a shorter colon (like your having less time to find a bathroom) and he says I should have no problems, but may end up having 3 movements a day... about what I'm having with my colostomy bag.

I did end up losing weight with my surgery, but I think a lot of that is due to immediate diet changes (no sodas, no fast food) as well as a flushing of the colon. I'm currently down about 15 lbs and hope to keep losing.

I too have returned to exercising after the 6 week mark (cardio & weight training)... even doing situps with my 7 inch scar My docs want me in the best shape I can be in for the next surgery.

You're absolutely right about getting on your feet as soon as possible to assist in recovery. I did the pain meds fully the first 3 weeks, but then only at night to help sleeping the final 3 weeks.

I haven't had any diver pain since the operation, and according to my GI I should be completely free of the diver once any last polyps are removed. Not to say it can't return, but with a high fiber diet and lots of water the chances of a return should be fairly slim. He also said in the future to call him at the first sign of any diver pain. Not to wait, but at the first pinch contact him.

I guess I'm saying that surgery is the closest thing to a cure we can have for this disease. He dismissed the 'nuts n seeds' diet restrictions as old wives' tales and said most modern thinking claims the flareups to be caused by fecal matter getting trapped in a diver polyp. He did say that if certain foods did cause pain, then by all means avoid them, but that medically there has been no proven corellation between foods n flares.

I'll post my experiences with the 2nd surgery to help as well.

Buckshot, thanks so much for sharing what you went through, it really has been a big help for me!! Best of luck with your hernia surgery.

Fingers crossed that we'll all be in good health for summer vacations!!

Cheers,
~Les

P.S. Let me add how happy I am that they put you under for colonoscopies... with the colostemy bag not only do I get probed through the rectum, but they also go in through the stoma poking out of my stomach!!! YIKES!!!

[Bitohoney]

Great information Les. It really helps to know what might be in the future for us. BOH

[cameraguy]

I'm going on four months after my surgery,I have the 10" zipper,above and around the belly button then, down.I am 50 years old and I must say the recovery was less painful then my hernia operation.I had a collectemy so I didn't have to have the bag. I was in the hospital from 02/08 to 05/08...the Dr. wanted to try a noninvasive antibiotic therapy to see if this would help....I was on TPN and IV fluids most of my hospital stay(I watched the food channel to see people eat....LOL)The antibiotics didn't work so I wound up having surgery anyway(Wish I would have just had the surgery and have been done with it} I did leave the surgery with a VRE from catheterization and the antibiotic to kill the VRE was not covered by my insurance and cost $1600 for one course.....there was no Generic for this...I am still trying to get the hospital to reimburse me for this.

[Buckshot323]

Cameraguy

I agree that generally the Hernia surgery recovery was slower than the Colon Resection, but both were much better than I prepared myself for. I'm at 6 weeks today since the hernia surgery. Doing great and starting back to work now.

3 months in the hospital is a long time. That would drive me crazy, I think they would have to induce a coma on me! That's going to be a nice bill. Last year they charged my Insurance about $5,000 ( Plus $4500 for a CAT Scan) for just 24 hours. I'm not familiar with VRE or I don't recognize it. Maybe you could expand and that so others know about it too.

[cameraguy]

Buckshot...Here is a link which will explain what a VRE is.


http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dhqp/ar_VRE_publicFAQ.html

[cameraguy]

The link I posted to the CDC doesn't seem to work for me...I guess just,copy paste it into the address bar

[MagicMan]

Why are you guys thinking of having the Apendix out during your surgery. I am schedulling my surgery today and have never heard of the appendix coming out. Why fix it if it isn't broken?

Thanks,
Kevin

[Buckshot323]

Kevin

I did not schedule my Appendix removal until the doctor came in to talk with me minutes before surgery. I had read that people had it removed at the same time as the resection and I did not want to go through all this again so I told him to take it if he could. My insurance paid the doctor $118.00 to take it out!

Why? I'm not 100% sure other than as I understand Doctors don't know what it is real purpose is. I guess it was like changing your radiator hoses, even though the appear ok, when you change the water pump on your car. Sort of preventative maintenance.

