Questions About Upcoming Surgery and Post-Op Recovery

I'm having my second and hopefully last surgery this coming thursday (2/4). I had surgery Oct 2008 where I got my colostomy. I have had Crohn's disease for 16 years and it just got to the point nothing was working and surgery had to be done if I wanted any kind of a life. This second surgery they are going to remove the severed diseased intestine, remove the anus and sew up my bum. I have a few questions/concerns. I was wondering for those who have had their bums sewn up how that is? Is it weird to walk? Is it noticeable (to you)? Is sitting down painful and if so how long did that last? After surgery did you use a foam pad or blow up donut to sit on to reduce the pressure on the area?



     I'm just a little stressed out as I'm sure anyone going into surgery would be so any and all helpful advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks so much

🔒 Login to see image

I had my bum sewed up, Mrs reckons i,m the perfect hubby after having the arsehole cut out of me lol,, but I digress. i never really felt any pain in my rectum or where it used to be cos my belly was the sorest. Nothing changes except you grow more hair down there for some reason. i think its cos we dont have to wipe after every poo hence nothing to stop it growing. It heals, goes to the shape it wants and you dont even thn k of it. Its mre getting your head around having a part of you removed. I'm sure you'll cope ok,, best of luck thursday,

Hi Quiet dreamer, I also had my rectal stump removed and butt sewn up, and to be honest, it just looks like a normal butt. I liken it to a Barbie butt, lol.

For a short while after the proctocolectomy (surgical removal of the rectum and all or part of the colon), you will have to be a bit careful of bending over and most other hip movements, until a follow-up visit by your surgeon, who will then tell you if all is healed and for you to carry on with your day-to-day activities. If you feel the need to sit on a pillow, then it's okay to do so. Donut-type pillows should maybe be avoided, for sometimes the butt cheeks have a tendency to spread a little, putting strain on the stitches, but I guess it's a personal preference, kind of depends on the size of your butt and whatnot.

For the first few months after, you may experience a feeling similar to a bunch of wadding up there. This is merely swelling and the scar tissue settling down. I had that feeling for maybe 2 months after; I don't know if it went away or I got used to the idea, lol, but regardless, it never became a problem, nor is it a painful feeling.

Next thing is phantom rectum, lol. You may experience yourself needing to poo from time to time. It's a really weird sensation until you get used to it, kind of sets off the old goosebumps, and you really think sometimes that you are going to have a conventional poo, lol. Phantom Rectum is a well-documented fact, although some surgeons refuse to believe such a thing occurs. It does; it is merely the leftover nerves reacting to the bowel movements as the nerves are all connected. It passes after about 30 seconds or so, but I found that actually going and sitting on the toilet helps settle the sensation down. Again, it is not a painful sensation, just a little flustering, lol.

Aside from the general complications that may arise due to any surgeries, it is a pretty straightforward operation and once completed and healed, it shouldn't give you any bother at all.

I'm sure other Barbie butts will post their comments also, so you get a more rounded idea of the proctocolectomy and aftercare.

Wishing you all the best, Quietdreamer
Sweede.x

Hey Quiet,



         Sweede is right on with everything he said,  I just want to add  that if your bottom was beautiful before,  it will remain beautiful.....LOL(  However know that since the surgeon has to sew it up and it is a complicated procedure and it will take some time to heal it will feel a little different till all the healing has taken place....3-6 months at least) .......If its been causing you problems as mine was,  im going to say that you will probably enjoy not having it around to remind you of just how problematic it was.



        Good luck ................You will be fine..........Any other questions you have ,  feel free to ask me anytime....Michael

🔒 Login to see image

Thanks for the replies. Yeah I've been saying I'm going into surgery and get to come out barbee so some find that humorous. My mother is coming into town to stay for 2 weeks, she'll arrive oh in about an hour now hehe anyhoo she's going to stay at the hospital with me (bonus is she's a nurse). Then when she goes home my sister is coming for 2 weeks and bonus is she's a nurses aid so yay lol. I'm sure I'll be fine just a bit unnerved. I started my clear liquid diet today and as many times as I've done it I still hate it. I have to go for a colonoscopy tomorrow then stay on clears for tomorrow then surgery on thursday. I can't wait to eat regular food again haha. I actually work at the hospital I'm going to so I'll have lots of people keeping an eye out for me. I think I'm more worried out the sitting down part. That being it's such a new wound that it's going to hurt and the more pressure on it will cause it to hurt more. Well I guess looking partly like barbee is to be envied so I'm just special haha

Living with Your Ostomy | Hollister

Of course you are special!



I may well end up having the same op, so please let us know how you are getting on and how it was for you ... did the earth move etc etc! (sorry......!)



Wishing you all the very best for Thursday



Rachel xx

Quietdreamer---I am just sending you this little bundle of Hugs & Good Luck for Thursday , & I really hope that all goes well for you.....My very best wishes....Pete.

Best wishes for Thursday's "barbie-butt" surgery...excellent option for Crohn's disease...in my case this surgery made the disease a distant memory.

Thoughts are with you quiet dreamer...

🔒 Login to see image

&

🔒 Login to see image

Hey Y'all

   IF Quiet gets a Barbie Butt,  does that mean I have a Ken Butt?...............

🔒 Login to see image

  I dont know if Y'all outside of America have it the same we as we do In America,  but Ken and Barbie were an Item,  till they either separated or divorced.......

