Question for anyone who has had bowel surgery

[betagirl]

Hey Pam

Sorry to hear about your troubles. I have not had abdominal surgery, but know a slew of people who have. Like Duck said, it depends on how they have to do the surgery. The less invasive the incision, the better you'll be for recovery.

With that, the recovery will be long. It's in an area that gets a lot of use, so just being able to get up and move around will be a challenge in the beginning. I do recommend trying to walk as soon as possible. People seemed to have done better getting moving when it was allowed, even if taking only a few steps. If they do the long cut, it's going to be pretty gross to look at. So try to arrange for someone to help change your dressings for you once you get home. Again if you have it done laproscopically, that will be less of an issue. You're probably going to be on a bland diet for a while too, and perhaps stool softeners while that heals down there. I had surgery for a fistula (I have crohn's) and was on those for about a week. I was afraid to eat anything anyway, so I relied a lot on jello and broth. My incision was closer to the end of the pipe

A lot of the people I know who've had surgeries have crohn's or ulcerative colitis. They all have described it as being painful, but have rebounded well. Some are marathon runners, and have gotten back into their sports just fine. One is a cyclist and we chatted about his recent surgery. He said it took him about 8 months to really get back to where he was on the bike.

I know this is all anecdotal, but hopefully it helps give you some perspective. Thankfully they found it and you can be treated. I also can't stress enough getting stomach issues checked, especially if you have red flag symptoms. I didn't have colon cancer, but I did find out I have crohn's. Of course these are rare conditions, but best to be preventative.

Good luck Pam!

[bikerz]

Hang in there Pam! Lean on your friends and community - they will be honored to help you in anyway they can, as will we!

[Lise]

Thinking of you, Pam, and sending best wishes for strength, faith, and healing. Lise

[Jones]

I will add your name to my church's prayer circle and of course keep you in my prayers. Jones

[bcipam]

I will add your name to my church's prayer circle and of course keep you in my prayers. Jones

Thanks Jones... I appreciate that. I do believe in the strong power of prayer!

[Selkie]

Pam -- I just saw this thread and I'm so sorry to hear about your diagnosis. I'm sending lots of good thoughts your way!

[Duck on Wheels]

... I do recommend trying to walk as soon as possible. People seemed to have done better getting moving when it was allowed, even if taking only a few steps. If they do the long cut, it's going to be pretty gross to look at. So try to arrange for someone to help change your dressings for you once you get home ...

I gather things are not handled the same in the US as here (Norway). That whole insurance situation again. Don't get me started. Or do. The US uses so much more money per capita on health than anywhere else in the world, yet millions are uninsured and even the insured find that they're forced to cut corners to save the insurers money!

But back to my point ... Here, at any rate, the recovery phase is pretty standardized. Depending on what type of incision, you may have anywhere from hours to a few days in the ICU. Already as soon as I was awake, there was a PT by my side, helping me to cough, massaging out leg cramps, and having me sit up, then stand beside the bed, then take a few steps, and so on. I think the program took a total of 2 weeks with daily events to celebrate (off the morphine pump, various drains and tubes removed, first shower, first flight of stairs, first no-foods-barred meal). I was asked about my home situation (any stairs? anybody to help with this and that?) and not sent home until I could handle it (in my case stairs training and instruction on bandages etc. before I went home). I went home with an exercize program (starting with daily walks, then moving gradually to situps and other core muscle exercizes), a schedule of follow-up outpatient appointments, PT appointments, and so on. I don't remember it all, but I do remember that I found it all relevant and helpful.

Well, let's hope that things are handled as caringly over there! On the bright side, US hospitals DO have great cancer cure rates and are quick to use the latest medications and therapies. All in all, don't worry about the recovery time. It'll take the time it takes, but you WILL recover. And however long it takes, there will be milestones all along the way to keep your spirits up.

[betagirl]

Hey Duck, I think the average hospital stay for bowel surgery here is 10 days. At least in the Chicago area. I can't comment on CA, but I'd guess it's similar. I don't know about the PT though. So if there isn't that available Pam, try to arrange for people to come by every day to motivate you to get moving.

My surgery was done outpatient, but was on my butt and not my abdomen I did have to be off work for 2 weeks though. At first I thought that was exaggerated and unnecessary. I soon figured out that it certainly wasn't. Pam, it'll become a balancing act of taking the time to recover and making progress in doing the things you could before. Frustration will most likely come along with that. Try not to expect too much too soon or be too hard on yourself. At least for me, that can sometimes be difficult to balance.

I'll be thinking of you.

[Bruno28]

Pam -

I'm really sorry to hear of your diagnosis. I will be thinking of you and sending you good thoughts.

I echo your message to others about getting things checked out especially for over 50s. In Scotland we are just introducing national screening for everyone over 50 because of the prevalence of bowel cancer here.

[uk elephant]

Hi Pam!
I have had bowel surgery in the US unfortunately and am now doing pretty well so I thought I'd share my experience. Luckily I was covered by the Norwegian National Health insurance so insurance coverage wasn't an issue.

I had the last bit of the small intestine and the beginning of the large intestine removed due to Chron's. They basically cut out about 6 inches and patched it back together again. The incision for the surgery was from my navel down to my panty line so not quite keyhole. I was in the hospital for 4 days I think. The doctor had estimated 6, but I was up and about quickly. Being otherwise healthy before going in I think helped. And being stubborn perhaps. I hate being sick. I used the morphine pump once when I first woke up. It made me so woozy I never used it again. And generally the pain wasn't bad at all. I didn't need anything more than the occasional tylenol. As soon as I could, I got up. At first just walking to the edge of the bed and back. Then later that day a lap around the ward. The next day I was doing several laps and they figured I was ready to head home. Recovery at home was a lot quicker. Basically walking every day. To the bus stop, then to the shop, then to campus. I was back at work two weeks after the surgery. The main limitation was, I was not supposed to lift anything heavy or otherwise engage my stomach muscles too much for the first month or so. After that, I was back to normal except that my stomach muscles (and general core strenght) was gone. A couple of months after the surgery I started swiming to gently start getting back into shape and I was cycling to work every day. The surgery was at the end of January and by the beginning of June I was out in the field doing fieldwork involving carrying heavy loads up big mountains every day. I realize I may have been lucky recovering so quickly, but I'm sure a positive attitude helps. I had a lot of support from friends, and moral support over the phone from BF and family (who were both in Europe at the time while I was still in Illinois).

I hope your surgery goes well and that you recover quickly too. Sending you all the best of luck and virtual hugs!!!

[winddance]

I just saw this post, Pam, and am sending you my best wishes for a successful procedure and a speedy recovery. We're all here for you!

[HipGnosis6]

Best of luck to you in this, Pam. If there's anything we can do to help you beyond offering our experiences or well wishes, please let us know. And please keep us posted on how you're dong.