small bowel resection recovery

[Katie87]

I have been living with crohns for 11 years now, diagnosed when I was nine. I usually have great periods of remission where I am completely free from the disease. However, last May I had a terrible flare and have been fighting it since then until now. I had an awful summer full of pain, nausea, tests, and treatments ultimately leading me to a surgery I had done last Wednesday. I question is if there is anyone out there who had the same type surgery and what it was like post surgery. I had a small bowel resection in which they took out about 9 cm (the terminal ileum) and had it reconnected. Surgery went well, I am still in the hospital recovering. My concern is where I should be at in terms of pain and what not. I havepain at the incision sites but also have pain on the inside too. I also have diarrhea. Plus my stomach is very tender and tight and tense at one of the incisions. They say its common but I always worry that they are just trying to get me out of here quicker than I should. They say I can go on a regular diet but I do not think that is wise since I just had surgery a few days ago. I think it is best to let my intestines rest. Any other experiences that you can share would be greatly appreciated!!

[April2]

Hi Katie! I had this same exact surgery in August. I had a mass in my small intestine, in the Terminal Illeum. They biopsied it and said it was fibrous scar tissue with ulceration that looked like a classic case of Crohns. I did have some restriction, although not total blockage, so they felt it needed to come out. I had been having stomach pains, nausea, etc. for months before the surgery. I now feel great! :) No more stomach pains!
I do have to tell you though that it took longer for me to recover than I expected. I had an appendectomy three years ago and bounced back quicker than this surgery. But then again, this surgery was much more involved. It's major surgery.
I was in the hospital for a week after the surgery. They had me on a liqued diet the first three days and then we switched to a bland diet, adding more solids. I did have a lot of pain and tenderness but it was controlled pretty well with morphine. In some ways I felt a little worse after I got home. I think that was partly because when you're home you feel like you should be doing stuff so you're moving around more, etc. Try and rest when you get home. I know, easier said than done! However, you don't want to end up back in the hospital, so take it seriously what they tell you. My surgeon told me to expect a 6 to 8 week recovery at home and not to lift more than 15 pounds the first 2 weeks and no more than 25 pounds after that.

I was a bit surprised with how much pain I had. It lasted longer than I expected or wanted. Of course I wasn't a very good patient! I kept trying to push myself by doing laundry, etc. and then I'd really be feeling pain the rest of the day or the next day. I learned to take it easy and let others help out as much as possible. It really did take the full two months for me to feel normal again. It's perfectly normal to feel pain in the incision area as well as inside. Don't forget, they cut the colon inside you and it will take awhile for that to heal too. I heard it takes longer for the inside to heal than the outside. So even if your incision is healing nicely, it will take quite some time for your insides to heal. I had to physically make myself slow down. I realized how much I had a habit of walking quickly or sitting down quickly. You learn real fast to slooooow down or you will be hurting!
The tightness around the incision is normal too. It means you are healing and the skin is pulling together.

The diarrhea may last a long time. You may even have it for the rest of your life. I'm not trying to depress you, but whenever the do a resection you have that risk of diarrhea from now on. I had the diarrhea for a couple of months but my bowels are pretty much back to normal now. So I would expect you will be the same. I had about the same amount of colon cut out.

Again, I have to stress, give yourself time to heal. Let others help you out as much as possible. I was very fortunate. Our church brought over meals the first few weeks and my husband and kids pretty much took over the housework. My husband took the week off that I was in the hospital and the next week that I got home. Once he went back to work, my parents came over to help out with stuff. It was pretty humbling to have my mom do dishes and laundry but I was grateful for the help.

Please don't push it. Like I said, you could wind up back in the hospital if you do. Give yourself that time to heal. It's been three months for me since my surgery and I'm feeling great now! My incision still is red and a little bumpy. That can take up to a year to fully heal, turn white and smooth out, I guess. But please take it easy. I know someone who had the same type surgery and she did push herself too soon and wound up back in the hospital. Take it seriously! Rest, rest, rest. Within a few months you will be feeling back to normal again.  I hope any of this helps or eases your mind at all! Feel free to write back or send me a PM if you want or have more questions. Happy recovery! :)

[enchanting_mama]

I had the same surgery a week and a half ago. My recovery has been much quicker than I expected. I had put the surgery off until my bowel obstruction got so bad I couldn't wait. It was not nearly as bad as I'd expected, and I recommend that anyone thinking about it just go ahead and do it; the surgery is no worse than the pain of living with a blockage and constant flare. In fact, I think it's kind of less because they give you stronger pain medication and monitor you more closely! :)

I have some minor pain at the incision sites (one long bikini one, and three small ones around the tummy), but they used superglue instead of stitches, and it's already looking/feeling mostly healed (much faster than my stapled c-section scar a few years ago). Increased vitamin C (I take two packets of emergen-C daily) seems to have helped the healing.

