Hi. As I have mentioned in another post, but have a particular question. I had the proctocolectomy on the 14th December 2012. Im struggling a bit with soreness and general pain down there. I was under the impression they would just sew the bottom hole up. However I have been sewn up the entire crack (sry) and the stiches are still very much there. I phone the surjeons secutary and she said they are dissolvable. How long will they take to go. Anyone have this
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Proctocolectomy
- Thread starter Andrew k
- Start date
Hi Andrew. I had my stitches taken out at 3 weeks post op. it was excruciating! It took a while for the pain to subside after they were removed. But eventually my scar disappeared into the crack (sorry) lol. You can't tell now except of course something is missing ! My op was April last year. Why don't you ask your stoma nurse to have a look? Sometimes they can help with the dissolvable stitches - give them a helping hand. I had some after another surgery and the nurse removed some bits that were causing irritation xx
Ouch. Sounds painful
Oh dear it all sounds awful hope you get better soon I've got my proctectomy may 2nd. Hope it goes away soon.
Will do thanks just rest rest rest. Wishing you a speedy recovery
Take it easy and don't over do it. Hope the pain goes soon.
Hi. Feeling a lot better now. Stomach hurts a bit still but in tramadol for it. My bottom end doesn't really hurt anymore. Goes numb when I sit a lot quicker than it used to. Slight bit of blood still. My main problem now is my back. They gave me a epidural and it failed. Now my back is very painful at the epidural site. Just got some pain killers for it ad tramadol doesn't work. How you feeling now? Much better? I'm a month and a half post op now. Finally getting there
I feel great except my rear end is still open. Going to have it cauterized next Wednesday. Ahh! 
I've had a couple of small blockages, you live and learn what your body will and will not digest. When they tell you to chew the crud out of your food they're not lying! Lol
I'm sorry your still having some pain. Is the stomach pain surgery related or disease related? What are they going to do for you for your back pain?
I've had a couple of small blockages, you live and learn what your body will and will not digest. When they tell you to chew the crud out of your food they're not lying! Lol
I'm sorry your still having some pain. Is the stomach pain surgery related or disease related? What are they going to do for you for your back pain?
Hugs to you both hope you both feel better soon let me know how you both get on. What does cauterised mean? Sorry to ask sounds terrible
Did you eat the skin? That's really tough and difficult to digest. I love baked potatoes, but only the insides.
No problem!!! It means they are basically going to burn the two open ends together to close it. But it's more of a chemical burn, not like a hot poker lol.What does cauterised mean? Sorry to ask sounds terrible
They say it doesn't hurt, we'll see! And think you CheerBear!
Oh doesn't sound nice :-( big hugs I hope they don't do that to me lol
Well I just didn't heal quick enough and instead of walking around with an open end ao to say, they're doing this. It's an in office procedure so I'm sure it'll be cake!
Good luck hope it goes well and let us know how you get on. Thinking of you
Underneath a persons post it has 3 options. Quite, hug, thanks. If you push the Hug option it send support to that person on that post.
They always seem to miss a few stitches don't they? I will definitely let you know how it goes, and you do the same and let me know how your doing!!!
They always seem to miss a few stitches don't they? I will definitely let you know how it goes, and you do the same and let me know how your doing!!!
How did it go Jenna? How are you Andrew?
Oh yes, your cauterization. Hope it went well and sorted the problem out for you. Hi cheerbear, I'm actually doing very well thanks. Pain has gone from my stomach and bottom. Except I have to be gentle on the stomach when showering. But, even still SO much better than before the op and after lol. Back is still quiet bad but slowly getting there I think, thanks for asking. I trust your doing ok?
I'm fine thanks glad your ok I'm fine thanks got proctectomy may 2nd eeekk ;(
I'm fine thanks got proctectomy may 2nd eeekk ;(Thanks hope so just dreading it all coz of my last one all I have is bad memories and took three and a half months for pain to go away xx
xxI am I'm afraid sorry Kaz xxx
xxxThank you how are you today?
All good thanks for asking. Works going well. I can play with my kids (4yr and 1yr old) properly. Getting better week by week. It feels SO nice to not be in extreme pain everyday like I have been for the past 2 and a half years. I was on 200mg og morphine for the pain. Now none its great.
