I know, I know lost of questions !

I have so many different numbers when it comes to the length of the hospital stays. To me it looks like the average is 5-7 days for the 1st step, and slightly shorter for the 2nd.

I was reading a very good guide book as to what to excpect before, during and after the J-pouch suregry, from the United Ostomy Associations of America. Their excellent guide says the first hospital stay is normally 10-14 days. Click to see UOAA J-Pouch Guide Book (in PDF format)

I am sure you answer this question AT LEAST once a week , but what have been your length? Thanks!

My 1st surgery (To remove the colon) ended up taking 15 hours vs. the standard 8 because I got the bikini cut incision and he couldn't reach my colon. I was in the hospital for 6 days. 2 months after I had extreme bleeding from my butt because a stitch got torn during an exam so I had to be rushed to the hospital for 2 days for blood transfusions. I then had the take down which was only 2 hours and was in the hospital for 3 days. Good luck to you!

I was in for 9 days with step 1, 6 days for step 2 and 3 days for step 3. (My colectomy was done on an emergency basis, so the j-pouch creation was separate from that).

I had complications with the one-step surgery and wound up staying 19 days. I think that is unusually long, and most docs tell their patients to expect to stay a week.

Anyone have advice for out of town surgery with airfare? I am flying to Cleveland next month, but because my hospital stay is unpredictable, I am not sure how to book my flight. It's more expensive to book 2 one-way flights, than the already expensive round-trip. Would contacting the airline help and asking for a break?

Sweflo, I think what you read was the usual stay baring any major complications. You will read lots of stories of people here that have been in the hospital longer and even shorter based on surgery complications or just plain old luck. Myself, I was in for almost 3 months from my medical complications, just try to be informed and find a qualified surgeon to limit the issues. Though I will say (we all say this) I had a great surgeon (extremely skilled), but my body was such a mess I had a a long stay, regardless of his experience I was just plain old sick. Also remember people here are looking for help/advice so you tend to see the rougher side of the complications on this site. Good Luck, Scott Mc

I had the first step last month and was in surgery on Thursday and got out on Tuesday AM. It has been a little over a month and still not back to work...I stand and walk around all day at my job and am too weak for that yet - maybe in a couple of weeks. I feel pretty good except for the energy level thing...that and I seem to go quite a lot out of the J-Pouch, more than I expected too.
hope this helps - Good Luck!
David

annie q, I had a similar flight issue with an unpredictable return. Airtran is an economy airline that lets you buy one-ways only 3 days in advance. I'm not sure about other economy airlines. Often the regular bigger airlines won't give you a break, so it's better to buy roundtrip than 2 one-ways. If you buy a round trip, and when/if you realize that you are staying longer than you booked for, then call to make a change. Only make the change once so don't make it if you don't know when you'll leave. There is a penalty for making changes but it is usually less than it would be to buy two one-ways. Check out different possibilities on the web. I would also call airlines to see what their policies are. My father was dying and no airline would give me a break, so I took Airtran, and my brother bought a round trip and made the change I referred to above. Good luck.

hey!
I just had surgery last monday, I had it monday afternoon and i was discharged saturday morning. it was amazing, i feel extremely blessed to have had a great surgeon (i was at Mayo, Rochester with Dr. Wolff) and I'm 9 days out and I feel amazing. I walked a bunch each day since and the pain was very minimal, laughin is what hurts the most actually! but laughter is the best medicine!!
best of luck and just think positive about how long you want to stay and aim for your goals!!