Bowel surgery for Cronh's, any experience
Discussion
Hi folks.
Had a consultation with my surgeon the other day and I am now on the waiting list for a resection surgery, probably sometime in the spring 2014.
Plan is to remove some of my small bowel, a small piece of my large bowel and the ileum joining area.
She stated that non keyhole surgery is the best option due to size of piece needed taken out and so they can have a good look asbout too.
She has suggested telling my work I could be off for 6 weeks and about a week stay in hosp too, it could be less as I am otherwise healthy and no other issues like overweight etc.
Has anyone had a similar surgery and what their recovery was like, i.e. can you move about easy enough (I assume I will be on some fun painkillers for a week anyway)but just wondered what the main issue is, i.e. bending, sitting to standing.
I.e. can I sit and play pc\console, or is it a case of lie in bed bored?
cheers
Had a consultation with my surgeon the other day and I am now on the waiting list for a resection surgery, probably sometime in the spring 2014.
Plan is to remove some of my small bowel, a small piece of my large bowel and the ileum joining area.
She stated that non keyhole surgery is the best option due to size of piece needed taken out and so they can have a good look asbout too.
She has suggested telling my work I could be off for 6 weeks and about a week stay in hosp too, it could be less as I am otherwise healthy and no other issues like overweight etc.
Has anyone had a similar surgery and what their recovery was like, i.e. can you move about easy enough (I assume I will be on some fun painkillers for a week anyway)but just wondered what the main issue is, i.e. bending, sitting to standing.
I.e. can I sit and play pc\console, or is it a case of lie in bed bored?
cheers
Hi,
I had my ileum removed in 2001, The surgery was ok, I had an epidural which did help with the pain in hospital but was quite sore afterwards. I was in hospital for about a week. They wont let you out till you poop so majority of it is based on that. Recovery was quite slow was off work for 3 months, I have a scar from my hip to my belly button from it. Its hard getting around at first but stick with it and you'll be up and about soon. I spent pretty much all the time watching films and playing consoles. Rest as much as you can you'll be fine, oh and take all the painkillers you can as they really do help....
I had my ileum removed in 2001, The surgery was ok, I had an epidural which did help with the pain in hospital but was quite sore afterwards. I was in hospital for about a week. They wont let you out till you poop so majority of it is based on that. Recovery was quite slow was off work for 3 months, I have a scar from my hip to my belly button from it. Its hard getting around at first but stick with it and you'll be up and about soon. I spent pretty much all the time watching films and playing consoles. Rest as much as you can you'll be fine, oh and take all the painkillers you can as they really do help....
Mr_Fish said:
Hi,
I had my ileum removed in 2001, The surgery was ok, I had an epidural which did help with the pain in hospital but was quite sore afterwards. I was in hospital for about a week. They wont let you out till you poop so majority of it is based on that. Recovery was quite slow was off work for 3 months, I have a scar from my hip to my belly button from it. Its hard getting around at first but stick with it and you'll be up and about soon. I spent pretty much all the time watching films and playing consoles. Rest as much as you can you'll be fine, oh and take all the painkillers you can as they really do help....
Cool, sounds a lot like what the Surgeon was explaining. Hopefully they don't have to make too much of a scar over the 'bend' of the hip\thigh as that would be sore moving and make getting about a pest.I had my ileum removed in 2001, The surgery was ok, I had an epidural which did help with the pain in hospital but was quite sore afterwards. I was in hospital for about a week. They wont let you out till you poop so majority of it is based on that. Recovery was quite slow was off work for 3 months, I have a scar from my hip to my belly button from it. Its hard getting around at first but stick with it and you'll be up and about soon. I spent pretty much all the time watching films and playing consoles. Rest as much as you can you'll be fine, oh and take all the painkillers you can as they really do help....
Don't read google forum info about the after effects of surgery....catheters and purple man parts was a worry!!
