Recovering From My Second Ileostomy Surgery

wookie2005

Dec 22, 2010 3:50 am

Well, I am now 2 weeks post-op from my 2nd surgery to create a permanent ileostomy. As for how I am going, I feel that I am great. I was only in the hospital for 5 days, but after being discharged, things started happening to me like my entire body swelling to 2 sizes bigger than what I really am, and my feet, ankles, and legs were like watermelons. At one stage, I couldn't feel my feet; they hurt that much, and I also had a constant tingling feeling in them. :( I went to the local ED department, and they didn't think it was urgent, so I went home. Within a few days, it went down. As for my body, it's slowly getting back to its normal size. (Thank God) =) As for the rest of my health, I had the staples removed, all 32 of them, on Monday, and it didn't hurt as much as I was expecting, unlike last time. Pain-wise, I don't have a lot in the stomach unless I've overdone myself or try to bend down. As for pain in the butt, oh yeah, it hurts. I have my trusty pillow to sit on, so that comes everywhere with me. So all in all, I think I am going fine. I have registered myself with temp work again, so right now, I am sitting at work, doing reception fill-in for 5 hrs while the company enjoys their Christmas lunch. Let's see how many come back drunk! =)

Well, if I don't post before then, I hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful and happy New Year!

Wookie. xxxxxxx

lottagelady

Dec 22, 2010 10:12 am

Hi Wookie - lovely to hear that you are now doing well and feel able to do a bit of work! Take care though, you are only 2 weeks post-op and your body will take some time to get over the surgery - please watch with the bending and lifting things - don't want to be getting yourself a hernia!
Great news though! Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy New Year ...
Rach xxxxx

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Posted by: Primeboy

Hi Mike and all. I am not sure how panoramic my perspective really is as my peripheral vision shrinks with each passing year. I can tell you that when I came to this website six years ago I was truly ;impressed by the positive attitudes of so many members, especially the younger folks who refused to let their ostomies define who they were or what they would become. I also came to appreciate that having an ostomy is not the same thing as having a disease. Pardon ;my pun now, but ostomies and cancer don't belong in the same bag. One is a solution, the other is a problem. Celebrating National Ostomy Day ;is also well outside my comfort zone. That's like celebrating National Wheel Chair Day. Come on!

I think there is a ;need for improved ;public awareness of ostomies, but I am not sure how that's best done. There ;remains ;some social stigma attached to our situation, and it's acutely felt among our young. We need to get out of the dark ages on this issue, but not by going 'in your face' to everyone else. I think Bill and NDY are 'spot-on' when it comes to telegraphing the right message to friends and family. People will know how to react when they ;see ;how we accept the cards we were dealt. I also appreciate the contribution some people here are making to this effort through their publications.

On a personal note, my son has been suffering from ulcerative colitis for years just like I did. I am very concerned because people with UC are at a higher risk for colon cancer. Years ago my GI told me to get annual colonoscopies to be on the safe side. I am glad I did because he eventually found pre-cancerous cells which led to several surgeries and my becoming an ostomate. Since then I have always ;conveyed a positive attitude to ;my son about wearing a bag because it has kept me alive to enjoy many more years with my loved ones. I think he got the message. We both go to the same gastroenterologist in NYC and get scoped on the same day. Father and Son moments!

Someone once wrote that our children are the letters we write to the future.

mooza

Dec 22, 2010 4:51 pm

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Good on ya, Wookie. I hope I
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emailed you properly, lol. Well, I have been in the same boat. Did they sew the bottom up like me or not? You're working! Fantastic! If I were working there, yep, I wouldn't come back to work drunk 'cause I would still be out for drinks. Hahahahah, 5 days is good. Some of my surgeries, I went home 6 days after. But this one, the whole colon, I ended up with problems on the 3rd day. They were going to send me home, but I ended up with an infection and I swelled up. But I know that's from the saline drip. I hate those things. Then I thought I was having a stroke. My left arm got so heavy and I couldn't even pick up my mobile phone. It was on my belly from another call. So they said fever, all that shite, and gave me a blood transfusion. That was scary. Even my blood type made me sick, which I told the nurse. She said it would be fine. The next day, they said I had an allergic reaction to the blood. Anyway, back to you, lololol. We have to chat, Wookie. I can be your big sis, hahah, but I will have to drop my age, hahahah. Cheers and good luck, buddy. Mare..xx
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beatrice

Dec 22, 2010 4:57 pm

Hi dear Wookie - little miss inspiration!

Rach is right. Take it easy and watch the bending/lifting -- you don't want a hernia. I thought I was being very careful and I've got a little one developing.

Did they remove your rectum as well ... so that you have a Barbie Butt
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now?

Merry Christmas!

Tiggy

Dec 22, 2010 9:32 pm

Cheers Wookie!!!

It sounds like your body has been through quite a bit of stress in the last little while!

I'm sure I don't need to tell you to take it easy at all times! Give your body time to rest and readjust itself to the changes that have taken place recently. Even if you feel mentally energized and healthy, your body might beg to differ, so give it the consideration it deserves.
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Happy holidays!

Liz

Recovering from My Second Ileostomy Surgery

My Ostomy Journey: Bruce | Hollister