Newbie... Recovery questions

Walking is a very important part of your recovery. Everyone is different, but unless something bad happens your walking range should be back to pre-surgical distances in perhaps 4-6 weeks, maybe even sooner.

Thank you for your reply.

After my first surgery (proctocolectomy and j pouch creation) I was in the hospital for 8 days. Was home one week and developed an abscess/infection that sent me back to the hospital for another 5 days. Then I went home with a transgluteal drain in place for six weeks. I didn't feel like doing much of anything during that time. I had to force myself to go out and do little things. My point is, hope for the best but plan for the worst. Chances are you'll have smooth sailing. good luck!

My son has his surgery 2 weeks for the second time.  He was up walking the night of.  You won't be able to drive for 4-6 weeks, and will be in tremendous pain immediately upon waking up for surgery.  It's a long one too.  Three to seven days in hospital is about right, but you are going to feel like  you were hit by a freight train.  If you are having your large intestine removed, it's about a 7-8 hour procedure.  and a difficult recovery.  Get help!  By the end of May you should be relatively okay, but you are going to need help before that.  My son graduated 5 months after I had open heart surgery, which I have to say was a piece of cake compaired to this, and I had everything catered.  I knew I would not be up to my usual standards of cooking and entertaining.  I'm sure you have a girlfriend or family member who can help you with getting the details all set.  But you will be up and around long before the end of May.  Good luck and hugs to you!

They are doing some pretty heavy-duty surgery, removing a colon, I presume, etc.  I agree, you'll likely be able to walk and it's a good thing to do so! However, it's not a "walk" like you are normal.  You will be in some pain.  Recovery from first step of the surgery depends on what you mean by recovery.  Able to go witness an event or be at a party?  Doable.  Being the one who puts it all on, drives people around, shopping and do the normal mom stuff (I can only guess that's a lot of work -- that will be tough.  Your family needs you to be healthy and while proms and birthdays are very important, right now you are going through a much, much more important life milestone.  Your sons are old enough that they might be enlisted to help you out a bit!

Best Wishes.

I wish you the best of luck! The proms will be a breeze. You have boys! They can help each other. Hire someone to do the birthdays. It's too much work. You will be lucky in a few weeks to be able to go grocery shopping in a motorized cart they loan at the store. But you will be exhausted. Remember your colon is a major organ that does allot to keep you energized & hydrated. Without it you have to have a good diet. Having an ileostomy takes time to get used to. Not just changing it, but the clothing you can wear, accidents, that usually are not in a convenient place (carry fresh clothes & appliances), the way you can move around is different. You get used to all of this though, I've had one twice. I have lots of tips, from marshmallows to hair dryers, PM me when you get it. 

If your boys are grown & you are in pain go for it.  If you want to be in control and aren't in pain or harm, wait. It's just a few months. My surgery was an emergency because I waited too long. Didn't have time to do anything ahead of time. Missed my daughters most memorable birthday (a fight broke out in the ice skating rink locker room!) my poor husband had his hands full! Lol. I missed her First Communion, but my son, I could just hear him, yelled out, "That's a big one!" , when he saw the host! I could just picture it all. Too bad it was before camera phones! 

Thanks for all the replies.

Jenn, good luck yo you.  I hope everything goes yell and you have a speedy recovery let us know how it goes!