Hopefully should be fine, just never had moajor surgery before, just mil surgery to remove \fix a bleed and take a sample to test (which showed I had Cronh's about 11 years ago.)
Ah well, means I may get through the wall of plastic kist I have mocking me hehe....or just play battlefield online till my eyes bleed.
I have no idea what you are about to go through. But I should imagine it's not going to be much fun.
You probably know already but another Rick with Cronh's is https://twitter.com/RickParfittJnr
I'd tweet him when your laid up and see if you can extract some gig or race tickets for when you are up and about again. At worst you should get a nice reply.
Best of luck!
You probably know already but another Rick with Cronh's is https://twitter.com/RickParfittJnr
I'd tweet him when your laid up and see if you can extract some gig or race tickets for when you are up and about again. At worst you should get a nice reply.
Best of luck!
Since 1985 I have had 2 sections, last one in 1998.
The first one I was in for almost 3 weeks (they did things different then) with a neat cut on the speedo's line all the way across.
Biggest problem was for me that the anaesthetic for some reason cause bladder retention, which was very painful & a bit frightening at the time, but once identified I had a catheter fitted. - not nice!
The second one was much quicker (1 week in hospital, and as you can imaging I was very wary about the bladder problem, but was assured that anaesthetic procedure and drugs had changed, so sure enough, no probs. I ended up with a cut from sternum to groin though, so when on holiday it looked like I had an upside-down cross on my belly!!!!!!
Since then Crohns came back (pretty much expected) in 2011 - so 13 to 14 years respite...
More surgery? No, this time I decided to try a pill recommended to me by my specialist - azathioprine.. and although it is rife with side-effects it worked to a degree...
A year on and because I was suffering with things like skin problems etc.. my specialist suggested that he might persuade his panel to let me go on adalimumab (Humira) injections, which are hugely expensive and thus the panel have to prove that other treatments like the former either did not work or caused too many problems... which they did.
This should not be taken lightly as you have to be screened for things like lung problems and other things, and can have dire effects on your liver if not regulated properly...
I am into my second year on two weekly self injections and it is amazing..... I am crohns free after 25 or so years, but have to be very careful with infections as it is a strong immuno-suppressant! Would recommend.... if you qualify!
The first one I was in for almost 3 weeks (they did things different then) with a neat cut on the speedo's line all the way across.
Biggest problem was for me that the anaesthetic for some reason cause bladder retention, which was very painful & a bit frightening at the time, but once identified I had a catheter fitted. - not nice!
The second one was much quicker (1 week in hospital, and as you can imaging I was very wary about the bladder problem, but was assured that anaesthetic procedure and drugs had changed, so sure enough, no probs. I ended up with a cut from sternum to groin though, so when on holiday it looked like I had an upside-down cross on my belly!!!!!!
Since then Crohns came back (pretty much expected) in 2011 - so 13 to 14 years respite...
More surgery? No, this time I decided to try a pill recommended to me by my specialist - azathioprine.. and although it is rife with side-effects it worked to a degree...
A year on and because I was suffering with things like skin problems etc.. my specialist suggested that he might persuade his panel to let me go on adalimumab (Humira) injections, which are hugely expensive and thus the panel have to prove that other treatments like the former either did not work or caused too many problems... which they did.
This should not be taken lightly as you have to be screened for things like lung problems and other things, and can have dire effects on your liver if not regulated properly...
I am into my second year on two weekly self injections and it is amazing..... I am crohns free after 25 or so years, but have to be very careful with infections as it is a strong immuno-suppressant! Would recommend.... if you qualify!
Rick_1138 said:
Cool, sounds a lot like what the Surgeon was explaining. Hopefully they don't have to make too much of a scar over the 'bend' of the hip\thigh as that would be sore moving and make getting about a pest.
Don't read google forum info about the after effects of surgery....catheters and purple man parts was a worry!!