🔒 Login to see image

🔒 Login to see image







LOL!!!  Is this the Barbie (- Ken) you be talking about Michael (this one has the ostomy bag attached and all)!  

🔒 Login to see image

Many good wishes for your surgery coming from me.  I am so glad you have family to help you, and  real healthcare givers at that!  Very fortunate for that.  Thinking of you.

LMAO

🔒 Login to see image

I love it.  Sexy with a pouch. Michael

🔒 Login to see image

  ( Is that  his hand thats waving, I will leave it up to the readers to decide ).LOL

Hey QD,



I live in Durham. If you need ANYTHING, let me know. I can come over or you can call.

I did have some phantom pain from my anus for a while and felt like I was gonna have a bowel movement. It was WEIRD.  I had painful anal cramps from the many fistulas even though they weren't there anymore for well over a year. But we are no stranger to pain. Are we?



I went through ALOT of appliances cuz the output was so high. I had alot of accidents that freaked me out.



I wished I had more time before your surgery. Tomorrow you'll be drinking your colon cleanser and may not have time to log in but I'll send you my phone number.



Oh about sitting down. You will have more pain trying to stand up, roll over in bed, and get up from the abdominal incision than having no rectum.  I already had a donut from my rotting rectum. I suffered chronic rectal pain. After removing it, it was really just a local pain. I found much relief! NO more hemorrhoids, abcesses...aaaaah.

Praying for you.



Hugs,

Hi Quietdreamer28



I too have had the lot (large colon) to the anus removed and found the phantom poo push still there. I hope your surgery is successful and to hear you are fine and up soon.



As for the Ken and Barbie, I thought Ken was gay because they never seemed to have kids... LOL



JAx



Good luck Quietdreamer, you will be fine.

Quiet,

              I will be praying for you and I hope you are doing ok.

There are so many great people here who are willing to lend an ear, make a joke (at MY expense STEVE) or just give helpful tips & advice.

You will do great! Keep us posted on how yu are doig & Good Luck honey!!!!!!



xoxoxo, Hannah

Good Luck and prayers are with you.



I just had mine done on Jan 25th 2010.... My belly/stma really don't hurt.... but my bottom does, what I didn't read anyone says is about the discharge. I have a discharge from the surgery and am told it will drain awhile until healed... buy stock in guaze 4 x 8's, just joking. i do seem togo thou alot changing to keep dry.



Well, good luck and god be with you.

Melissa

Dear QD!!!!!



Good luck tomorrow!!!!!!! many hugs and good thoughts coming your way!  You'll be fine! Be strong!!!



Sharon

I survived surgery!!!

🔒 Login to see image

Never had fears about that actually being I already had a colostomy surgery in Oct 2008. I expected this surgery to go by smoother oh boy was I wrong. Turns out the surgery plans changed... I still had surgery but instead of leaving my colostomy and just removing the last part of the large intestine and anal area they simply removed all of my large intestine and pulled the small intestine over to make an ileostomy. They left the anus in place just nipped it and sewed the end up on the inside. I'm kind of glad I didn't have the surgery on my bum, wasn't expecting the complicated surgery I did go through though. While in the hospital I developed a Urinary tract infection and a mild pneumonia. I also developed an abscess which required them to do another minor surgery to place a drainage tube in non-other than my left butt cheek which mind you is not pleasant when coming to sitting or laying down. Due to the drainage tube I had to sit crooked to one side and that caused my back to spasm, waking me up in pain... I learned to sleep on my right side. I stayed for a total of 11 days from Feb 4-14. I'm home and recovering fine. I only take one pain pill per day and that's at night before I go to sleep. I'm virtually pain free and that's AWESOME! It's a pain I had to walk down the path I did to get here but I'm here now. I need to work on eating. They put me on an antibiotic b/c of the UTI so everything I eat doesn't taste normal to me. Certain foods make me nauseas. I have my post op Dr appt Feb 24, so he can tell me when I can go back to work. I really want to eat foods I love like salads, cucumbers, asparagus, cooked cabbage... but I've been told to not eat fruits and veggies, mainly raw ones. Any help on that? I was thinking to try each fruit or veg introduced one at a time to see how my body reacts.

So glad you are back and have gone through such major surgery and come out fairly well and unscathed at the other end...... well done! xx

Excellent news quiet dreamer that you are on the road to recovery so soon after surgery!

🔒 Login to see image



Those drainage tubes are beyond belief hey!



Regarding the diet I think what you yourself suggested is good, just try different foods and see what the response is.  Personally with an ileo myself have been able to eat absolutely anything and everything my heart (and tummy) desires! But each of us are different and you will find what works for you.

Cheers...Jo...

🔒 Login to see image

QD be careful. Don't eat ANY raw veggies especially cabbage yet. Slowly reintroduce food to your ileostomy and start with low residue food. You listed about every food that can cause blockages.



Are you going to see your ET nurse? I know you had a colostomy but ileo is a different ball of wax!



Low residue.

Yeah no worries, I'm just trying to gain my weight I lost back. I'm not going to be trying too much fiber containing foods right now. I def won't touch any raw fruits or veggies any time soon. I'll start off with veggies that have been cooked beyond cooked haha and only eat a small portion just to see how my body reacts. I won't start off with the ones I listed either I know better than that. I am educated in Nutrition I have a BS in Nutrition so I know what foods are fiber no-no's.

At the risk of sounding stupid what does ET stand for? I have my post op appt Feb 24. I keep in touch at any time with my GI nurse through email and she will respond the same day I email and typically within a few hours at most.