I'm back....one ER surgery later.....

[Keara07]

Well, I haven't been on for awhile....but here I sit now with a 10 inch scar.

A quick recap....I have been pretty ill for about 3 months askings y'all loads of questions about stuff like fistulas, butt pain, and everyone was so supportive. About two weeks ago I wrote a note commenting on Freddo's surgery and the fact I was looking at one in the summer and then BAM! March 18th hit and at 1030 pm after a normal day (although folks said I looked more unwell than usual) I started having some extra pain. I figured it was due to the prednisone taper I was on. Then midnight hit and well, 4.5 hours later I crawled to a phone and got my folks (hubby overseas) to come to ER me....i landed in the dart gen 30 mins later and was rushed in with severe pain & vomiting & D ....My pain level in january I thought was my new number 10 - hahahaha - no more. That was a cake walk. 4 morphine shots and multiple hydromophone and nothing - took them 13 hours to reduce the pain. Ended up with a NG tube as I was violently ill nothing like throwing up your own, well, you know.

Anyhew, They had to stabalize me, ran xray CT and found a mass the size of a grapefruit -it took then 5 days to get me to a point safer for surgery (although my surgeon - wonderful doc Murdoch was on call about my case all weekend - Easter weekend at that - cause I was on a close watch - almost once I had to go early as blood came through the NG tube), which I had on the monday (Match 24th) - no little laser, got a cool 10 inch scar. Removed 8-10 inches but I am waiting for a pathology report. However, no other big areas to remove and the mass turned out to be a balloon of the bowel as it had not only been completely blocked, it had bent on itself at 90 degrees resulting in this wicked sized stretched thing that whew never perforated and one side of the ileum was actually attached/adhered to my uterus.

I am home last night after 7 days in, so things are up! I have ltd info on the future but things look good and short of silly wayward stitch on one of the internal incisions ion the stomach muscle, seem ok but I know that it ain't no cure. Can't eat much yet - haven't seen a scale but I expect I have lost a few....I wasn't allowed anything for the days ahead of the surgery, not even ice chips, and for four days after. Lots of IV stuff.

Had extra steroids, but am tapering - should take 3-4 months. have some hydromorphone for the pain and pentasa although they took me off during the pre-surgery days.....if you have ever seem pentasa goo come back out an NG tube....eeyew. Better then the night the tube came out 4 inches and they had to push it back...more lovely feces taste..

But the best part? To get me a bed I had to go on the alztheiner's/dementia/terminal ward and my first night roomie had a watchman cause I was moved in for my safety - I got moved the next day and that night she broke a nurse's finger....my new roomie couldn't use her call button but I was up every 2 hours anyhoo being checked or hearing her so I helped her out. And the oddest part? I couldn't help but feel I was the luckiest gal on the ward seeing and hearing what these people were facing. Really truly. We are blessed.

I look forward to continuing my new adventure here and learning to live a very, very fulfilled life....cause you just never know, eh?

[My Butt Hurts]

Isn't it funny? We think we are so bad off with this awful disease, and then something makes us realize how lucky we are.
I was at the pharmacy a few months ago, and a girl in line was having some tourette's-like flailing arms and neck twisting thing going on. I said to myself, "Wow. I may be running to the bathroom too many times, and crapping my pants once or twice a day, but at least I can stand in line without people staring at me. I'm lucky."
Today I was at the pharmacy and there was a girl waiting for a prescription with a bright red nose, like peeling skin, with her chin and half her cheek peeling too. I was really feeling sorry for myself last night because this really itchy rash showed up on my leg. I guess I'm lucky it wasn't on my face. As bad as we feel, someone is always worse. (I know it's hard to feel that way sometimes, but it really is true.) Feel well everyone! And fast healing Keara!

[Freddo]

Keara, (i hadn't read this post before i answered your other post on my post surgery thread). I suppose that was one way to get your surgery brought forward from the summer, at least it's over and done with now and you can look forward to eating and drinking what you like. I'd give it several weeks before you try anything too exotic though. Still not brave enough to eat anything extravagant yet, i think i need to retrain by brain into believing that it will not cause me pain anymore. Snap on the 10 inch scar and the 8 inch bowel removal btw.

I gotta agree with both you and My Butt hurts (not my actual butt but...........well, you know what i mean) there's always someone worse off than me and it's good that i remember this. It keeps me from feeling too sorry for myself.

Take care.

[Kev]

Hey, (and in case I mis-understood - please feel free to beat me soundly) wasn't it also lucky that Dr Murdock was on call and he ended up being your surgeon. He is REALLY good... one of the best in all the Atlantic Provinces.

If he wasn't your GI before, don't let him slip away... and all the best, okay?

[Keara07]

thanks for wishes...everyday gets better.
Murdock rules for sure. He wasn't on call at the hospital; but when I when I went in, and the emerg surgeons / internal specialists wanted to get me through a few days as they thought I would have a safer surgery, they called him as we had just met the week before and he came to see me - really great care.

And Yes I realoze how lucky I am these days - got through this (and it was hellish without doubt)....and have more days to enjoy.

Don't get me too wrong - I can still feel sorry for myself at times, as i figure out all of this.

I am just so happy to face this adventure, as odd as that sounds.

And enjoy (hopefully) at least a few indulgences in about 3-4 weeks.....watch out buffet style ... this gal has about 20 lbs to catch up on!