Hi Rach.
I had emergency surgery to remove dead and diseased colon on June 18th this year. I've had, like the rest of the nation, diverticulitis with the odd flare up. And during my life, I've treated my body and digestive system with contempt, which is the only word I can think of. Very harshly, I asked a lot of it. Anyway, diverticulitis is treated with cipro and metronidazole, which makes you feel like shit mainly because no alcohol. And boy, it is f#@!!ing awful if you do. Trust me. Anyway, enough of that old bollocks.
My emergency surgery saved my miserable skin. Another few hours and I would have been propping up the bar having a long with St Peter, Ollie Reed, and Led Margin! Seven hours later, all colon except the blockage they thought was a massive tumor. So I've got a really cool colostomy and a God ugly fistula. The biopsy came back four weeks of stress later as benign, thankfully. Just ulcerative tissue and dead colon as the whole thing had been caused by blood supply to the large bowel post where the bowel had folded a couple of times and trapped the artery. So it had been slowly dying and decaying (lovely!). Got to overload point hence A E and seven hours. First-sized hole in my gut and zip up my belly to chest. I'm eternally grateful to our wonderful NHS and especially the team under Mr. Power at Addenbrookes in Cambridge. So ileo and fistula, need more surgery to get rid of the last bit of bad bowel. Ileo for life and I'm grateful for my life.
I've only bored you with all this sweetie so you can see that spitting out a lot of detail is very good for the soul and one's sanity. And more importantly, it gives the guys on here more to chew on to be more specific with advice.
All I can tell you is my first two months were a nightmare after I came out of HD for a week. I felt like death. All the issues you are experiencing came tumbling at me and feels like you are fighting the whole world. But the recovery is dependent on many things, but high on the list is a supportive partner and close friend and family. I had all the nutrient feed and didn't use any drugs apart from the antibiotics and Oxycontin. When my electrolytes and blood nutrient levels were riding, they kicked me out (joke). And once I got home and stuck exactly to my stom a nurse's instruction about food and routines, particularly fluids and ten or twelve snacks a day. My point is Rach, get as much expertise around you in the hospital. A surgical consultant is not the person to tell you best practice for washing, bathroom layout, eating, drinking, etc., etc. My advice is to follow the expert advice from the professional from the relevant field and follow what your body is telling you as well.
All I can say Rach is that my recovery on stom a bad improved exponentially. My fistula is a freaking smelly ugly bitch and will be out soon, but it's painful as well. The worst dang thang is the incision infections and tension sutures that keep loosing off. But all can be dealt with at home with help from GP and nurse practitioners, very good.
Listen to Bob's advice. He's been through similar to you by the sound of it. Give up a few more details will help. Also, use every minute you're in the hospital to gather knowledge about everything you can absorb about your situation. Hope you have strong support which will keep your mood high and positive. That is critical to aid recovery. Also, use pain meds that you need. When powerful drugs are given when you are in terrible pain, they are not recreational. You WON'T get addicted. Just follow the Dr. guide and read up to understand the product. Pain will drastically adversely impede your rate and quality of recovery and management of your condition.
People will probably disagree with my suggestions, but I think I've tried to be realistic and honest. That's all.
Keep smiling Rach and keep fighting. The feeling when you make progress is fantastic. The situation ain't gonna go away, so you might as well get control of it, darlin'.
Graham