Hopefully should be fine, just never had moajor surgery before, just mil surgery to remove \fix a bleed and take a sample to test (which showed I had Cronh's about 11 years ago.)
Ah well, means I may get through the wall of plastic kist I have mocking me hehe....or just play battlefield online till my eyes bleed.
Catheters are interesting, I had a student nurse remove mine it wasnt the most comfortable experience Ive had. Don't read google forum info about the after effects of surgery....catheters and purple man parts was a worry!!
Hopefully should be fine, just never had moajor surgery before, just mil surgery to remove \fix a bleed and take a sample to test (which showed I had Cronh's about 11 years ago.)
Ah well, means I may get through the wall of plastic kist I have mocking me hehe....or just play battlefield online till my eyes bleed.
I was diagnosed 12 years ago have a few surgeries since then. All I can say is make the most of the time to relax. Chill out and you'll get better quicker.
If you wanna ask anything else about it but dont want it on here just send me a pm.
3Dee said:
Since 1985 I have had 2 sections, last one in 1998.
The first one I was in for almost 3 weeks (they did things different then) with a neat cut on the speedo's line all the way across.
Biggest problem was for me that the anaesthetic for some reason cause bladder retention, which was very painful & a bit frightening at the time, but once identified I had a catheter fitted. - not nice!
The second one was much quicker (1 week in hospital, and as you can imaging I was very wary about the bladder problem, but was assured that anaesthetic procedure and drugs had changed, so sure enough, no probs. I ended up with a cut from sternum to groin though, so when on holiday it looked like I had an upside-down cross on my belly!!!!!!
Since then Crohns came back (pretty much expected) in 2011 - so 13 to 14 years respite...
More surgery? No, this time I decided to try a pill recommended to me by my specialist - azathioprine.. and although it is rife with side-effects it worked to a degree...
A year on and because I was suffering with things like skin problems etc.. my specialist suggested that he might persuade his panel to let me go on adalimumab (Humira) injections, which are hugely expensive and thus the panel have to prove that other treatments like the former either did not work or caused too many problems... which they did.
This should not be taken lightly as you have to be screened for things like lung problems and other things, and can have dire effects on your liver if not regulated properly...
I am into my second year on two weekly self injections and it is amazing..... I am crohns free after 25 or so years, but have to be very careful with infections as it is a strong immuno-suppressant! Would recommend.... if you qualify!
That's very interesting, thanks for that The first one I was in for almost 3 weeks (they did things different then) with a neat cut on the speedo's line all the way across.
Biggest problem was for me that the anaesthetic for some reason cause bladder retention, which was very painful & a bit frightening at the time, but once identified I had a catheter fitted. - not nice!
The second one was much quicker (1 week in hospital, and as you can imaging I was very wary about the bladder problem, but was assured that anaesthetic procedure and drugs had changed, so sure enough, no probs. I ended up with a cut from sternum to groin though, so when on holiday it looked like I had an upside-down cross on my belly!!!!!!
Since then Crohns came back (pretty much expected) in 2011 - so 13 to 14 years respite...
More surgery? No, this time I decided to try a pill recommended to me by my specialist - azathioprine.. and although it is rife with side-effects it worked to a degree...
A year on and because I was suffering with things like skin problems etc.. my specialist suggested that he might persuade his panel to let me go on adalimumab (Humira) injections, which are hugely expensive and thus the panel have to prove that other treatments like the former either did not work or caused too many problems... which they did.
This should not be taken lightly as you have to be screened for things like lung problems and other things, and can have dire effects on your liver if not regulated properly...
I am into my second year on two weekly self injections and it is amazing..... I am crohns free after 25 or so years, but have to be very careful with infections as it is a strong immuno-suppressant! Would recommend.... if you qualify!
I am on Azathioprene now, have been since about April, 100mg now 150mg.
I was always put on steroids before that, which helped but as you probably know the side effects aren't great, fat bloater with spots haha.