I have had a lot of internal pain, beginning after they let me out of the hospital on day four. It hurt when I breathed in deeply, but when I returned to doing the long slow breaths they show you at the hospital, I found I was able to breathe better again, and the pain has mostly gone away now.

My biggest surprise was the first time I got up to walk (about 14 hours after surgery). I got really dizzy and sick to my stomach, and I had severe pain in my right shoulder, so bad I could hardly function. It lasted for a couple days, at varying degrees. They said it is because air gets into the body during laproscopic surgery, and that it would go away as the body reabsorbed the air over time. But, my goodness, it HURT. I wasn't prepared for that!

They assured me that walking would get easier, and it did. The second time I was able to walk a little further without the dizziness and pain. After that, I was up and doing laps around the hospital wing and hardly in my bed at all except to rest/sleep. They say it makes recovery go faster, and it really seems to. Since I've been home, I've been up and around as much as possible. If I push myself, I feel really tired and sometimes the pain increases a little. Then I just sleep for ages. I've enjoyed my late morning sleep-ins and my afternoon naps, to tell the truth. I feel guilty about being lazy, but as my husband reminds me, it's not lazy because my job is to get better and to get better I have to rest so my body will heal. He repeats it like a mantra to me anytime he feels I'm pushing it too much.

My doctor wrote me out of work for four weeks but said I should really be able to return in two to three. I didn't believe him, but now I think he was right. I feel really guilty because I think I COULD return to work right now, but I want to use the time off and get some rest/get caught up.  

Yesterday, we took my son to a pro baseball game and I was able to enjoy the whole day (it's was one and a half weeks post-op). Going up the stairs was pretty painful, though, so I had to take them really slowly with some support from my husband.

Anyway, my point is, yes there is a lot of pain and recovery work with the surgery, but it is not nearly as bad as I'd imagined, and healing is really pretty fast.  Hope this helps some of you who are considering the surgery or about to have it. :)

[enchanting_mama]

I forgot two things:

diet: they had me on clear liquids two days, and then suddenly gave me a dinner of pork loin, a potato, and spinach! I refused to eat it, because it didn't seem right so soon after my surgery. Turns out the food service had made a mistake and I was supposed to have softer food, but I did start eating solid foods the third day (even a veggie lasagna with carrots and spinach in it; I felt so naughty and was apprehensive eating it, because I couldn't have tolerated it before the surgery, but it went through fine). I was amazed how soon they had me eating, and- like you- I didn't trust it.  I think I'd become so used to being careful with my diet that I couldn't believe I can eat some of those things again. I'm still having trouble with the idea of eating all that stuff again; I mean, how can a stapled-back-together-again-only-a-week-ago bowel be able to pass solid food and roughage so quickly? It doesn't make sense to me, but it seems it is possible. After I got out of the hospital, I took a few days of bowel rest on my own, and just drank Ensure and liquids with a little toast. It made me feel better and seemed more appropriate to help the healing. I had less pain inside when I did that, too. I'm eating more now, but still smaller portions because I don't feel very hungry (which is incredible, because I'm usually always hungry; I'm one of those people who didn't lose weight with Crohn's, much to my dismay; I actually gained weight except during blockages).

stools: I haven't had loose ones. Mine have been really really hard and sometimes very painful, and I've been constipated. However, I never had much diarrhea with my Crohn's, just constipation. Maybe how ever your disease manifests is how it will manifest post-op?

[MrCrohn]

try QUESTRAN for post-op diarreah. It worked for me for a while. I had bowel resection almost 10 years ago. Unrelenting diarreah would not stop, but the questran stopped it right away. After a few years, I got off of it gradually. I may need another resection now. Very scared this time though. No I am 30, on my own, run my own business, so it will be very hard to do this all alone....