If you have not had your surgery yet good luck and let us know how it goes.

[MagicMan]

Hi Everyone,

I had my surgery 4 days ago and I am home from the hospital. Wow! What a huge difference, no hard colon or pain except for the incisions.

I had laparoscopic surgery with 2 small 1/2 inch incisions on my right side, 1 just below my waste line and 1 (2 inch incision) around the inside of my belly button which will never be seen once healed. Absolutely incredible what ny surgeon was able to do with minimal damage. He is at Mass General Hospital in Boston Massachusetts and has performed Lap-Colon surgery for the past 16 years and is concidered an expert in this area.

Although he never once told me to have the surgery rather it was completely my decision, after the surgery was over he said that I had made the right decision at the right time and that this will take care of all my symptoms. He removed 12 inches of my sigmoid and said that it was severely scarred, streaked, hard as wood and damaged. He had a big smile on his face and so did I. I am 42 years old.

I am able to walk around, up and down stairs and take care of my basic day to day needs, No heavy lifting for at least 4 weeks though. Why push it. My wife and kids have been great as well.

I guess the point is, listen to your body. You will know when it is the right time to have suregery and follow you gut. I was scared to death, depressed and a lot of anxiety before surgery. Paxil for the last two months has really helped get me through it and it really is not that bad afterall. Funny, no pain at all in my colon, just my stomach muscles are sore but nothing that is intollerable.

Slow to have bowel movements but I am taking stool softener with pain meds and not going to strain. It will come when it it ready.

In closing, thanks to everyone in this forum. It was your commnts that gave me strenghth and peace of mind to go through with what will change my life forever and allow me to live a 99% normal life again. God Bless you all and do not be afraid. Follow your gut and find the right doctor. Ask people for references and go with you initial impressions.

Bye for now.

Sincerely
Kevin

[msjinx]

Hi Kevin,
I only 5 minutes ago came across this site and your story was the one that caught my eye. I suffered from diverticulitis for a short time but the attacks were too frequent and I ended up in the hospital from 8/2008 to 10/2008. I had surgery and was given the dreaded colostomy bag. Although the doctor assured me it was only going to be for 3 months they were the longest 3 months in history. I had all the classic symtoms: depression, anger, frustration, and even disbelief. How could this be happening to me? Well I finally had the reconstruction surgery on 1/12/09 and and was home by the 17th. I have pretty much recovered from it but now I am having pain in the 10 inch scar. I have spoken to my doctor and was given a cream to apply to the scar 3 times a day.The only problem with that is the cream burns like crazy once it absorbs through the skin. I am sure she will try something else but in the mean time if you know of anything please pass it on. Congratulations on your recovery and God bless You. msjinx

[MagicMan]

Hi msjinx,

I have had plenty of stiches and cuts and bruises in my day. Pain and tenderness at the incision site is normal so long as there is no redness or swelling or clinical signs of infection which include any discharge from the icision site.

I use to be a wound care sales rep 15 years ago and dealth with all kind of wounds from decubitus (bed sores), ulcers, dehissed (infected) wounds as well as anastomosis sites during surgery.

It is three weeks today since my surgery and my incisions are still very tender. There is a great deal of scar tissue that forms under them which should be massaged a few times a day to help break it up. I do not know what kind of cream he gave you but it should not burn. You should try Aqaufore Ointment or better yet, cocoa butter is good for incisions. Using ointment on your incision site also helps with the massaging action. Of course you need to review this with your doctor before changing anything.

Regarding my surgery. I have had a slight setback. I am now off of the pain meds and it seems as though they were giving me a false scense of sucurity because I am having pain at the anastomosis site as well as loose bowel movement for the past few days. In addition, every time I have a bowel movement it feeals as though 1 - 2 inches of stoll is bing pinched off and will not come out which leaves me feeling as though I have to go all the time. Eventually it comes out after an hour or so. Any thoughts from anyone? Thanks. Be well.