The Aza does help, I don't have the vindaloo river in the loo now, the issue I have is gut pain, basically feels like very bad trapped gas but its apparently muscle squeezing to hard and scarring in the ileum so while the Aza helps with the inflammation, it cant reduce the scarring.
Hopefully this will give me a good few years of symptom free, as the main issue is I am still nervous about going on journeys and if I get a cramp I don't want to do stuff, so feel bad for the mrs etc.
Hopefully all will be well, my MD was great, he said time off was fine and not an issue, I have offered to take work home on laptop and any coal face stuff will be dealt with by w.shop manager. (I do QHSE for my sins)
I plan to horde LOTS of lego, already got the GF buying me the technic crane for xmas
Rick Parfait you say....I never knew he had Cronh's.
Good luck Rick - its not a nice disease at the best of times - Humira injections have transformed my life for now.
As other have said - pm me if you want to.
I still have the odd day where things are a bit ..err.. worrisome when out, perhaps twice a year....(think they call it spastic bowel or sommat!) but no cramps, and feel perfectly normal - even hot curries are fine would-you-believe!
...and I have scarring as well - something that cannot be avoided with surgery though... I think the azo you are taking is not enough as with me, and the combination of that and scarring is a given... I suffered many years like that....
When you are on this Humira stuff you have to suffer a colonoscopy each year, to check all is ok but hey! it's an experience!
No sign of the nasties for this year which is good for me! ...and the scarring is no longer inflamed!
As other have said - pm me if you want to.
I still have the odd day where things are a bit ..err.. worrisome when out, perhaps twice a year....(think they call it spastic bowel or sommat!) but no cramps, and feel perfectly normal - even hot curries are fine would-you-believe!
...and I have scarring as well - something that cannot be avoided with surgery though... I think the azo you are taking is not enough as with me, and the combination of that and scarring is a given... I suffered many years like that....
When you are on this Humira stuff you have to suffer a colonoscopy each year, to check all is ok but hey! it's an experience!
No sign of the nasties for this year which is good for me! ...and the scarring is no longer inflamed!
Edited by 3Dee on Tuesday 12th November 15:29
Yeah - first time I was sedated - second time I decided not to.... I think the apprehension factor is the worst part... glad I didn't second time around - tbh it was not a problem but for a bit of discomfort which is short-lived, and you don't have to wait till it wears off before going home... not that I want to repeat the experience unless I have to!
I haven't had surgery but I am also on Humira and I agree that its a cracking drug.
I was started on Methotrexate and then put onto Humira aswell two years ago and I've been totally fine since. I've just come off the Methotrexate 6 weeks ago and apart from the odd twinge my body seems to be holding up well with just the Humira. It took abit of convincing that I'd rather come off the methotrexate than the humira with my doc but he listened and agreed with me. He's retiring next month so we'll see if his replacement shares his and my view on health over the costs. I'm also enjoying not having the side effects from the Methotrexate.
As others have said if you want to message me you can but I'm no help with the surgery though i'm an expert with colonoscopies and pretty much every other scan they can think up.
I was started on Methotrexate and then put onto Humira aswell two years ago and I've been totally fine since. I've just come off the Methotrexate 6 weeks ago and apart from the odd twinge my body seems to be holding up well with just the Humira. It took abit of convincing that I'd rather come off the methotrexate than the humira with my doc but he listened and agreed with me. He's retiring next month so we'll see if his replacement shares his and my view on health over the costs. I'm also enjoying not having the side effects from the Methotrexate.
As others have said if you want to message me you can but I'm no help with the surgery though i'm an expert with colonoscopies and pretty much every other scan they can think up.
Hi Rick another Crohn's case here.
Had 2 resection operations myself ( one operation was 2 resections at once and also appendix removal at same time).
Agree with above comments about slow recovery time. After 1st op I tried returning to work full-time after less than 3 months and in hindsight body was not fully fit, and struggled for months to regain fitness. Basically take as much recovery time as possible-after 2nd op I took 5 months before I felt I was fit again.