[Maria666]

Hiya,

i had a bowel ressection last year due to an accident in surgery which left me with scepticemia and absesses i was very sick.  it has almost been a year now and i feel like my life has totally changed i am a 22 year old young girl and i have to plan my life around a toilet!  they kept telling me that it would get better but it has not changed at all.

i was wondereing if anyone could help me as i have a friend who has crohns and i have all the symptoms that he has i am permantley in pain with my stomach and feeling sick and constanly needing the loo all the time and i can't eat this and that and am so weak all the time.

i have just gone back to work full time and can't believe how tired i am!

can anyone help?

[lizziecee]

Hi Maria and welcome to the forum.

Your symptoms could be as a result of a number of different diseases and really needs evaluating and testing by a gastroenterologist.  Unfortunately you are in the right age group for Crohn's and Ulcerative Colitis....I was 24 yrs old when diagnosed, but some 40 yrs later, still here and enjoying life.  The diarrhea is under control, as is the lower abdominal pain, although I am currently having problems with eating, so on an elemental diet (Fortijuice) for the time being.

You should not have to suffer as you are doing...once you have a proper diagnosis and appropriate medications, you will get your life back to the "new normal". Unfortunately IBD is not curable, but treatable and something we do learn to live with.

Take care....and see a gastro!

Liz.

[UCMcPain]

I was discharged from hospital earlier this week. Had a nasty flare-up, I was fine in morning got up had coffee, attended bunch of meetings, did work in the afternoon, and by 3 pm I was feeling sick, by 4 pm I was throwing up violently and by 10 pm I was admitted in the hospital.  Worse part of it is drinking contrast for CT SCAN, best part of it is the morphine.

Well, I have a partial bowel obstruction in the small bowels. The surgical team was on consult, but eventually they decided not to do surgery and released me after 4 days of IV, steroids, and antiboitics. Now, I am on pred, and I am rapidly tapering down.  I am feeling lot better. But surgery is in the banks for me sometime in the future and I am not looking forward to it.

Those of you had surgery (bowel resection) can you tell me what your post-operative experience has been.  Particularly how long you have been on remission.  If I get good 5-7 years I will be thrilled with it.  Look forward to your response and support.

Thanks

[Maria666]

Hiya Liz,

thanks very much for your comments it really has been helpful!

i have never seen a gastro before and it is certainly someone who i think i need to see.  i went to the doctors the other week and asked if they could test me for chrons so am awating some blood tests etc.  

i will ask when i attend the surgery about seeing a gastro doctor.

many thanks again

maria

x

[coughting]

I had bowel resection in July of 07.  I was diagnosed with Chrons about a year or 2 before that.  however, my symptoms started in 2000.  I did fine for a long time then in Nov 06 I had pain that made me fall out of the chair to the floor.  After that kept having flare ups.  In Feb 07 I started on Remicade and it did wonders.  Then in late April had bladder infection and after much testing found out that I had fistula and surgery was scheduled.  Had the greatest surgeon and he was able to do the surgery by lap with hand assist.  About 3 feet of small intestine was removed and small amount of large intestine.  He found 2 fistula, 1 to the bladder and the other to the large intestine.  Even though I had the surgery by lapo I had 2 have 2 units of blood and was in the hospital a week.  I was very lucky that I had the fistula which caused the surgery because the found cancer in the small intestine that was massed together.  They found it so early that I didn't have to have any chemo or other treatment, just see the onocolgist every 3 months, will start every 4 after next visit.  I had no food for most of the week I was in the hospital but 2 days before I was release got clear liquid and then liquids the next day.  Boy did that potato soup taste good.  I was able to eat after I was released from the hopsital.  My surgeon was so good as I said.  I was able to go back to work 2 weeks after my surgery.  Did great and haven't had a flare up since.  I had a scope done in Oct after my surgery and the gastro dr thought he found polyps but they were not and will have another scope, requested by the oncologist, in Jan.  

I was older when I got chrons unlike most of you.  If you are having lots of flare ups I would ask my Dr. about Remicade.  It is given by IV and you would have to take it the rest of your life probably.  but it definately made me feel better.  

I do have diarrhea and guess that is part of chrons.  Sometime my bm is normal and sometimes I have diarrhea.

Please if you are having surgery, don't just go to the surgeon that your dr recommends.  Check the bariatric surgeons out and get the best you can find.  