How's you apart from the worry that you needn't worry about
How's you apart from the worry that you needn't worry about
I'm fine Andrew thanks and glad it's better for you sorry to here that JennaRae hugs
and glad it's better for you sorry to here that JennaRae hugsGood luck Jenna
You'll be just fine cheer bear! I just had my proctocolectomy 4 months ago. I wish i'd known then what I'm about to tell you. Be VERY patient. Don't rush anything and take your time healing. Also, there will be minor set backs. That's almost always true from what what learned. But like I said, they are minor and it will be ok. The first 3 months were the hardest part but not due to pain really, just getting used to things and figuring everything out.
Jennarae thanks for the great advice but what do you mean figuring everything out do you mean sitting and bending? Thanks again I'm not patient but I'll have to be afterwards! Glad it's healing well for you now
but what do you mean figuring everything out do you mean sitting and bending? Thanks again I'm not patient but I'll have to be afterwards! Glad it's healing well for you now That's great news! I bet that's knowing!!
Cheerbear, I only had my proctectomy on December the 14th 2012. So only just under 2 months ago. JennaRae is right, it is major surgery. I think I underestimated how much so. I didn't plan for a long recovery, and I guess compared to some I haven't. By that I mean I've been back at work three weeks now, hardly no pain now either. However, the first two weeks in hospital were very painful. Again never expected it to be. I think mainly due to my ignorance and not of finding this place with all the great people that share their experiences. The few weeks after coming home is as JennaRae says, figuring everything out process. What's best for you, how to sit, deal with the pain etc. But trust me, Hang in there for the first month or so. It's a hell of a ride, physically and mentally, but SO worth it when your feeling better! Fingers crossed it goes according to plan for you.
Thanks Andrew that's what I was like with my first one didn't expect it to be as painful as it was and I didn't have this for advice etc. that's why I'm trying to get as much now as I can coz I never before. It just sounds awful, brutal and I don't want it but just want it over with sounds stupid coz I don't want it. Scared of everything and don't want to go through another major op but it gotta be done... Glad to hear it will be worth it in the end just wish I could skip it lol.
Dukeis mine is planned and will be part laparascopic and part open.
Dukeis
Dynastic Overlord
My surgeon told me the biggest incision will be on my rear end. I'm not looking forward to that at all. I'm hoping they don't have to open me.
I'm in the same boat as you I'm hoping that too and not looking forward to it. When is yours planned for?
Dukeis
Dynastic Overlord
March the 20th. They told me I could wait longer, but I'm having it because of Dysplasia not for Crohn's symptoms. My Crohn's is calm right now. My wife being a nurse never really wanted me to wait to March. I got this much time because my surgeon is going out of the country for 6 weeks.
May 2nd mine they told me I could wait longer but the longer it's in the more troublesome it gets and increases risk of cancer down there and wanted it doing before surgeon retires in three yrs. I don't really have a choice been diagnosed with indeterminate colitis so daren't take the risk of being joined up for it to fail on me. I'm fine as I am. Good luck let me know how it all goes I'll be thinking of you. I'm sure your wife is really supportive what's dyplasia?
Mine was done open as I had a bowel resection too. 4.5m removed in total! Also a a hernia repaired around my stoma too
Yeah it is sorry to hear that you making the best choice hope it goes well. Keep us posted. Andrew you had a lot done at the same time.
Yes it was rather a lot. Didn't register much at the time. Saying that, I'm glad it was all done at once rather than going for 2 or 3 different ops. Made recovery tricky mainly due to so much pain. It felt everywhere! Ketmin was my saviour in the end.
Dukeis, unfortunately they do open you right up down there. My whole length of the cheeks were stiched up. I won't lie it was for me immensely painful to begin with, but my epidural failed so had no pain relief for 2 days. Once that was sorted it got easier and easier. Now 2 months on its mostly fine. Occadional twinge now and then.
Oh jeez I'm so not looking forward to this I had morphine last time it worked but I really needed it. Sounds like this will be the same
I'm so not looking forward to this I had morphine last time it worked but I really needed it. Sounds like this will be the same
Dukeis
Dynastic Overlord
That's the part that seems the most painful thinking about it right now. The thought of having to sit with that stitched up make me cringe thinking about it.
