Hi guys.

I had my adhesion surgery a little over two weeks now and I still don't feel like my j-pouch is really being used.

I had a really nasty kink from adhesions directly before my pouch and for several months, my stool was stopping there and I had to work hard to get it out. My surgeon had warned me before surgery that they might need to take that area of small intestine out since it was kinked for so long but decided it looked fine when he went in and freed it.

I just feel like stuff is still stopping there because I need to bare down harder than I remember to pass stool. It's no way near as bad as it was before surgery and the stool I am passing is much better looking than it was before. I know that since everything was screwed up for so long it'd bound to take a long time to recover and maybe this is all just a part of that. It's also been awhile since I've 'used' my pouch and maybe I just don;t remember what it feels like. I'm just hoping these 10-15 hour bathroom days will end soon, lol.

I am due to see my surgeon at the end of the month, if it's still doing this I think I would like him to perform a colonoscopy.

I am still having significant pain in my side, I am still taking pain meds (MUCH less than before) so that could have something to do with it. I am playing with fiber too, trying to figure out what to take and how much of it to take, I guess things will straighten out when they are ready. I just worry since laparoscopic surgery isn't supposed to be this difficult to recover from. I have to keep reminding myself of how bad I was before and that the doctor said I would have a rough recovery.

- Sarah

I am sorry you are still having problems.
I had adhesion surgery in the summer.
You are probably doing this but I would walk as much as possible- keep things moving and try soft foods, maybe juices and not so much fiber.
Pain meds can slow things down a lot so it's good you are aware.
Best of luck!

Sarah,
Sorry to hear you are still not feeling so great. I have never been through this, and still am not using my pouch, but it seems like 2 weeks is not very long. Maybe it is a matter of more healing time. And it seems like a call to your surgeon for advise would be a good idea.
Good luck!
Jenny

Hi guys, thanks for the replies. The past few days I realize I have ben walking a bit less because it's been hurting so much. Just a lot of gut pain so I made sure to do extra long walks so far today and will continue to do so. I have really been doing well walking.. I make sure to get my butt outside every few hours rain or shine.

I guess I do need to give it time, since that spot was kinked for so long it may just need to heal. I'm just worried that it may need to come out. If I'm still feeling like this on Monday I'm going to see if I can get my GI guy to do a colonoscopy and endoscopy just to check it out from the inside. I don't know if they;d be willing to do it so soon after surgery but we'll see. I would feel more comfortable if I was able to find out how it looked on the inside.

As for the endoscopy, I have been coughing up small amounts of blood off and on since I got home, I assumed it was from the surgery and then from the switch from the hospital to the dry air at my home. I am now having reflux symptoms again so I would like to just check it out anyway, make sure I don't have anything brewing.

It's probably just related to the intestine thing.. I've been feeling a bit blocked up the past few days and thats what seems to cause my reflux.

I am mellowing out my diet and I already cut out the fiber supplements. We'll see what happens.

It's very hard to deal with this, everyone in my family just keeps saying not to worry so much and to think positive and I just want to hit them with something. How the heck am I supposed to remain positive 24/7. I JUST had surgery and I'm scared, ya know?

Thanks for letting me vent, lol..

Sarah

Just so you know a scope may not see it . Mine was all kinked all they had no idea until they went in to fix my hernia's I ended up having a full redo of step 1 and 2 because of it, so keep in mind scopes do not see all of the kink's that you may have . They simple may have to go back in sorry to tell ya this but I have experince adhensions pain etc so I know all about that and its not fun to deal with. best of luck.

Sarah,

I think that most people have the false assumption that if they have their surgery laparoscopically, recovery will be a cake-walk. But, that is only true as far as the external wounds go. With abdominal surgery, your pain and disability is directly related to the amount of manipulation of your intestines and other organs. Granted, it is supposed to be less with laparoscopic surgery. But, if you have a lot of adhesions to release, your gut is going to take its time setting itself straight.

And, as you said, you were kinked for quite a while, so there is some long term thickening of the tissues and short term swelling to resolve. This will take time. Take it easy on the fiber and pain medication (at least as much as you can), and this should help prevent further obstructions. You need to find that balance of free flowing stool and too loose stool. You should not be straining. If you are, better to keep it on the looser side, even if it means more trips to the bathroom.

I wouldn't be too quick in demanding invasive exams this early in the post op period, partiuclarly the sigmoidoscopy. Sometimes it can just make things worse by causing trauma that you really don't need at this point. The upper endoscopy may be another story. You're on acid blockers already aren't you?

Jan

Hi Sarah,

Jan is right about the amount of time it can take to get over this sort of operation. I had my last operation 2 years ago for the same reason as you, to free off a twist of gut and some really troublesome adhesions. I hadn't been able to eat solids for over 3 months so had to have surgery or I would have just continueed to deteriorate.

I felt like you for the first few months. I was convinced that the operation hadn't been the success that I had hoped for but then things gradually started to improve. I went from only being able to tolerate very soft to liquid foods to gradually being able to introduce more and more variety. I am still improving even now. I even managed to eat a whole apple (no skin) the other day for the first time in years and it gave me absolutely no problems whatsoever.