Hope all of you have a great year.  

coughing

[jmjayson]

I had right lower haemecolectomy (chopping a bit of bowel out) in summer 2004 (aged 14). Unfortunately after trying adalimumab (humira) and infliximab (remicade) I developed huge pain in my bowel which led to surgery again. I had my bowel resection on may 6th 2009 (aged 18). I was in hospital for about 5 days and was able to be quite mobile on the 7th day. The longest part of this whole procedure was waiting for your bowels to start moving after the op. Once they are 'in motion' then it's smooth sailing from there essentially. Now (june 2nd) i took a holiday to visit some friends in israel (from U.K) and am able to carry luggage and travel around places without feeling too limited. The general consensus from doctors is that I'm 'pushing myself' but I believe moderate pushing assists recovery.
One thing to consider is that (if you don't have a laproscopic - i didn't have it so i'm not sure) all your stomach muscles are sliced open and stitched back together. Your ability to move is seriously affected - that includes sitting up and walking around. You really have to let other people do things for you and not to offer help to people (lifting, carrying, moving etc.).

Also as a crohn's sufferer i have been used to diarrhea; therefore drinking lots of water is essential. However the bowel (to this day) hasn't recovered fully enough to absorb water properly at this stage. I've had the most intense headrushes since then - one of which led to me fainting. I have to make sure I constantly have lots of water with me.

Don't attempt any rich/strong flavours too soon after surgery, after my first op they fed me 'cream of chicken soup' which I was tasting for days after.

When i started moving around a bit more at home (about 10 days post op) i started cooking a lot (i've been trained as a chef) - i cooked for my family 5 days a week. I think this was really helpful; it was a good amount of exercise without being too strenuous. Also what helps is that you'll be eating what you want to eat - I had a very particular palate immediately post op.

can't think of anyhting else to say but hopefully this will help someone who's about to have bowel surgery

[steve1577]

I was diagnosed with Crohn's Disease at the tender age of 11. At the age of 34, just over a week ago, I had my first bowel resection. I was going through Remicade treatments when I started to develop severe pains near my appendix. After a few CT scans, my doctors informed me that the inflammation at my terminal illeum was also causing my appendix to be inflammed. I cannot go take prednisone (causes fluid to build up under my left retina making vision blurry), so they handed me the bowel resection "sentence". I knew I was going to have a resection eventually, and prepared myself as best I could pre-op. The surgery went smooth, all laproscopic. The day after surgery, I took a small walk down the hospital floor...and by walk I mean slow upright drag, clinging to the IV cart. Getting mobile right after surgery definitely increases your recovery time, and helps the trapped gases out. Each day I walked more, but carefully. Day 3 in the hospital was the worse. I started feeling sharp pains where they operated, and the pain meds were not helping. The pains progressively got worse until I was able to scamper into the restroom. Feeling like I was going to pass out from nausea and dizziness, I had a small bowel movement (diarrhea) followed by the best passing of gas in my 34 years. Recovery seemed to get a lot easier from there. I've been home now for 8 days. I have been maintaining a low residue diet (not going to 'normal eating habits' until I feel my insides are ready). The incision pains have been decreasing daily, and I only feel pain inside when I stretch or breathe deeply. I am off all pain meds and still resting as much as possible. Taking it slow and easy is the key. Do not sit up fast, do not walk fast, pace yourself. However, taking walks and being mobile is helping. I have diarrhea with gas about 4 times a day, but after 23 years with Crohn's, I'm used to it. They do say the diarrhea will end in a month or two...I can't wait. I am a firefighter and martial artist, so recovery and rest has been very difficult. Not being able to pick up my two year old daughter is tough, but she knows I have stomach boo-boo's. The best advice I have is to get moving the day after surgery, and increase the duration/length of your walk each day. Rest comfortably when you get home, but go for a walk a few times a day. Do not lift anything or strain to do anything. Do not (at least it works for me), go back in to normal eating habits/patterns. Keep the fluids up, and eat small amounts throughout the day. The low residue diet seems to be working for me, however, I cannot wait to be able to have a beer and a steak again someday.

