Hey,

My Step 2 surgery (creation of jpouch) is scheduled for Sept. 28. I have heard that it is much worse than the first one. What makes it worse? What should I expect and what else if anything should I do to prepare? Mine will be laprascopic, as was the first one.

Thanks,
Alana

Hi Alana,

For me, Step 2 was the worst because of how GREAT I felt going into it. Before Step 1, I was so miserable and in so much pain, there was no way it could have been worse once I woke up from surgery. but Before Step 2, I was feeling great and enjoying life. I was pain free for the most part, and being sick was a distant memory. Waking up from surgery and having to deal with post-op pain and another lengthy recovery period was very difficult for me. You just have to remind yourself to take it slow and in time you will be feeling just as good again.

My situation was similar to geminisunset's. Although step 1 is arguably the "biggest" of the 3 surgeries, I was very ill before my step 1, and in fact the surgery was done on an emergency basis. I felt like crap going into the surgery and coming out. More or less status quo. However, by the time I got around to my step 2 (which was delayed over 2 years for various reasons) I was feeling a lot better. To go from feeling good to being knocked flat on your back was harder to take. I had a post op obstruction after both step 1 and 2, and as I lay in my hospital bed after step 2 I really questioned why I was putting myself through everything all over again.

But I will say that because I was feeling generally well going into step 2, my recovery was a lot faster when compared to step 1. I was back to work within 8 weeks. I lost a bit of weight, but nothing compared to the 35 pounds I lost with step 1. As long as you're prepared for some downtime and accept that you probably won't feel well for at least a couple of weeks, you'll do fine.

And you'll be happy to know that step 3 is a BREEZE!

Hi

I found the 2nd surgery the hardest of any of them, pain wise and complication wise, but I think everybody is different. I had adhesions from my first surgery, and a hernia which where all sorted at the same time as my pouch creation. Everybody is different, so one persons experience may not mirror another persons. The hardest thing for me was the pain, and I also was sick quite abit and couldn't eat. I also had a drain in my abdomen on the opposite side to my ileo, which was there and draining for 15 days, so was not very comfortable at all, due to various complications I was in hospital 3 weeks, and was finally discharged 3 days before xmas last year, but it was a pretty close thing whether they were going to let me go. Everybody will probably have a different experience, so try not to think negatively.
I wish you lots of luck with your surgery. Please let me know how things go.
Take care
Shelly

I was really sick going into step 1, but now (6 months late) I feel perfect, am eating right, working out 90 minutes a day, and am losing weight (although I lost 15 with surgery 1, i gained it back pretty fast during soft food diet... i have since lost about 18 pounds). the first was done laprascopically and i was out in 5 days, i assume the second will be similar. At least I have the dilaudid pump to make me feel better after. Does everyone get the drain- and where is it?

Hi
Not sure if everyone gets a drain, I think some people have had a drain after step 1, but then I came across somebody who had a drain after step 3, so I guess it depends on the surgeon really. Thats the only reason I can think of, but maybe somebody else will know why. My drain was lower abdomen left hand side. I was told they are only suppose to drain for 5 days, but mine just kept draining. I put alot of weight on after step 1, but after getting the adhesions I lost all of the weight I'd gained and more beside.
Take care
Shelly

Surgery 2 of 3 was pretty rough. Even though I was out of the hospital in 48 hours (yep, you read that right), it took me 9 full weeks to get out of bed/off the couch. I lost over 20 lbs b/c I was so nauseous. I also had a small drain (small tube with a little suction thing attached to the end) but only after take down and not surgery 1 or 2.Obviously it worked b/c I had no complications whatsoever from any of the 3 surgeries.

Everyone is so different. I hope your experiences are very, very good and your recovery is quick.

Kind regards

Step 2 was much more difficult than I expected. I felt great going into it, three months after step 1. I felt alright when I was released from the hospital after a 5 day stay. Things went downhill when I got home because dehydration and nausea set in. It turned into a pretty viscious cycle. My advice is definitely to stay on top of your fluid intake. That was the hardest part for me. Well besides the fact that I had to go back to college two and a half weeks later. That was a spring break to remember lol. I don't think I had a drain.. unless I only had it when I was under. not sure. I hope things go smoothly for you!

Kristen

Kib-- yeah, i had to delay law school a year to finish my last 2 surgeries-- my surgeons and docs told me there was no way...

i will definitely stay on top of my liquids- i was good with them last time, and nausea was an issue, but i had them release me with anti-nausea pills too... thanks!

My experience was the hardest just in terms of discomfort and pain and how long it took to feel better. I felt instantly better after step one, but after step two, I woke up after the surgery feeling like someone literally put my insides in a blender and put them back in. But there are some who say step 2 is a breeze. Anticipate a change in taking care of your stoma...like if they put a temporary bridge under your stoma to keep it from sinking in at first (made it difficult to cut the flange to fit). But the output is much more liquidy making it so important to get a good seal so that you don't get poo under the wafer irritating your skin. I was so glad that was onlly temporary!! I missed my end ileo so much. Just think of step 2 as getting over the biggest hill of your end goal and you'll do great.

I found that step 2 was easier in terms of pain because the Hospital staff managed my pain much better than the step 1 surgery when they took out my colon. I had some complications with step 2 - pouchitis even though I wasn't using the pouch yet and some infection at the surgery site. Everyone is different so try not to anticipate although I know that's hard not to do especially if you have already gone through a major surgery. I am now 6 weeks post take down and all in all I do not at all regret having the J Pouch surgery even though I am still struggling with early day issues.