this may be stupid question, but hearing from people will take it off my mind....has anyone felt pain at all during their surgical procedure? or were you perfectly knocked out and "comfortable" while asleep?? my worst nightmare would be to wake up due to pain and freak out, all while they're doing the surgery! and also, what's the most painful (feeling-wise) during this whole journey? I'm trying to frame the surgery so that I can get back to school in good shape, so also let me know approx. how long it was from day 1 to day of normality. REALLY APPRECIATE IT!

Nope, nothing during surgery at all. I was completely zonked out. Afterwards was another story though...my epidural was misplaced and so I had no pain relief from that at all afterwards. I remember being rolled down the hall from recovery to my room spouting every obscenity, phrase and four letter word I could think of cause it hurt so bad. I really wish I had taken the morphine route from the start. (they got me on a morphine pump really quick though and things were much better)

Otherwise, the main pain that I felt was when I tried to cough or sit up. That part wasnt much fun at all. The first op is definitely the toughest, but once youre over that hurdle, things should start lookin better everyday.

As for "normality"...it took me awhile to come to grips with going out in public with my bag, but about 3-4 weeks after my surgery I went out to dinner and a movie and was able to manage with no problems at all!

Good Luck...hope this helps!

Bill

thanks, on a personal level, if you don't mind, did u have any erection problems or ejaculation problems? i'm really worried about that complication...otherwise i'm glad you didn't feel anything during surgery!! what was the time period between end of surgery and waking up??

I have Ed no longer can make love due to the surgery complication it can happen but think its low % but I thought the same thing not to scare you but it can happen. It could be for a little while or for ever . I 'm 14 months after setp 1 and I had signs of something trying to work but its gone again so it no longer works.

NO pain in the OR, after you will feel like a mack truck hit you!

For me it was a convoy of mack trucks...took a month to get back to normal. I have been doing good since my useless colon got ripped out. I even postponed step 2 for 4 months because I was having so much fun. After step 2 I was back to normal in 2 weeks.
hope this helps
David

I would hope that you feel nothing during surgery, if you do the anesthesiologist messed up, BAD. Do yourself a favor and don't watch those Medical mystery TV shows, I don't think they're all that accurate. Also as far as post-op pain the worst for me was immediately following the first surgery . I still remember telling the nurse in ICU that the pain was so bad I think there is something wrong. She looked at my Pain Pump and noticed I hit the button 28 times in 60 minutes. The pumps (if I remember correctly) will give you ony one dose every 6 minutes no matter how many times you push the buton. For me they gave me a shot through the IV and it was night-night for a couple hours and when I finally woke up I felt a lot better. This post isn't to scare you but you should know what to expect, if the pump isn't enough ask for more. Good Luck, Scott Mc

The 1st day after both of the steps I have had have been pretty rough. It's hurts so much to stand up and walk when they want you to get up and around. It took me about a month to recover from the 1st surgery, the second, save all the stoma problems I have had, I felt pretty good after about 2 weeks. I attribute this too me being in much better shape for the second surgery. Going into the first one I was pretty sick. No erection problems after 2 of the 3.

My experience back in 2001 when I had my surgery was interesting... I woke up during surgery. They realized it and knocked me back out again. But I do remember it... Not to worry though... You will be well taken care of.

I've awakened during surgery twice. The second time (gallbladder surgery), I tried to get off the operating table because I didn't like being there. I was going to walk home. As Ryan said, they gave me a little more anesthetic and I went back to 'sleep'. After the surgery I told my surgeon that I didn't like waking up during surgery. He said that I didn't really wake up. I told him I did. He said, "what was going on in the ER at that time?" I told him what he said to the nurse; what the nurse said to him; and what other people said. He looked surprised. He said, "I guess you were awake!"

Anyway, I'd guess that most people don't wake up while they're being operated on. I didn't feel any pain, but I could feel sensation. They were closing me up and I could feel a pulling or tugging. But, again, there was NO pain (the pain comes later when you're really awake).

I think that anethesiologists start reducing the amount of anethesia before the surgery is actually over so the patient regains consciousness sooner. If you know that you recover faster from anesthesia, then tell your doctor that and they'll make sure that you stay under. I always tell them now. And I tell them that if they expect to get me out of my hospital room and into the operating room they'd better give me at least two shots of valium. I'm a big scaredy cat.

kathy

I recently learned that all surgeries except heart by pass actually does reverse anaesthesia. Heart surgery is the only one that keeps you under until you wake up on your own.
Jan would know if that's true. I never knew that or heard it beofre my hubby had double by pass xmas.

Interesting...I'm glad you DON'T feel pain whatsoever if you do wake up, I'd freak out and start cursing all over! I recall watching a show where this woman was gettin surgery and she was talking to the doctors the entire time, but i guess she was just "sleep talking". anyhow, this is my first surgery, and lucky me it happens to be a MAJOR surgery, so I appreciate all the info you guys are providing me with, it's helping me prepare for the worst. I'm assuming all your surgeries lasted for hours?? My surgeon said mine would take 4 hours, more or less. My naps aren't even that long!! hah, ok well thanks again everyone. just to shoot another question, how long did it take all you to fully recover, and get back to doing normal things (scars healed, no pain, etc.) 3 months post-surgery? 4? 5?

I went back to work about 3 weeks after my 2nd op. It was tough and I was nervous about doing it, but I was going stir crazy couped up in the house all day for so long. Pain really subsided when the staples and stitches were taken out and also when the butt-burn subsided (Antacids and baby wipes helped me out ALOT with that!! lol)

I actually found that I needed to throttle back my activity level because I just wanted to go out and do EVERYTHING! My fiance was yelling at me for mowing the lawn, washing the truck, putting up holiday decorations, etc; and telling me to take things slower! I did ease up some, but now 5 months post op, Ive joined a gym and workin out 4-5 days a week, going out regularly, and will be joining a volleyball league soon!

My scars are pretty well concealed now amidst belly hair, and have lightened up in color quite a bit too. Ive still got a long way to go, but Im really happy with how I feel now.

Bill