Coping With Colon Resection

The last week of June my colon exploded. I thought I had food poisoning because I was feeling very nauseaus [nauseas] and feverish. But my stomach was so very hard and I was not vomiting. Only sleeping and doubled over in pain. After dealing with this for two days I went to an after hours clinic where they immeadiately told my husband to take me to the hospital. It was there after a C.T. scan and iv and blood work they determined that I had diverticulitis and they had to do exploratory surgery on me as soon as possible.

I was very lucky to have one of the best Doctors for this surgery. Altho I was in and out of conscienceness my Husband was there to understand and sign everything. When I woke up about 12 hours after surgery in ICU I was blessed to be alive. Not only had they found the diverticulitis but also peritonitis and 8 inches of diseased large colon which they removed about 10 inches. The doctors were all amazed that I was still alive. I was so sick that I spent 8 days in the hospital recovering with my colostomy As much as the doctors and nurses talk to you and try to explain everything to you it is impossible for them to deal with the emotional side of it unless they themselves have been through it. It is absolutely terrifying to wake up with an ostomy bag hanging onto the outside of your stomach, tubes down your throat and nose and all kinds of monitors and machines breathing for you and sucking things out of you. There is nothing and no one that is of the medical profession who can prepare you for this experience unless they are survivors to.

In ICU they tell you it is normal to hurt. My incision runs from the top of my diaphram all the way down to my crotch. Granted I am overweight but my doctor called in another doctor to assist him with the surgery and it cut the time down on the operating table. Therefore leaving me with a lovely 14 inch incision. The icu nurses expect you to turn every few hours so as to help prevent pnumonia from settling in your lungs. It is extremely painful no doubt but it is doable. You must cough and cough and cough to remove all the ick from your lungs. I had a beautiful tiny nurse who tried to be there with me every time I coughed she would hold a pillow on my stomach. Or even hold my hand afterwards when I thought I was dying.

After being released from ICU to a recovery room things began to progress pretty quickly. The physical therapy visited me within a few hours and then twice a day until I was released. The first time you stand up it feels like your bottom is going to fall out. It is so heavy and uncomfortable. But if you can tollerate it just shift your weight from one leg to another for a few seconds each time. That feeling will go away in a few days. Walking will become easier, coughing will eventually become less painful and soon you will stop coughing up so much phlem. After a few days your bowl sounds should start gurgling and they will allow you to have some water and a soft bland diet. Food may not taste good but it is so important to eat to allow your body to recouperate and produce waste. Just a little at a time, nibble and be sure to chew your food completely. So it is easier to digest and pass.

The first time you smell the gas or the poop that the nurses empty or release from your bag you will realize this is the worst smell you have ever experienced. You will most likely gag and or choke, and think to yourself there is no way you will ever be able to do this on your own. Trust me they tell you that you become immune. Well you still smell it but yes it becomes much more tollerable.

Upon realease from the hospital. If you are lucky enough to have a home health care nurse or ET nurse to come visit you, they will work with you and it will get so much easier to do. Due to the placement of the bag I cannot change mine myself because I have to put my bag on lying down. I can do everything myself except measure to see if it has shrunk any or actually put the bag over the stoma. You will possibly put the bag on wrong on occasion and you will know it pretty quick. There may be a leak of stool or even gas. The smell will alert you and allow you to change the bag again if necessary. Make sure you always carry your supplies with you even if you are going on a short errand. Because tho we would like to think it couldn’t happen to us, most certainly it will happen just once and you want to be ready for it.

Don’t be afraid to get up and walk, tho my doctor was somewhat worried I would tear my incision he ok’d me to walk up and down my stairs at home so I could sleep in my own bed. I just had to take it slowly and if it started to hurt then make other arrangements. Make sure you aren’t lifting much more than a loaf of bread or a small plate or glass for the first week or so because you will be weak. It has been 6 weeks for me and my doctor still insists that I not lift anything more than 10 pounds. Sleeping is probably the most difficult when you get home. Especially if you were a stomach sleeper before. Obviously for the first couple of weeks you will only be able to sleep propped up and on your back. But you will slowly be able to prop your pillows in front and behind you and find some comfort in sleeping on your side for a change.

Don’t expect too much from yourself for a few weeks. Stick to the Doctors rules and advice. I suppose I was very lucky with my Doctor because he told me I can pretty much do anything that I feel I can do…. within reason! Easy on the bending and stretching and lifting, take your walks to strengthen your legs and back and stomach muscles, because until you build them back up again they will hurt from the surgery. Whatever you do rest often your body is still healing and tho you are tired now tomorrow will be better and next week you will be able to do even more.

Eating…. blech! Is how I felt. Due to the anesthesia I had no taste and a film in my mouth for over a month. I craved nothing and I wanted nothing. But you must eat for so many reasons. The hospital will give you a list and if you have a home health care nurse they will also give you material reguarding this. Nibble on toast (maybe with a little peanut butter for the protein), snack on a piece of friut or sip some soup. Whatever it takes to get nourishment in your body. Don’t be too scared to experiment with your foods, keep a list of what you ate and when. If it is something that potentially caused gas before your surgery then it will most likely do the same afterwards. Not that you can’t still enjoy these foods or beverages like carbonated sodas and salads or broccoli. Just do it in limited quantities. Make sure you keep your lists of how different foods effect you and your stoma. Some foods will cause your stool to change colors and some will cause it to become very thick or liquidy. I found that corn and lettuce are very hard for me to pass through the stoma. This is where your liquids come in handy. Plenty of liquids be it water, tea, juice etc….drink drink drink is what they tell you before you leave. Do it! It helps to digest your solid foods and makes it all so much easier to pass. If you become constipated a warm bath and lots of apple juice seemed to help me. If you have stool that is way too soft then increase your fiber intake. I began substituting a fiber suppliment (the powery clear kind that is tasteless) since I am still not eating full meals and it truely makes a difference.

Emotionally it is easy to do the why me thing. I haven’t had that option. By searching the internt I have discovered that most people who’s colons explode and they become septic their chances of survival are slim. My Doctor also told me I was a very lucky lady to still be here. Who am I to argue with that. Just a few more hours and poof no more me. I am planning to go back in December for my reversal. If all goes well then I will be back to normal in a few months. But if for some reason it doesn’t work and I have to live with the colostomy and ostomy bag for the rest of my life then I will still be very lucky to be here. I have read and heard so much about how angry people are about having to have the surgery and live with this even for a few months. Sure I am sad. Sure I have a lot of unanswered questions and I haven’t personally met anyone else with this face to face. However I had no choice but to be thankful for the ostomy, the drs and nurses who took care of me and my family and friends who were so supportive. It is because of this silly little stoma and these people that I am still here. For that I am blessed and see nothing good if I allow the anger and the frusteration to take over that love and thankfulness. Find someone to talk to, someone you trust and can be open with. Even if they don’t truely understand it helps to just have someone to listen. Explain to them you do not need their sympathy or experience but their ear. Possibly their suggestions on trying something new. Who knows maybe a different perspective will help.