Depending on the extent of surgery - both times I had the large muscle (diaphragm ?) cut in half then sewn back together which made any form of bending, lifting or stretching very uncomfortable for a long time. Simple things like reaching for mug in a cupboard, or trying to put socks on was difficult for a while.
As someone mentioned you will not be discharged until you have taken a dump-so they know the bowel is functioning again.
I had an epidural for 2nd op after complaining the morphine wasn't enough after 1st op.
Epidural is great-definitely ask for it.
Regarding scarring I have what looks like an appendix type scar around 6-8 inches long.
I know with my experience that if your specialist is discussing surgery then you must have had it pretty bad recently - post-op you will feel much better.
I too am on aza and does help to a degree but still take lots of painkillers so don't feel it is the 'wonder drug' sometimes claimed by specialists.
Had 2 resection operations myself ( one operation was 2 resections at once and also appendix removal at same time).
Agree with above comments about slow recovery time. After 1st op I tried returning to work full-time after less than 3 months and in hindsight body was not fully fit, and struggled for months to regain fitness. Basically take as much recovery time as possible-after 2nd op I took 5 months before I felt I was fit again.
Depending on the extent of surgery - both times I had the large muscle (diaphragm ?) cut in half then sewn back together which made any form of bending, lifting or stretching very uncomfortable for a long time. Simple things like reaching for mug in a cupboard, or trying to put socks on was difficult for a while.
As someone mentioned you will not be discharged until you have taken a dump-so they know the bowel is functioning again.
I had an epidural for 2nd op after complaining the morphine wasn't enough after 1st op.
Epidural is great-definitely ask for it.
Regarding scarring I have what looks like an appendix type scar around 6-8 inches long.
I know with my experience that if your specialist is discussing surgery then you must have had it pretty bad recently - post-op you will feel much better.
I too am on aza and does help to a degree but still take lots of painkillers so don't feel it is the 'wonder drug' sometimes claimed by specialists.
3Dee said:
More surgery? No, this time I decided to try a pill recommended to me by my specialist - azathioprine.. and although it is rife with side-effects it worked to a degree...
I have ulcerative colitis and one of my nurses has been insisting i try azathioprine.Not a chance - side effects too severe and numerous, and with my lifestyle and career it would just not be a good idea full stop.
Just finishing my latest course of prednisolone after a major flare up a few months ago. I get absoutely zero side effects from prednisolone - no moon face or mood swings either - so that works for me right now. Only been living with this for just under a year now, so still early days. I am also alergic to mesalazine so that doesnt help things in terms of alternatives.
Investigating and currently gradually introducing the SCD diet and cutting specific foods out one by one which is making a bigger difference than anything to date.
Edited by GCH on Tuesday 12th November 21:28
Aza gave me drug induced panceatitis, that was painful but quite rare. I have Ulcerative Pancolitis, had it for 10+ years and like all IBDs its very changeable.
Good load of info available at www.crohnsforum.com
Good load of info available at www.crohnsforum.com
I've had Crohn's for 12 years and had surgery in a very similar area to you in 2008. I haven't had any symptoms since, so it has been a remarkable success - this is the only time I have ever been properly well since being diagnosed.
You need to prepare for coming out with a colostomy bag; this is always a risk, and a risk that is impossible to measure before surgery begins. A colostomy will be temporary, but makes life more difficult and removal requires additional surgery.
Fortunately, I did not have to have a colostomy and my surgery went well. I have a very, very neat scar that few people notice. I had an infection (which is common) following surgery so had to stay in hospital for around 10 days, but recovered quickly otherwise and was in college as normal two months later.
I'm still on azathioprine to reduce the likelihood that I will require further surgery. Sadly, repeat surgery is common, so while azathioprine is a nasty drug, it is helping extend my good health and I have not had major side effects. I was also on infliximab for a while, which did not help at all, have had three courses of prednisolone (which caused significant short-term side effects), and began on mesalazine and a polymetric diet through a tube.
