Going in to have 10" of my large intestine removed on Tuesday...

This is what the general community discussion is for. That sounds like it is going to be painful, 3-5 days seems a tad bit short for something that sounds rather intense.

Enjoy the bowel-prep Freeny !

But good luck it should be fine . Are they doing it lap or open? I think the worst thing will be a couple of days nil-by-mouth bowel rest afterwards.

Good luck, man. That's a heck of a weight loss program. Do they allow PRSI postings in recovery?

freeny said:

Ill drop in and share my new pooing experiences...

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It's funny post bowel surgery - the thing the doctors will get most excited about is your first fart.

freeny said:

Do you speak from experience?

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No not direct experience as a patient. But have been involved in such surgeries/recovery.

Curiously right-sized for a hotdog bun...

My dad had part of his intestine removed. It was much more dramatic, it got twisted and he was rushed in for emergency surgery, where they discovered a section of dead intestines that was so full of blood clots it was easier to just remove the intestine.

He was walking in a few days. He was home in about a week. He then went back to the hospital because he got an infection that he still has to this day (~10 years later)

Doesn't sound like much fun at all.
God-speed, and good luck Freeny!

freeny said:

Half the surgery will be done through my arse....

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Pics, or it didn't happen.

Do you get to keep the 10" of intestine as a souvenir?

Could be ten feet.

I remember your Diverticulitis thread back in May 2006;
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/197831/ Well, I'm still alive and kicking 3 1/2 years post operative. It hasn't been and easy time and I am on another waiting list for repairs to incisional hernias, and I still have chronic diarrhea and munch away on Loperamide three times a day and have 240mg of Codeine Phosphate to relieve pain and help of the opiate's other side effects. I wonder if CP's are addictive, or have I always been this vague and/or droll

I spent 3 weeks in a ward and was fitted with the vacuum aided closure device after blowing all the stitches apart after a hospital infection. I'd had half the ascending colon removed (cancer) and the sigmoid section removed from the descending colon (chronic diverticular disease) So with two procedures for the price of one, I'm still in the land of the living and have retained a keen sense of humour despite illnesses. Feel free to PM me Jason if I can be of any help or support.

I'd had a review colonoscopy recently and a few new polyps got the snip, so ongoing treatment is the norm. Like I said in the old thread, while I had a colon [:] before, after the chop I became a semicolon [;] and you'll be the same. Just keep smiling, look forward to the first fart, take heed of your doctors and keep a good sense of humour.

In a way I'm pleased mine was open surgery, with your's being laparoscopic I'd worry that they'd not be able to see what they were doing, and the one with his hand up your arse making with the glove puppet jokes....

You'll be fine.

Kevin
aka Grey Beard

Father had it done, sounds identical to your story. Diverticulitis, bowel problems, but no cancer.

Was done 10 years ago or so. He has stomach problems to this day, but nothing like before.

Good luck.

I know someone who had the surgery (laparoscopic) a few months ago and is doing very well. It took about a month to really recover but is much older than you. Good luck!

freeny said:

No eating for several days after but I look forward to the morphine and dilaudid

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Good luck with the surgery and it should go OK. Haven't gotten to the point of needing it but could be getting closer... we'll see.

However, I can tell you one thing about lack of food for a few days. It kinda sucks for the first 24-48 hours because I wasn't used to that kind of approach. Was dreaming a bit of food. Biggest problem was the thirst -- kept secretly occasionally sneaking tiny sips of my hidden water bottle when nobody was looking. But after that, was at peace, and was much smoother sailing. I also occasionally snuck some hidden lozenges every once in a long while to provide some juices without introducing food, so the thirst/dryness wouldn't drive me completely nuts.

I surfed the web, read news, wrote emails on my phone to pass the time. More fun than staring at a TV (which got old real fast since I don't watch TV at all, at home) and kept me busy and more engaged.

If I had to do that particular treatment in the hospital again, I think lack of food would have been a much easier adjustment for me the second and subsequent times. It's kinda a strange experience at first, but after then, cake.

We're all here for you, I'm pretty sure. Good luck and hope to see you MR'ing again shortly after you're feeling better post-surgery.

Good luck with that and I wish you a speedy recovery in as painless manner as possible!

freeny said:

Thanks all
colonoscopy in a few hours...

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Do request a sedative if they don't offer one!

Hey, good luck freeny!

Best wishes for a speedy recovery

Best of luck with everything.

It must be scary being where you are now.
With regard to the colonoscopy, do ask for a sedative.
It will certainly help to make the procedure more comfortable.
Plus if they give you something like midazolam, it has inherent amnesic properties which means you may not even remember the experience.
I find it to be a very useful tool in my day to day work for intense procedures in the Emergency department.

I think 3-5 days is not unreasonable assuming everything goes well.
And yes, when I did my Surgical job, my first question in these cases was "Have you passed any wind yet????

Hope its not too uncomfortable post op and once again best wishes.

My Gran had a tumor in her colon so had the same operation only a few weeks ago. She seems to have recovered from it very well so I'm sure you will be fine too!