Question for anyone who has had bowel surgery

[Dogmama]

I really dislike surgery and definitely any hospital stay. I am so hoping this is an out-patient procedure. I rather be miserable at home but then I start thinking about how is it going to be to use the restroom etc. God please, no bed pans, Please! Questions, questions... OK I'm freaked out!

After my neck surgery, they said I had to stay 1 - 2 days. I asked them what the criteria was. They said I had to 1. Walk 2. Pee and 3. Eat. It did all of that 8 hours post surgery, the same day. They still made me stay the night.

Liars!

Turned out to be a good thing. The pain was pretty bad and I was unable to swallow a pill, so the nurse had to grind up the percoset. The percoset made me sick to my stomach, so they gave me zofran (anti-nausea med.) They suggested that I take a valium & a sleeping pill for the night - yeah right. I would have been comotose for days.

I wish I would have taken one or the other. It is impossible to sleep in a hospital.

So, the moral of the story is - listen to the doctors & the nurses. They've probably done this once or twice!

[emily_in_nc]

bcipam,

Did they do a biopsy of the mass? I am assuming that it is benign (sure hope so) since you didn't say otherwise.

I don't have any wisdom to offer as I have been blessed never to go through anything like what you are facing, but I do send you my best wishes for good health and a speedy recovery.

When is your surgery? Please come back and tell us all how you did afterwards (I know you will.)

Take care,
Emily

[bcipam]

Well just an update the mass is malignant (yes the big "C") and has to be removed. I went to visit the surgeon today and was promptly told they don't take my insurance (United Healthcare Choice Plan Plus) $350 please for the initial visit and I will have to put the full 30% (my share for an out of network doctor) up front before the surgery. So I walked out. Spent the entire afternoon trying to find a surgeon in my area who would do the surgery at my preferred hospital (St. Joseph in Orange, CA). There isn't one. So Plan B and maybe Plan C. I found a doctor, but he operates at the hospital not in the plan. Have to find someone and someone soon. Geez with all the other stuff I have to worry about never thought I would have to worry about my insurance. It's is another world nowadays.

I complete my testing tomorrow and am ready to go... just right now I don't know where that is....

It's funny everything i read said I should see a surgeon and then seek a second opinion. Great I can't even get the first opinion much less a second!!!!

Need to get this taken care, its making me alittle depressed and keeping me off my bike. Not good. not good at all!

[salsabike]

Hang in there, bcipam. My dad had colon cancer, a quarter of his colon removed, and went right on trucking---so just know that it can happen and work out OK...

[Tiffanie]

Pam, I'm really sorry you're having such trouble with your insurance. That should be the last thing you have to deal with.

Keeping you in my thoughts...

[DeniseGoldberg]

Pam -
I hope that you can quickly find a doc who can do your surgery in your hospital of choice and who is covered by your health plan. If you continue to have problems finding that person - do you think it might be worth a call to your health plan to see if they can give you some names. (Oh, I know that you probably already thought of that, but just in case...)

In the meantime I'm sending good thoughts and wishes your way. Best luck, and please keep us posted.

--- Denise

[Duck on Wheels]

Oh Good Grief! The US needs to get a national health system! Everybody's insured. It costs LESS than what you folks are paying now. And that nonsense about "choice"? Don't make me, well, I'd say laugh, but it ain't funny. Not in this situation, it ain't.

But as for recovering from surgery ... The big issue is the incision. As somebody up above said, if they can do the surgery laparoscopically (so-called "keyhole" surgery) then that doesn't take long. If it's an incision from breast bone to pubic bone, then it takes some weeks, even months of training to get back to where you can stand up straight, walk as fast as before, and then a bit more to build up the core strength for a long bike ride. But that said ... I no longer remember how long it took. I only intellectually recall the pain involved. The sensory memories are now long gone. Of course, your recovery time may also be affected by additional treatments. After the surgery they may want you to do some radiation or chemo therapy to catch any stray cells. But you'll cross that bridge if it gets erected in front of you.

Keeping fingers crossed for you. Remission rates (i.e. cure rates) are good for bowel cancer. Let's hope you're with the majority on this one and do just fine once you've found your surgeon.

[tprevost]

Pam,

I've been off the boards lately and Tiffanie brought this to my attention. I am so bummed to hear about what you are going through. My thoughts and prayers are with you ... and please, you have all my numbers, if you need anything at all, please let me know.

Tracy

[caligurl]

GAWD how i HATE insurance companies!