I have pondered this decision for many years but will be having k pouch surgery on Tuesday, April, 22 in Dallas. I really want to know what to expect post surgery. Dr. Jacobson said I would be in the hospital 10 to 12 days...partly because of not living in Dallas.

If I could get some information and stories from people who have had the surgery, I would really appreciate it.

Thanks and think of me,
Carla

Carla,

Make sure they stitch your catheter in place at the end of surgery and it should attach to a leg bag. You should leave the hospital this way. If the contents get too thick, use a bulb syringe and open up the cath. The whole idea is to GRADUALLY let the pouch expand. For example - the first week you may release the pressure every 2 hours. The second week, release the pressure every 2.25 hours, 2.5 hours, 3 hours, etc., etc. If you feel like going during any of these time periods - by all means - release the pressure.

This is the way Dr. Fazio at the Cleveland Clinic does them - and he is a master at the Kock pouch.

Good luck with your surgery and e-mail me if you have any questions. I have had a K-pouch since 1976.

Carla,
My son had his 1st surgery with Dr Fazio, he stayed in the hospital 6 days and a hotel 3 until he was seen for follow up.Flying home was not easy.Chris was weak and requested a wheel chair from the airline.
Your Dr will give you instructions to follow and a schedule.
AS for recovery, everyone is different. Some people heal faster than others. The abdominal incision will take some time.
You will more than likely return after 6 weeks and be taught to intubate. You will probably not have to worry about that until then. You will be taught in the hospital how to irrigate.
All Drs do not stitch the catheter. My son found it very uncomfortable and cut it and taped it.
Everyone is different as is every DR.
Good luck with your surgery. Will you have computer access in the hospital?
Please let us know how you are doing. You will have more questions after surgery. Just get through this now and try not to project or go by other people's experience.

Hi Carlag,
Well I am starting to feel like an expert in post-op.....4 in the last 10 months....fear not, I am the ultimate exception...usually it works just fine the first time round...
Well, depending on the doc, you will either have the tube taped or stitched...this time due to really painfull stitches pulling at me, we cut them and used Argoplaque to hold the tube down...really neat stuff, kind of what they use for blisters, it does not hurt the skin and helps healing..we just used a whole square over the tube and changed it every 3 or 4 days...abfab!
As for the irrigating/clamping technique...my only real advice would be to maintain a very light sediment free/low residue diet for a while after getting out...no fruits or veggies, little white flour or anything that could turn into wallpaper paste in the pouch, lots of soups and juices and lots of simple protiens like fish or chicken...nothing to weigh down the pouch or cause too much gas or clogging....
Sleeping on your back helps if you have pillows to put under knees or leggs to ease low back stress....
Also, listen to your doctor and the stoma nurse..they know best (most of the time! ) the rest of the time we can help
Good luck
sharon

Hi Carla
My Advice would be to concentrate on recovering while you have the catheter in 24/7. Worry about intubating when you return to Dr. Jacobson and receive instruction.

While the catheter was secured in my stoma (through a baby bottle nipple contraption Dr. Fazio uses), I did push water through the cath twice a day just to make sure there was no mucous clogging the cath holes. Ask about diet.

You want to keep the stool fluid. The more you are up and around the easier it will be for the pouch to drain on its own because it works on gravity.

Good Luck!

Thanks to all!
I woke up pretty nervous this morning...hadn't really been until now.
Had cancer surgery 9 years ago and still kind of remember the abdominal pain...yuck.
I just know this is right for me and all will be well when all is said and done.
Carla