I have a traditional incision that is about 13 inches long and I will be going in to have my second surgery in a month. I was wondering if the incision is as large as the first. If so do they reopen the original scar or make a new one. Is the recovery just as awful as the first or will it be better. I was very sick with anemia and on a heavy dose of prednisone with the first surgery and I am going in steroid free and much healthier this time. Any info would be great. I am startig to get a bit nervous.

Hi Nadia,
In most cases the doc uses the same incision and in my case it was just as long as the first.
The recovery was much less-4-5 days for me. I too was anemic and on prednisone during my first surgery and very sick.
I hope you hear from someone else because when I had my surgery there was no such thing as laprascopic, wouldn't that be nice? Does your surgeon do it? How long did they tell you in between 1 and 2? I had my temp ostomy 6 months. I think it made a difference in the outcome. I have had my j pouch 19 years, never had pouchitis and go 2-3 times a day.
Better health is the goal.
Holly

Nadia,

When my husband had his second surgery (2 of 3), the surgeon used the same incision as the first surgery. The thing my husband noticed about the second surgery was that he felt so much better than at the time of the first surgery that it was harder to go in knowing that he wouldn't feel very good after surgery. He had a longer recovery time after the second surgery, but that was because of complications (a hematoma on his bladder). But it was a good learning time to be patient and thankful for each little thing that went well. I hope your surgery is very successful and that you have no complications.

Hi Nadia,

For my second surgery, the surgeon used the same incision as the first time, but extended it further down - about another two inches. It didn't go any higher above my belly button than original, but it definitely went further down.

I would say that mentally it was an easier surgery to recover from because you sort of know what to expect. Pain was any better or worse for me (and I like you, was on steroids with the first, but totally free of them for the second). The only thing that was "harder" for me was adjusting to the pouch - emptying the mucous, etc. For the first two weeks, I would get cramping and an urgency to go, and by the time I made it to the toilet, that urge would be gone and I couldn't go. Frustrating. But, eventually, my muscles remembered how to work and now I can "go" and get rid of the mucous whenever I want.

I have takedown next month - couldn't be more excited. Good luck!

Like everyone else has mentioned, the surgeon usually uses the same incision. Mine did go a little further down for the second surgery.

I was very ill for my step one surgery and had a long recovery period but I went in much healthier for the final surgery and I was up and around in about a week. Still sore and tired, etc but feeling so much better than the first round.

All the best.