I know the feeling
Sorry I didn't mean to worry you two, just to give a open, honest account of my experience. Others may differ to mine. I know it sounds horrific, but although it is very painful it is strangely bearable. I found as most probably do, to lay on your side to begin with. A few days after the op I was sitting up in the chair but lent to one side which made it easier. As I said, I had other stuff done too which made it worse. So at least you know that it won't be as bad as you think
The problem is I had laparascopic colectomy last time it was really really painful and I couldn't lie on my side it was that bad. Had pain for three and a half months I could only lay on my bum. I'm hoping this one won't be the same...just the thought of having a huge cut in my bum and being cut open scares the life out of me can't they do it any other way...
scares the life out of me can't they do it any other way...The rear end is quite a large wound Dukeis. It is more or less the full length of the erm crack (sorry) hee hee. Sitting is not easy, I bought a pressure cushion, it was great for in the car and to take wih me if I went out. It should heal well for you if the crohns is behaving. I healed really well, within about 3 weeks the wound was clear and stitches all out. It is fab now! No more worries. Good luck with the op xxx
Dukeis
Dynastic Overlord
I already have cushion I sit on. I have problems with my coccyx & sacrum. I have a lot of pain down there now.
Dukeis
Dynastic Overlord
Anticipation, I believe you hit the nail on the head. I told my wife last night I wonder if this is how someone on death row feels.
No seems ages ago now. Suprising really.
When I problems with my rectum with feeling like I need to have a bowel movement(sorry) the day or so after its hurts to sit and if I think that hurts this will hurt like hell! I've been diagnosed with indeterminate colitis will that make it harder to heal? Where did you get a cushion from Kaz? I don't have one
It's ok thanks tho I'll get one from stoma nurse will be easier and cheaper lol xxx
Hope I haven't upset you :/ xx
Not sure what I'm looking for and they will know but hope they have some. What happens if you don't use one? I will use them xxx
I don't have a very good pain threshold lol xx
xxYou will be fine. As I said the anticipation is worse. The hospital will make sure you have good pain relief. As long as you have that there's no need to worry. The bottom end pain goes after a little bit, then it's just more uncomfortable.I don't have a very good pain threshold lol
Dukeis
Dynastic Overlord
It only shows up once on each page. So I bet you never lost it.
Thanks Andrew I'll only be in there 3-5 days he said but I think it will be a week coz it was longer last time. But we'll see and I don't know how to get a signature on it never mind get it bk sorry Kaz xx
How are you doing Dukeis?
Dukeis
Dynastic Overlord
I'm good thanks for asking. Hoping I can say that this time next month. How about yourself?
Ah yes I hope so too keep me posted it'll be my turn in may -.- , glad your well good luck and I'm fine thank you. Wishing you a speedy recovery
, glad your well good luck and I'm fine thank you. Wishing you a speedy recovery
Dukeis
Dynastic Overlord
Hopefully I'll be healing well by May. My youngest son graduates from high school on the 18th of May and I sure want to be there.Ah yes I hope so too keep me posted it'll be my turn in may -.-
The better your health when you have the op, the better chance you have of healing well and quickly but it's never possible to predict precisely how long it will take. There are so many variables.
Mine took ages because I had such a lot of disease-affected flesh removed, but I was determined to go to the 50th birthday party of one of my very best friends. So they came to pick me up, virtually carried me out to the car and into my friend's house, deposited me on a chair with a deeply padded seat and I stayed there, holding court, for a few hours. I was sore and tired at the end but it was worth it. I didn't think that the district nurses would approve, so we didn't tell them. :ybiggrin:
Mine took ages because I had such a lot of disease-affected flesh removed, but I was determined to go to the 50th birthday party of one of my very best friends. So they came to pick me up, virtually carried me out to the car and into my friend's house, deposited me on a chair with a deeply padded seat and I stayed there, holding court, for a few hours. I was sore and tired at the end but it was worth it. I didn't think that the district nurses would approve, so we didn't tell them. :ybiggrin:
I've got my op may 2nd and I've got Mrs Brown's Boys booked for June and I'm hoping I'll be ok to go see it. It'll be 2 days short of 6 weeks. If it gets wasted it can't be helped depends how I'll be feeling with pain and sitting but I love that show and apparently it is too rude for tv lol
and apparently it is too rude for tv lol I hope your healed by may too....