[steve1577]

I was diagnosed with Crohn's Disease at the tender age of 11. At the age of 34, just over a week ago, I had my first bowel resection. I was going through Remicade treatments when I started to develop severe pains near my appendix. After a few CT scans, my doctors informed me that the inflammation at my terminal illeum was also causing my appendix to be inflammed. I cannot go take prednisone (causes fluid to build up under my left retina making vision blurry), so they handed me the bowel resection "sentence". I knew I was going to have a resection eventually, and prepared myself as best I could pre-op. The surgery went smooth, all laproscopic. The day after surgery, I took a small walk down the hospital floor...and by walk I mean slow upright drag, clinging to the IV cart. Getting mobile right after surgery definitely increases your recovery time, and helps the trapped gases out. Each day I walked more, but carefully. Day 3 in the hospital was the worse. I started feeling sharp pains where they operated, and the pain meds were not helping. The pains progressively got worse until I was able to scamper into the restroom. Feeling like I was going to pass out from nausea and dizziness, I had a small bowel movement (diarrhea) followed by the best passing of gas in my 34 years. Recovery seemed to get a lot easier from there. I've been home now for 8 days. I have been maintaining a low residue diet (not going to 'normal eating habits' until I feel my insides are ready). The incision pains have been decreasing daily, and I only feel pain inside when I stretch or breathe deeply. I am off all pain meds and still resting as much as possible. Taking it slow and easy is the key. Do not sit up fast, do not walk fast, pace yourself. However, taking walks and being mobile is helping. I have diarrhea with gas about 4 times a day, but after 23 years with Crohn's, I'm used to it. They do say the diarrhea will end in a month or two...I can't wait. I am a firefighter and martial artist, so recovery and rest has been very difficult. Not being able to pick up my two year old daughter is tough, but she knows I have stomach boo-boo's. The best advice I have is to get moving the day after surgery, and increase the duration/length of your walk each day. Rest comfortably when you get home, but go for a walk a few times a day. Do not lift anything or strain to do anything. Do not (at least it works for me), go back in to normal eating habits/patterns. Keep the fluids up, and eat small amounts throughout the day. The low residue diet seems to be working for me, however, I cannot wait to be able to have a beer and a steak again someday.

[steve1577]

I was diagnosed with Crohn's Disease at the tender age of 11. At the age of 34, just over a week ago, I had my first bowel resection. I was going through Remicade treatments when I started to develop severe pains near my appendix. After a few CT scans, my doctors informed me that the inflammation at my terminal illeum was also causing my appendix to be inflammed. I cannot go take prednisone (causes fluid to build up under my left retina making vision blurry), so they handed me the bowel resection "sentence". I knew I was going to have a resection eventually, and prepared myself as best I could pre-op. The surgery went smooth, all laproscopic. The day after surgery, I took a small walk down the hospital floor...and by walk I mean slow upright drag, clinging to the IV cart. Getting mobile right after surgery definitely increases your recovery time, and helps the trapped gases out. Each day I walked more, but carefully. Day 3 in the hospital was the worse. I started feeling sharp pains where they operated, and the pain meds were not helping. The pains progressively got worse until I was able to scamper into the restroom. Feeling like I was going to pass out from nausea and dizziness, I had a small bowel movement (diarrhea) followed by the best passing of gas in my 34 years. Recovery seemed to get a lot easier from there. I've been home now for 8 days. I have been maintaining a low residue diet (not going to 'normal eating habits' until I feel my insides are ready). The incision pains have been decreasing daily, and I only feel pain inside when I stretch or breathe deeply. I am off all pain meds and still resting as much as possible. Taking it slow and easy is the key. Do not sit up fast, do not walk fast, pace yourself. However, taking walks and being mobile is helping. I have diarrhea with gas about 4 times a day, but after 23 years with Crohn's, I'm used to it. They do say the diarrhea will end in a month or two...I can't wait. I am a firefighter and martial artist, so recovery and rest has been very difficult. Not being able to pick up my two year old daughter is tough, but she knows I have stomach boo-boo's. The best advice I have is to get moving the day after surgery, and increase the duration/length of your walk each day. Rest comfortably when you get home, but go for a walk a few times a day. Do not lift anything or strain to do anything. Do not (at least it works for me), go back in to normal eating habits/patterns. Keep the fluids up, and eat small amounts throughout the day. The low residue diet seems to be working for me, however, I cannot wait to be able to have a beer and a steak again someday.

