Hi everyone! So my Rocky stance was short-lived. Ugh!! I had diarrhea today. I thought “normal” was on the horizon, I got too excited, but I'm sure it's not too far from my reach. I had a follow-up appointment with the surgeon yesterday, and she said that my bowels would be erratic for at least two weeks but could last up to six weeks or longer, and that would still be normal. A little setback but not discouraging. We talked about the rectal pain and the side pain, and she said that was all normal. She did say I was able to return to my normal diet, “you can eat anything,” and it was okay to start adding fiber to my diet again, but slowly because it could cause gas and bloating. She also said I could adjust my diet according to my BMs. If diarrhea, add toast, rice, etc. If too firm, remove fiber so I don't strain and drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration. I am a very inquisitive person and believe we need to be our own advocate when it comes to our health. Every time I am at the doc's office, any doc or specialist, I ask so many questions. Here are a few questions I asked and her responses for those who are curious.
Q: I don't really have a belly button anymore, is that okay?
A: It's there, way back, you just can't see it, but yes, it's fine.
Q: How long until the inside of where the stoma used to be completely heals?
A: It takes about 6 weeks, those muscles were stitched back together, and after about 3 months, the stitches on the inside will start dissolving.
Q: Do I need to worry about fistulas?
A: No, and I did not see any sign of fistulas forming at the time of surgery. That doesn't mean it can't happen, but it's not present now, and I don't think it will be an issue.
Q: How was the hernia repaired?
A: I cut the bubble that formed, stitched it up, then stitched up the muscle it came out of. I did not use mesh because it's not good to use mesh with patients who have intestinal issues.
Q: Did you end up using cadaver to reinforce and support the hernia repair?
A: No, I didn't have to.
Q: The part of my belly where the hernia used to be still sticks out a bit, will it go down?
A: Yes, your body is still swollen, but in time it will go flat.
Q: When I was discharged, I was advised not to push when I poop, but sometimes I feel like I need to.
A: It's okay to, just do not sit there pushing or straining.
Q: Discharge instructions said not to sit on the toilet for more than 2-3 minutes, but it feels like I'm not done emptying.
A: You can sit there for longer, but not longer than 10-15 minutes. If you feel like you still need to go, get up, walk around a few minutes, then go back. That should help.
Q: I still have rectal pain and pressure with BMs.
A: Yes, that's normal, you are only 9 days from major surgery.
So that's it, I won't see her anymore unless something comes up, but she did say that if I have questions, I could call. I believe she was a good surgeon, she was patient and answered all of my questions without rushing me. I did see her for a reversal consult, and I will post about that later. It would have been nice to post in sequence, but, as you know, because of the blockage, I had the reversal done as an unexpected emergency. Thank you for reading this long post LOL. Have a good night!