There really isn't much that I can't eat these days (in moderation of course) and that is a huge improvement over how my life was just 12 months ago so don't give up on the operation just yet. Just remember.... baby steps.

Take care.

Shell

thank you so much. I think you guys are right. I have been trying very hard the past few days to limit the amount of pain meds and when I do take them I only take half the amount I was taking. that way it at least takes the edge off and I can deal.

I will call my doctor to ask about the upper scope but I think I have been getting blocked up and thats why I've been feeling the reflux.

Thank you so very much for your replies, I am so scared and worried, which is making it worse. I am finding that my mental workings directly influence my bowels nowadays. My parrot is ill and I am so worried about her.. if I start thinking bad thought I most assuredly will have cramping within a few hours. I'm going to just try and calm down and work on getting better.

Thank you thank you thank you!!

- Slightly more positive Sarah

Sarah...I too have to deal with abdominal pain every day.My out look on life is not good and I spend so much time in bed or the bathroom.I have a J-Pouch that was done 8/2003 and since that day my life has changed so much. I had adhesions and hernia repair 9/2007.I take pain meds too.In 3/2008 I started to loose blood and was at of work again.I had a lot of testd done again and still no answers.One thing I do do is go on this site and take in every bit of information.I try everything and sometimes I do get some relief.If the sduggestions don't work...I try someting else and then go back to them later.ONE thing I don't have is UC.So please if you come up with any thoughts please, please share.

Sherry

Sher, you sound a lot like me. I lost my gut to necrotic bowel(no UC)in 2002, had hernia repair the same year. A year or two latter I had my gallbladder removed and also another surgery for a fistula and adhesions. I also suffer from chonic pain and take medications every day. I just started part time work(first time in 6 yrs)and am exhausted! But,it does put some light into my life and actually puts other things into perspective.
One thing for sure is that I hate pain which becomes a viscious circle since then I will hate myself, in body and hate my lifestyle(in bed). All this stuff spins into my depression that I have suffered from for ages. Even with all that I still manage to crack a couple jokes here and there. I have been told by many that my sense of humor is my saving grace. Without the humor I would surely be dead.
Hang in there to all those who suffer from daily pain and know that you certainly are not alone!
Julie

Julie, thank you for sharing. I can't agree more.I try so hard to plan for the days ahead and stay in the loop with friends,family,work and then BAM so much discomfort I back out.I have lost so many friends and so much time from my work.I know there are so many others with worse situations but this is my situation.Wherever I go I'm in a bathroom every 40 minutes.The rest stops are my second home.I limit my travel and eating out.Which results in limited outside exposure.I just try to make it through the day.I have pretty much given up on the doctors.So many with so little insight.So how can one not get depressed??? I call angry.Doctors call it depressed.

Hi Everyone,
I also had my colon removed 4-07 due to necrosis no history of UC or Crohn's.
In 7-07 I had my 2nd surgery j-pouch & look forward no longer having my ileostomy.
But since then it has not been any easy road chronic pouchitsis, numerous
hospitalizations & surgeries.... abdominal hernia repair, sacral absecess & fistula's
& intestinal obstruction/ adhesions. I appreciate this web site, it lets me know I am not alone.
I realize I will have setbacks but I am determine to live a "normal life" again
energetic & pain free. I am still learning that this is a process in patience.

To all...I cannot agree more.What an uphill battle.This site has been a blessing for me.Sometimes I feel so isolated but all have to do is gather up the energy to click in.Finding the right doctor is a relief and less stress ful than not knowing which way to turn for help and this site has offered so much insight into my many concerns.

Sherry

Just the past few days I have been making a turn around nd I really think it's just because I'm not allowing myself to dwell on my constant negative self hating thoughts. You sound just like me, Julie, "then I will hate myself, in body and hate my lifestyle(in bed)."

I realized whenever I go out for my walks, which is every few hours, I spend the entire time thinking about how my surgery probably didn't work, how I said this or did this wrong, how much I can't stand myself, how ugly I am.. etc..

What I am now doing is listing all the good things about me that I can think of, in my head while I walk. No negative allowed! If I get negative, I have to do an extra lap.
I have finally been able to eat again today, thank god because my poo was turning green from lack of food and scaring me into thinking I was gonna need the hospital again.
I know this optimistic view of mine is going to fade, and soon. I know my cycle.. but I'm going to try my hardest to pop it back in.

It's HARD but I just have to slow down and try and be happy. I'm going out for a walk now with my Macaw so she can see some, as she says, 'OOH, BIRD-BIRD, MA!!' (wild birds flying around)

I wish you all the best and I hope everyone feels better soon. Thanks so much for supporting me and supporting each other.


- Sarah

Sarah, you sound like you are doing so much better than me.I should be doing the same as you.I have not taken one extra step since 2003 when this all started.I say to myself I should, I will, but always wind up on my back.I put on a belly binder,take a pain pill,put special shoes on and then I never make it out the door. Pretty sad...I wish you all positive thoughts and a speedy recovery. I could be the next to follow in your footsteps.

Sherry