[steve1577]

I was diagnosed with Crohn's Disease at the tender age of 11. At the age of 34, just over a week ago, I had my first bowel resection. I was going through Remicade treatments when I started to develop severe pains near my appendix. After a few CT scans, my doctors informed me that the inflammation at my terminal illeum was also causing my appendix to be inflammed. I cannot go take prednisone (causes fluid to build up under my left retina making vision blurry), so they handed me the bowel resection "sentence". I knew I was going to have a resection eventually, and prepared myself as best I could pre-op. The surgery went smooth, all laproscopic. The day after surgery, I took a small walk down the hospital floor...and by walk I mean slow upright drag, clinging to the IV cart. Getting mobile right after surgery definitely increases your recovery time, and helps the trapped gases out. Each day I walked more, but carefully. Day 3 in the hospital was the worse. I started feeling sharp pains where they operated, and the pain meds were not helping. The pains progressively got worse until I was able to scamper into the restroom. Feeling like I was going to pass out from nausea and dizziness, I had a small bowel movement (diarrhea) followed by the best passing of gas in my 34 years. Recovery seemed to get a lot easier from there. I've been home now for 8 days. I have been maintaining a low residue diet (not going to 'normal eating habits' until I feel my insides are ready). The incision pains have been decreasing daily, and I only feel pain inside when I stretch or breathe deeply. I am off all pain meds and still resting as much as possible. Taking it slow and easy is the key. Do not sit up fast, do not walk fast, pace yourself. However, taking walks and being mobile is helping. I have diarrhea with gas about 4 times a day, but after 23 years with Crohn's, I'm used to it. They do say the diarrhea will end in a month or two...I can't wait. I am a firefighter and martial artist, so recovery and rest has been very difficult. Not being able to pick up my two year old daughter is tough, but she knows I have stomach boo-boo's. The best advice I have is to get moving the day after surgery, and increase the duration/length of your walk each day. Rest comfortably when you get home, but go for a walk a few times a day. Do not lift anything or strain to do anything. Do not (at least it works for me), go back in to normal eating habits/patterns. Keep the fluids up, and eat small amounts throughout the day. The low residue diet seems to be working for me, however, I cannot wait to be able to have a beer and a steak again someday.

[steve1577]

I was diagnosed with Crohn's Disease at the tender age of 11. At the age of 34, just over a week ago, I had my first bowel resection. I was going through Remicade treatments when I started to develop severe pains near my appendix. After a few CT scans, my doctors informed me that the inflammation at my terminal illeum was also causing my appendix to be inflammed. I cannot go take prednisone (causes fluid to build up under my left retina making vision blurry), so they handed me the bowel resection "sentence". I knew I was going to have a resection eventually, and prepared myself as best I could pre-op. The surgery went smooth, all laproscopic. The day after surgery, I took a small walk down the hospital floor...and by walk I mean slow upright drag, clinging to the IV cart. Getting mobile right after surgery definitely increases your recovery time, and helps the trapped gases out. Each day I walked more, but carefully. Day 3 in the hospital was the worse. I started feeling sharp pains where they operated, and the pain meds were not helping. The pains progressively got worse until I was able to scamper into the restroom. Feeling like I was going to pass out from nausea and dizziness, I had a small bowel movement (diarrhea) followed by the best passing of gas in my 34 years. Recovery seemed to get a lot easier from there. I've been home now for 8 days. I have been maintaining a low residue diet (not going to 'normal eating habits' until I feel my insides are ready). The incision pains have been decreasing daily, and I only feel pain inside when I stretch or breathe deeply. I am off all pain meds and still resting as much as possible. Taking it slow and easy is the key. Do not sit up fast, do not walk fast, pace yourself. However, taking walks and being mobile is helping. I have diarrhea with gas about 4 times a day, but after 23 years with Crohn's, I'm used to it. They do say the diarrhea will end in a month or two...I can't wait. I am a firefighter and martial artist, so recovery and rest has been very difficult. Not being able to pick up my two year old daughter is tough, but she knows I have stomach boo-boo's. The best advice I have is to get moving the day after surgery, and increase the duration/length of your walk each day. Rest comfortably when you get home, but go for a walk a few times a day. Do not lift anything or strain to do anything. Do not (at least it works for me), go back in to normal eating habits/patterns. Keep the fluids up, and eat small amounts throughout the day. The low residue diet seems to be working for me, however, I cannot wait to be able to have a beer and a steak again someday.

