Tami Lynn
Forum Angel
Hello fellow Crohnies!
My last resection was in 2002 when I had a tennis-ball sized mass (turned out to be a fecalith) completely obstructing my lumen. That was a really rough operation, as I had been so very sick for so long before surgery finally took place that it nearly killed me. Then to make matters worse, the incision got infected and I needed to be re-opened in my hospital bed...on my birthday no less!
That left me with a large open wound that needed to be stuffed with a sterile, wet dressing until it healed (looked like raw steak). I've read a few stories where others have had similar experiences with this sort of thing happening.
The GOOD news is that I have not had any episodes with active CD since before my last surgery. The bad news is that the last surgeon left two strictures that have begun causing more frequent partial bowel obstructions and an overall deterioration of health recently: problems such as regular partial bowel obstructions, vomiting fecal material, and giving me seriously dilated bowels around the stricture areas. I started experiencing some strange new symptoms as a result of the problems, as well as losing weight, so I decided to take my surgeon's advice (which I don't always do) and make a decision to have elective surgery (rather than wait for emergency surgery) before a 'non-issue became a major issue' (his words).
I am supposed to arrive at the hospital tomorrow at 10 a.m. I'm guessing surgery will take place somewhere around noon. My surgeon tells me that it will take WAY longer to cut through all of the abdominal adhesions left from the previous 5 surgeries than it will to perform the actual resection and/or strictureplasty once they find the area they need to work on.
The consent form I signed was for an open laparotomy (exploratory surgery) with a "possible resection and/or strictureplasty" I am hoping and praying that this operation will leave me in a better, instead of worse condition that I have been in these past 9 years. Overall, I have enjoyed a greater quality of life since there has been no active and obvious flare ups. I'm concerned that perhaps I could be making a bad decision to allow them to cut me open again and that it may make matters worse rather than better for me. :sign0085:
I also just recently found out one of my wonderful Internet friends just died on the operating table during surgery (like 2 days ago). It was NOT what I wanted to read! She didn't have IBD though. She was having other problems.
I'm also concerned that the incision may get infected this time, as I will be in the hospital recovering on my birthday again, and one time to have that happen was enough to last me a lifetime! What a nightmare! Am I risking a lesser quality of life to allow this operation to take place? There are so many risks, possible complications after abdominal surgery ie: short bowel syndrome, more bowel obstructions, adhesions, etc. I pray I am making the right decision.
I'm trying to think on the positive side of things. Hopefully the surgeon can fix the last scar I got when the incision infected. I ended up with what looks like a miniature butt crack on my belly since it was left to heal open and sort of turned inward. Maybe some free plastic surgery...nip tuck? :lol2: Also, if there are no more visible strictures, then if he takes care of these two...perhaps I will be free and clear for a long while? Maybe I could even eat corn again one day?! :thumleft: Okay...so I'm thinking REALLY positive here! :ytongue:
To be honest, I'm dreading tomorrow with a passion. I swore that if I ever needed surgery again (after the hellish experiences from my last one) that I just wanted my husband to shoot me first! I am planning to bring my laptop to the hospital with me this time, which will be a first. Actually, I'll probably have my husband bring it out in a few days, as I doubt I'll feel up to it right away.
I would appreciate any and all prayers for no infections, wisdom for the surgeon to do whatever would be best for long-term remission and problem-free eating, and a quick and speedy recovery with no complications.
Thank you for allowing me to vent and share here.
I'll be stopping back in here (hopefully) sometime next week.
God bless!
-Tami
My last resection was in 2002 when I had a tennis-ball sized mass (turned out to be a fecalith) completely obstructing my lumen. That was a really rough operation, as I had been so very sick for so long before surgery finally took place that it nearly killed me. Then to make matters worse, the incision got infected and I needed to be re-opened in my hospital bed...on my birthday no less!
That left me with a large open wound that needed to be stuffed with a sterile, wet dressing until it healed (looked like raw steak). I've read a few stories where others have had similar experiences with this sort of thing happening.
The GOOD news is that I have not had any episodes with active CD since before my last surgery. The bad news is that the last surgeon left two strictures that have begun causing more frequent partial bowel obstructions and an overall deterioration of health recently: problems such as regular partial bowel obstructions, vomiting fecal material, and giving me seriously dilated bowels around the stricture areas. I started experiencing some strange new symptoms as a result of the problems, as well as losing weight, so I decided to take my surgeon's advice (which I don't always do) and make a decision to have elective surgery (rather than wait for emergency surgery) before a 'non-issue became a major issue' (his words).
I am supposed to arrive at the hospital tomorrow at 10 a.m. I'm guessing surgery will take place somewhere around noon. My surgeon tells me that it will take WAY longer to cut through all of the abdominal adhesions left from the previous 5 surgeries than it will to perform the actual resection and/or strictureplasty once they find the area they need to work on.
The consent form I signed was for an open laparotomy (exploratory surgery) with a "possible resection and/or strictureplasty" I am hoping and praying that this operation will leave me in a better, instead of worse condition that I have been in these past 9 years. Overall, I have enjoyed a greater quality of life since there has been no active and obvious flare ups. I'm concerned that perhaps I could be making a bad decision to allow them to cut me open again and that it may make matters worse rather than better for me. :sign0085:
I also just recently found out one of my wonderful Internet friends just died on the operating table during surgery (like 2 days ago). It was NOT what I wanted to read! She didn't have IBD though. She was having other problems.
I'm also concerned that the incision may get infected this time, as I will be in the hospital recovering on my birthday again, and one time to have that happen was enough to last me a lifetime! What a nightmare! Am I risking a lesser quality of life to allow this operation to take place? There are so many risks, possible complications after abdominal surgery ie: short bowel syndrome, more bowel obstructions, adhesions, etc. I pray I am making the right decision.
I'm trying to think on the positive side of things. Hopefully the surgeon can fix the last scar I got when the incision infected. I ended up with what looks like a miniature butt crack on my belly since it was left to heal open and sort of turned inward. Maybe some free plastic surgery...nip tuck? :lol2: Also, if there are no more visible strictures, then if he takes care of these two...perhaps I will be free and clear for a long while? Maybe I could even eat corn again one day?! :thumleft: Okay...so I'm thinking REALLY positive here! :ytongue:
To be honest, I'm dreading tomorrow with a passion. I swore that if I ever needed surgery again (after the hellish experiences from my last one) that I just wanted my husband to shoot me first! I am planning to bring my laptop to the hospital with me this time, which will be a first. Actually, I'll probably have my husband bring it out in a few days, as I doubt I'll feel up to it right away.
I would appreciate any and all prayers for no infections, wisdom for the surgeon to do whatever would be best for long-term remission and problem-free eating, and a quick and speedy recovery with no complications.
Thank you for allowing me to vent and share here.
I'll be stopping back in here (hopefully) sometime next week.
God bless!
-Tami
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