[MagicMan]

Hi msjinx,

I have had plenty of stiches and cuts and bruises in my day. Pain and tenderness at the incision site is normal so long as there is no redness or swelling or clinical signs of infection which include any discharge from the icision site.

I use to be a wound care sales rep 15 years ago and dealth with all kind of wounds from decubitus (bed sores), ulcers, dehissed (infected) wounds as well as anastomosis sites during surgery.

It is three weeks today since my surgery and my incisions are still very tender. There is a great deal of scar tissue that forms under them which should be massaged a few times a day to help break it up. I do not know what kind of cream he gave you but it should not burn. You should try Aqaufore Ointment or better yet, cocoa butter is good for incisions. Using ointment on your incision site also helps with the massaging action. Of course you need to review this with your doctor before changing anything.

Regarding my surgery. I have had a slight setback. I am now off of the pain meds and it seems as though they were giving me a false scense of sucurity because I am having pain at the anastomosis site as well as loose bowel movement for the past few days. In addition, every time I have a bowel movement it feeals as though 1 - 2 inches of stoll is bing pinched off and will not come out which leaves me feeling as though I have to go all the time. Eventually it comes out after an hour or so. Any thoughts from anyone? Thanks. Be well.

[gladitsgone]

Hello Everyone,

I am a 47 year old male and was diagnosed with Diverticulitis in January of 2009. I had my my appendix removed at the age of 12 and seemed to always have stomach problems, mostly stomach aches on a regular basis and frequent painful bowel movements. I figured it was just work stress and maybe a poor diet, although I ate a good range of foods, but maybe too much caffeine, and cigarettes. I'm not overweight, 155 lbs. and 5'11".

In September of 2008, I developed a urinary tract Infection. I noticed a strong smell to my urine and the presence of solid matter in it, hope I'm not grossing anyone out. My primary care physician was a bit puzzled, and did a prostate exam, ordered blood and urine tests, along with a bladder and kidney sonogram. I also starting taking Cipro to fight the infection. The tests came back as just having a urinary tract infection and things seemed to be okay for 2-3 months, but the symptoms came roaring back.

The doctor then had me go in for a CT scan in January of 2009, and that revealed a fistula on my colon. I was told that surgery would be necessary. Yes, kind of scary, for sure in a freak out mode. The fistula had poked a hole into my bladder which was why fecal matter was passing in my urine and was causing the infections.

So after a colonoscopy, many blood and urine tests, more Cipro and Flagyl, consultations with 2 surgeons and 2 urologists. I had the surgery done on April 14th, 2009. They tried to do laproscopic surgery, but after 2 hours, had to cut me open. I have a 7" scar from the top of my groin to right above the belly button. The colon section removed was 11 x 6 x 6 cm and the bladder needed a small figure eight stitch to seal it. There was alot of scar tissue to clean up and I was in the operating room for 7 hours altogether.

I was in the hospital for 1 week, home for another week and back to work 2 weeks after surgery. No heavy lifting for a month. Other than some stomach swelling, which the urologist said could last for 6 months, things are pretty much back to normal. I did have a catheter while in the hospital and a final test was a cystograph, quite unpleasant, a dye is injected into the bladder to check for any leakage, yes I know it had to be done. No pain meds for at least a month now.

Also, my insurance company is Kaiser Permanente and the total out of pocket expense for the surgery and hospital stay was 250.00 U.S. dollars, with the addition of 2 prescriptions at 15.00 U.S. dollars each.

I was most worried about having to have a colostomy bag and was most fortunate to not have to have that. I think it was due to the fact that this procedure was done not as an emergency and I had ample time to prepare for it. Another unpleasant thing is having to drink 4 liters of electrolyte before the colonoscopy and the day before surgery, as well as no solid food for a week after surgery.

I would be happy to share more details if anyone is contemplating surgery, in my case, I had no choice.

Take care!

[gladitsgone]

Sorry,

Maybe I posted this wrong. I guess I should have had this in the 'Have you had a colon resection'?

Can you move this?

Thanks!