Small bowel resection, terrified!

[Eleanor545]

New to this site so not sure where to start. I was recently hospitalised a few months ago with what turns out to be Crohns disease in the terminal ileum and a perforated bowel causing an infection. Luckily my perforation had sealed itself and with antibiotics has completely healed and Im infection free. In my recent appointment with my consultant he advised to have a small bowel resection of 5 inches, is this a lot? He stated that my Crohn's disease was only in this section of bowel and either side of the section are completely healthy, therefore I could have a good few years hopefully symptom free after surgery. My main concern is that he stated with bowel surgery you are at risk of needing a temporary stoma which has terrified me! Is this a regular thing or just something they have to tell you? Im so scared I spend all my time worrying, I really don't think I could cope with it. Also I hate hospitals so any tips to get me out quicker would be appreciated? The surgery would also be laparoscopic, does anyone know what the recovery is like and when i can go back to the gym? Sorry for all the questions! Thanks :)

[April2]

I understand being scared. It's a big surgery, yes, and I've had this exact surgery 9 years ago. I had a partial obstruction so the surgery was immediately scheduled so fortunately I didn't have long to think about it. :) They too cut out about 5 inches around the terminal illeum. I never was told I might need a stoma and fortunately I never did. The recovery did take me longer than I had anticipated and I had to actually rent a hospital bed and sleep almost sitting up for the first month, I think. I couldn't get comfortable laying down. After about a month I was feeling better but did have to watch not to sit down too quickly or walk too quickly or I'd start feeling the pain. It takes longer for your insides to heal, I was told, than the outside stitches. So it probably was a good three months before I felt back to normal. But I will tell you, I've felt great since then! The only issue I've had since then was I have to watch how much fiber I eat because it will go right through me. They also told me to watch my B12 levels because the terminal illeum is where B12 is processed so we can run low in that if we aren't careful.
I hope this helps and eases you mind somewhat. :)