Surgery is the only treatment that has ever given me a good quality of life, so I wish they had done it sooner.
ETA: epidurals are the norm now; I had one and, of course, a catheter. They put the catheter in while you are asleep, so no trouble there, and removal is painless, although slightly odd. I had lots of pain when the epidural was removed so had morphine, which wasn't nearly as effective.
You need to prepare for coming out with a colostomy bag; this is always a risk, and a risk that is impossible to measure before surgery begins. A colostomy will be temporary, but makes life more difficult and removal requires additional surgery.
Fortunately, I did not have to have a colostomy and my surgery went well. I have a very, very neat scar that few people notice. I had an infection (which is common) following surgery so had to stay in hospital for around 10 days, but recovered quickly otherwise and was in college as normal two months later.
I'm still on azathioprine to reduce the likelihood that I will require further surgery. Sadly, repeat surgery is common, so while azathioprine is a nasty drug, it is helping extend my good health and I have not had major side effects. I was also on infliximab for a while, which did not help at all, have had three courses of prednisolone (which caused significant short-term side effects), and began on mesalazine and a polymetric diet through a tube.
Surgery is the only treatment that has ever given me a good quality of life, so I wish they had done it sooner.
ETA: epidurals are the norm now; I had one and, of course, a catheter. They put the catheter in while you are asleep, so no trouble there, and removal is painless, although slightly odd. I had lots of pain when the epidural was removed so had morphine, which wasn't nearly as effective.
Edited by TVR Sagaris on Wednesday 13th November 01:57
From my experience a well performed resection (surgery) will give you around 10-14 years relief with the symptoms slowly coming back over the latter few years, and realistically there is only so many surgeries you can have without running into problems.
The other issue is scarring (as I, and others can vouch for) which can form a narrowing of the gut where joined. This narrowing is compounded when crohns returns as the area gets inflamed thus narrowing further, which results in the familiar 'cramping' we can get. This can hit at the most inconvenient times, I, for one can remember being totally free of problems, then go away with the missus for a weekend or holiday and spend 50% of my time in bed, not being able to move,meaning the missus has to go out and try to enjoy herself on her own, whilst worrying about me in bed for the day.
The other issue is 'stuck' tissue whereby the healing process inside after surgery means that parts of your intestine and other connective tissue 'weld' or 'heal' themselves together where they are not supposed to! This adds complications for any later surgery.
So over 28 years or so, as mentioned before, two gut surgeries, one hernia (where the muscle wall had split after surgery) and now the drugs!
Humira has worked for me for 2 years, however I am very, very aware that this drug can expose you to some very nasty nasties!
Further surgery could be a problem for me, so I just hope that some day not too far away a better solution can be found.
The other issue is scarring (as I, and others can vouch for) which can form a narrowing of the gut where joined. This narrowing is compounded when crohns returns as the area gets inflamed thus narrowing further, which results in the familiar 'cramping' we can get. This can hit at the most inconvenient times, I, for one can remember being totally free of problems, then go away with the missus for a weekend or holiday and spend 50% of my time in bed, not being able to move,meaning the missus has to go out and try to enjoy herself on her own, whilst worrying about me in bed for the day.
The other issue is 'stuck' tissue whereby the healing process inside after surgery means that parts of your intestine and other connective tissue 'weld' or 'heal' themselves together where they are not supposed to! This adds complications for any later surgery.
So over 28 years or so, as mentioned before, two gut surgeries, one hernia (where the muscle wall had split after surgery) and now the drugs!
Humira has worked for me for 2 years, however I am very, very aware that this drug can expose you to some very nasty nasties!
Further surgery could be a problem for me, so I just hope that some day not too far away a better solution can be found.
