RU Female? RU post bowel resection? Please I need your help!

Ive recently been told that I need to have a bowel resection because of pre cancerous polyps. There is no other way to do this. A year and a half ago I had a botched surgery where the anticipated recovery time was 3-5 days and I ended up in pain for well over a year with nerve damage. The doctors didnt listen to me. The hospital discharged me, kicked me right out the door. I was screaming in pain. It was a horrible nightmare. Im now extremely apprehensive about having this surgery. My husband is retired Military. Does anyone know about care at a Army Hospital? Im so concerned about the flatulence part of this whole thing. Ive NEVER had a flatulence accident ever! I would rather explode then fart in front of someone. I dont even think I can. Ive had problems with gas, hurting so bad I thought I would die, but I just cant pass it in front of anyone else. Married for 16 years and my husband has NEVER heard me fart. I know I would simply die of embarassment if I did. Please if any one has ever been in my shoes, facing what I am facing, please help me. Im so frightened of this whole nightmare. I wish I could just wake up and it be over with.
Nurbloc

[Morecambe]

Please take a look at a reply I just posted on Renae241's question about 7 levels up from your posting.  I hope that this will provide you with some insight into the surgical procedure.  Of course please post further questions if you think there is anything else that I can describe to you.....

Now, turning to your other dilemma - it would be wrong of me to suggest that flatulence/farting is eliminated after this - operation because it is not.

What can I say......well - I live in England and I can tell you:-

- the Queen of England farts
- so does President Bush and his Wife
- and so does everyone else (well I suppose 99.9%)

this does not mean that this perfectly normal biological process has to be performed in a vulgar way (as if one was trying to out-do a military brass band etc!!)

- one can discreetly visit the toilet when the urge to fart arrives
- one can step outside briefly
- one can perform the process silently (maybe with a bit of practice)

You state that your husband served in the Military and I bet that during his career he has heard the loudest, smelliest, most vulgar farting from both men and women soldiers so your dilemma won't come as a surprise to him.

But rather than suffer in solitude, surely the logical course of action is to share your (medical) problem with your husband and friends who will understand - especially when they know that you are not trying to "get a laugh" in the same way as a crowd of lads leaving a bar after a night's drinking.

I hope that you won't be persuaded into swallowing all sorts of medications to minimise the generation of flatulence.  Actually, on final reflection, I feel as if my own flatulence helps the process of defacation which is desirable considering the lower storage space for the accumulation of waste material after the colon is excised.

Good luck and do come back if I can help with any more info
Morecambe

[Sue357]

Hi.  I am a 51 year old female, about 4 months post op from a colon re-section in which they removed about 7 inches of my sigmoid colon.  Mine was due to multiple episodes of diverticulitis which was causing adhesions, scarring and stricturing ( closing up) of my colon.  I am doing well, but still have some pain, at times, mostly when I am stressing at work...lol.  In hindsight, I am glad I had the surgery but recovery can be 4-6 months.  As for the gas, this may sound weird, but I actually feel better when I let loose!  During my episodes of diverticulitis, it seemed like I never passed gas and don't think that is good.  I agree with Morecambe.  Everybody does it.  I am on an increased fiber intake now, and just try to be private when I have to pass gas.