[steve1577]

I was diagnosed with Crohn's Disease at the tender age of 11. At the age of 34, just over a week ago, I had my first bowel resection. I was going through Remicade treatments when I started to develop severe pains near my appendix. After a few CT scans, my doctors informed me that the inflammation at my terminal illeum was also causing my appendix to be inflammed. I cannot go take prednisone (causes fluid to build up under my left retina making vision blurry), so they handed me the bowel resection "sentence". I knew I was going to have a resection eventually, and prepared myself as best I could pre-op. The surgery went smooth, all laproscopic. The day after surgery, I took a small walk down the hospital floor...and by walk I mean slow upright drag, clinging to the IV cart. Getting mobile right after surgery definitely increases your recovery time, and helps the trapped gases out. Each day I walked more, but carefully. Day 3 in the hospital was the worse. I started feeling sharp pains where they operated, and the pain meds were not helping. The pains progressively got worse until I was able to scamper into the restroom. Feeling like I was going to pass out from nausea and dizziness, I had a small bowel movement (diarrhea) followed by the best passing of gas in my 34 years. Recovery seemed to get a lot easier from there. I've been home now for 8 days. I have been maintaining a low residue diet (not going to 'normal eating habits' until I feel my insides are ready). The incision pains have been decreasing daily, and I only feel pain inside when I stretch or breathe deeply. I am off all pain meds and still resting as much as possible. Taking it slow and easy is the key. Do not sit up fast, do not walk fast, pace yourself. However, taking walks and being mobile is helping. I have diarrhea with gas about 4 times a day, but after 23 years with Crohn's, I'm used to it. They do say the diarrhea will end in a month or two...I can't wait. I am a firefighter and martial artist, so recovery and rest has been very difficult. Not being able to pick up my two year old daughter is tough, but she knows I have stomach boo-boo's. The best advice I have is to get moving the day after surgery, and increase the duration/length of your walk each day. Rest comfortably when you get home, but go for a walk a few times a day. Do not lift anything or strain to do anything. Do not (at least it works for me), go back in to normal eating habits/patterns. Keep the fluids up, and eat small amounts throughout the day. The low residue diet seems to be working for me, however, I cannot wait to be able to have a beer and a steak again someday.

[steve1577]

I was diagnosed with Crohn's Disease at the tender age of 11. At the age of 34, just over a week ago, I had my first bowel resection. I was going through Remicade treatments when I started to develop severe pains near my appendix. After a few CT scans, my doctors informed me that the inflammation at my terminal illeum was also causing my appendix to be inflammed. I cannot go take prednisone (causes fluid to build up under my left retina making vision blurry), so they handed me the bowel resection "sentence". I knew I was going to have a resection eventually, and prepared myself as best I could pre-op. The surgery went smooth, all laproscopic. The day after surgery, I took a small walk down the hospital floor...and by walk I mean slow upright drag, clinging to the IV cart. Getting mobile right after surgery definitely increases your recovery time, and helps the trapped gases out. Each day I walked more, but carefully. Day 3 in the hospital was the worse. I started feeling sharp pains where they operated, and the pain meds were not helping. The pains progressively got worse until I was able to scamper into the restroom. Feeling like I was going to pass out from nausea and dizziness, I had a small bowel movement (diarrhea) followed by the best passing of gas in my 34 years. Recovery seemed to get a lot easier from there. I've been home now for 8 days. I have been maintaining a low residue diet (not going to 'normal eating habits' until I feel my insides are ready). The incision pains have been decreasing daily, and I only feel pain inside when I stretch or breathe deeply. I am off all pain meds and still resting as much as possible. Taking it slow and easy is the key. Do not sit up fast, do not walk fast, pace yourself. However, taking walks and being mobile is helping. I have diarrhea with gas about 4 times a day, but after 23 years with Crohn's, I'm used to it. They do say the diarrhea will end in a month or two...I can't wait. I am a firefighter and martial artist, so recovery and rest has been very difficult. Not being able to pick up my two year old daughter is tough, but she knows I have stomach boo-boo's. The best advice I have is to get moving the day after surgery, and increase the duration/length of your walk each day. Rest comfortably when you get home, but go for a walk a few times a day. Do not lift anything or strain to do anything. Do not (at least it works for me), go back in to normal eating habits/patterns. Keep the fluids up, and eat small amounts throughout the day. The low residue diet seems to be working for me, however, I cannot wait to be able to have a beer and a steak again someday.

