colon resection surgery - Bowel Disorders Message Board

mtsparkles · 01-11-2005, 09:51 AM

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hello,
I am scheduled for resection surgery on Thursday and would like to chat with anyone who has undergone this proceedure. The doc says I will be in the hospital anywhere from 4 days to 2 weeks. The proceedure is scheduled because of adhesions and a tortous sigmoid colon.
Thanks!

DiverGal · 01-12-2005, 04:21 AM

Hi there! There is an active cohort of resection folk here on the board. Things have been quiet lately, so they may or may not check in. I had my colon resected in August and was in the hospital for 10 days (one of the longer stays in the group, many of whom had laparoscopy whereas I had open resection). I will be around most of the day, though I do have to go for my annual mammogram in an hour. But I will be back within an hour after that and will be here if you want to talk.

There are some useful threads on this board. In particular, there is a diary thread by Resection Man which gives great insight into this surgery. I'll see if I can find it and bump it for you.

mtsparkles · 01-19-2005, 11:50 AM

Well, I had my surgery on the 13th of Jan. and am back home doing much better than I could imagine. I'm 48, female and from what I understand my surgery was necessary because of my hysterectomy several years ago. Seems the adhesions that formed from that surgery grabbed my sigmoid colon and plastered it to my pelvic floor causing a blockage. The doctor removed 12 inches. I had an open surgery and he went through the same scar I had from my hysterectomy. The first 2 days after surgery are a complete blur, I had some complications with pain med's but once that was all settled I found myself doing quite well. I was released from the hospital Monday which was 5 days post op. I'm worried now that I'm home though because I haven't had another bm. I was going good in the hospital and not sure what is happening here at home. I will be calling the doctor this afternoon to find out if I need to do something different.

DiverGal · 01-19-2005, 01:29 PM

Glad to hear everything went well! Do check in with the Colon Resecties thread for additional moral support. It is the "home" thread for the colon resection crowd here.

Don't sweat the BMs. After my surgery, I went two days at home without a BM and then when I did get the urge I was constipated. As you know, the doctors tell you not to strain, right? So I fretted a bit, ate more fruit and drank LOTS of water. Heavy on the water, to keep things fluffy. And I did get that BM. Still, it took about three weeks to get "regular" again, and eventually my surgeon did recommend I take fiber supplements daily, which I now do. Talk with your doctor if you're worried, but I suspect things will get back on track for you. If you have a willing significant other, use this opportunity to get some good relaxation pampering: candlelight, fireside snuggles, romantic music, a good book, a nice long massage. Relax, enjoy and get your mind in a happy place. Your body will thank you for it.

auntjudyg · 01-20-2005, 07:26 AM

Hi mtsparkles, Glad everything is going well. I agree about the bm. Even though you were going in the hospital, getting back home is a bit of a strain so can slow things up a little. This too shall pass!

Hope you have some help at home. One of worst things, I found, was trying to do too much. Getting overly tired can really set you back.

Keep us posted!