TVR Sagaris said:
I've had Crohn's for 12 years and had surgery in a very similar area to you in 2008. I haven't had any symptoms since, so it has been a remarkable success - this is the only time I have ever been properly well since being diagnosed.
You need to prepare for coming out with a colostomy bag; this is always a risk, and a risk that is impossible to measure before surgery begins. A colostomy will be temporary, but makes life more difficult and removal requires additional surgery.
Fortunately, I did not have to have a colostomy and my surgery went well. I have a very, very neat scar that few people notice. I had an infection (which is common) following surgery so had to stay in hospital for around 10 days, but recovered quickly otherwise and was in college as normal two months later.
I'm still on azathioprine to reduce the likelihood that I will require further surgery. Sadly, repeat surgery is common, so while azathioprine is a nasty drug, it is helping extend my good health and I have not had major side effects. I was also on infliximab for a while, which did not help at all, have had three courses of prednisolone (which caused significant short-term side effects), and began on mesalazine and a polymetric diet through a tube.
Surgery is the only treatment that has ever given me a good quality of life, so I wish they had done it sooner.
ETA: epidurals are the norm now; I had one and, of course, a catheter. They put the catheter in while you are asleep, so no trouble there, and removal is painless, although slightly odd. I had lots of pain when the epidural was removed so had morphine, which wasn't nearly as effective.
Surprised there are so many of us You need to prepare for coming out with a colostomy bag; this is always a risk, and a risk that is impossible to measure before surgery begins. A colostomy will be temporary, but makes life more difficult and removal requires additional surgery.
Fortunately, I did not have to have a colostomy and my surgery went well. I have a very, very neat scar that few people notice. I had an infection (which is common) following surgery so had to stay in hospital for around 10 days, but recovered quickly otherwise and was in college as normal two months later.
I'm still on azathioprine to reduce the likelihood that I will require further surgery. Sadly, repeat surgery is common, so while azathioprine is a nasty drug, it is helping extend my good health and I have not had major side effects. I was also on infliximab for a while, which did not help at all, have had three courses of prednisolone (which caused significant short-term side effects), and began on mesalazine and a polymetric diet through a tube.
Surgery is the only treatment that has ever given me a good quality of life, so I wish they had done it sooner.
ETA: epidurals are the norm now; I had one and, of course, a catheter. They put the catheter in while you are asleep, so no trouble there, and removal is painless, although slightly odd. I had lots of pain when the epidural was removed so had morphine, which wasn't nearly as effective.
Edited by TVR Sagaris on Wednesday 13th November 01:57
.Top repliues here folks, very helpful and informative.
I am aware of the possibility of a bag, which will in all likelihood be temporary, but hope I can get away without it, was always something I was paranoid about for years.
For me the main issue is pain in the are, like bad cramps, but sometimes you get a week or so and its 'mild' i.e. to many would be quite painful but as most of you will know, pain threshold goes up with cronh's due to hard experience hehe. However you then get it for days on end and it bothers your sleep, I cant sleep on my right hand side when lying on my front as its very uncomfortable (I have always slept on my front).
So I do worry if I am going for surgery 'just because' and I could cope with the abdomen pain, however if the surgery can remove the pain and the nervousness of being out and about without panicking if I get stuck in traffic etc that will be a world of difference.
The other thing I have looked at (I am on the Cronh's forum too), is the story with prep and recovery food wise. I assume before surgery it would be the ususal don't eat or drink for a day or so and you get the dreaded fizzy sachets to drink hehe (bad times), and afterwards you would eat liquid, like thin soups and juice for a day or two, then start things like mash potatoes and non fatty stuff?
I have never really found any foods make me worse or better so very hard to cut stuff out, as nothing makes a big diff.
Fingers crossed it goes well, my mum was a nurse for years and I know a lot of the nursing staff and one or two of the consultants to talk to so hospitals have never scared me, but this is first major surgery, but I would have thought I wouldn't get an epidural, surely I would just be under general??
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