[steve1577]

I was diagnosed with Crohn's Disease at the tender age of 11. At the age of 34, just over a week ago, I had my first bowel resection. I was going through Remicade treatments when I started to develop severe pains near my appendix. After a few CT scans, my doctors informed me that the inflammation at my terminal illeum was also causing my appendix to be inflammed. I cannot go take prednisone (causes fluid to build up under my left retina making vision blurry), so they handed me the bowel resection "sentence". I knew I was going to have a resection eventually, and prepared myself as best I could pre-op. The surgery went smooth, all laproscopic. The day after surgery, I took a small walk down the hospital floor...and by walk I mean slow upright drag, clinging to the IV cart. Getting mobile right after surgery definitely increases your recovery time, and helps the trapped gases out. Each day I walked more, but carefully. Day 3 in the hospital was the worse. I started feeling sharp pains where they operated, and the pain meds were not helping. The pains progressively got worse until I was able to scamper into the restroom. Feeling like I was going to pass out from nausea and dizziness, I had a small bowel movement (diarrhea) followed by the best passing of gas in my 34 years. Recovery seemed to get a lot easier from there. I've been home now for 8 days. I have been maintaining a low residue diet (not going to 'normal eating habits' until I feel my insides are ready). The incision pains have been decreasing daily, and I only feel pain inside when I stretch or breathe deeply. I am off all pain meds and still resting as much as possible. Taking it slow and easy is the key. Do not sit up fast, do not walk fast, pace yourself. However, taking walks and being mobile is helping. I have diarrhea with gas about 4 times a day, but after 23 years with Crohn's, I'm used to it. They do say the diarrhea will end in a month or two...I can't wait. I am a firefighter and martial artist, so recovery and rest has been very difficult. Not being able to pick up my two year old daughter is tough, but she knows I have stomach boo-boo's. The best advice I have is to get moving the day after surgery, and increase the duration/length of your walk each day. Rest comfortably when you get home, but go for a walk a few times a day. Do not lift anything or strain to do anything. Do not (at least it works for me), go back in to normal eating habits/patterns. Keep the fluids up, and eat small amounts throughout the day. The low residue diet seems to be working for me, however, I cannot wait to be able to have a beer and a steak again someday.

[steve1577]

I was diagnosed with Crohn's Disease at the tender age of 11. At the age of 34, just over a week ago, I had my first bowel resection. I was going through Remicade treatments when I started to develop severe pains near my appendix. After a few CT scans, my doctors informed me that the inflammation at my terminal illeum was also causing my appendix to be inflammed. I cannot go take prednisone (causes fluid to build up under my left retina making vision blurry), so they handed me the bowel resection "sentence". I knew I was going to have a resection eventually, and prepared myself as best I could pre-op. The surgery went smooth, all laproscopic. The day after surgery, I took a small walk down the hospital floor...and by walk I mean slow upright drag, clinging to the IV cart. Getting mobile right after surgery definitely increases your recovery time, and helps the trapped gases out. Each day I walked more, but carefully. Day 3 in the hospital was the worse. I started feeling sharp pains where they operated, and the pain meds were not helping. The pains progressively got worse until I was able to scamper into the restroom. Feeling like I was going to pass out from nausea and dizziness, I had a small bowel movement (diarrhea) followed by the best passing of gas in my 34 years. Recovery seemed to get a lot easier from there. I've been home now for 8 days. I have been maintaining a low residue diet (not going to 'normal eating habits' until I feel my insides are ready). The incision pains have been decreasing daily, and I only feel pain inside when I stretch or breathe deeply. I am off all pain meds and still resting as much as possible. Taking it slow and easy is the key. Do not sit up fast, do not walk fast, pace yourself. However, taking walks and being mobile is helping. I have diarrhea with gas about 4 times a day, but after 23 years with Crohn's, I'm used to it. They do say the diarrhea will end in a month or two...I can't wait. I am a firefighter and martial artist, so recovery and rest has been very difficult. Not being able to pick up my two year old daughter is tough, but she knows I have stomach boo-boo's. The best advice I have is to get moving the day after surgery, and increase the duration/length of your walk each day. Rest comfortably when you get home, but go for a walk a few times a day. Do not lift anything or strain to do anything. Do not (at least it works for me), go back in to normal eating habits/patterns. Keep the fluids up, and eat small amounts throughout the day. The low residue diet seems to be working for me, however, I cannot wait to be able to have a beer and a steak again someday.

[coughting]

I had bowel resection as stated above in 2007.  It was the small bowel at the illium and small amount of the large intestine.  

The worst pain was about a week 1/2 after surgery when I had my first bowel movement.  Thought I was going to die.  However, it was fine after that.

I still have loose bowels and the dr says that is because it was the small intestine.  I have found that if I eat lots of breakfast on the go and granola then I have more firm bowel movements.

Still go 3-5 times a day most times.