Welcome back Silka,

So sorry things were so bad for you, I hope things get better soon. Best of luck.

Terry(cd)

----- Original Message -----

From: SMM9988@...

To: crohns_n_colitis@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Friday, October 29, 2004 10:22 AM

Subject: [crohns_n_colitis] I'm back

Hello everyone.  My second surgery was about 4 weeks ago.  I would like to report everything went great, but I thought it was a nightmare and I still have problems.

The hospital I had the surgery (St Louis) is 5 hours away from were I live.  This time I asked my husband to stay with me until I got released, last time I was there over the weekend and the help was terrible....this time was no better.  I was told this surgery should be easier and to expect a shorter stay in the hospital....wrong.  I was in the hospital 6 days - 1 day longer than with the 1st surgery and it has been harder on my body.  I went in on a Thursday (don't remember much of Thursday or Friday), but Saturnday I got nauseated - badly, plus I had to get up every 5 - 10 minutes to go to the bathroom.  Late in the afternoon, sitting on the toilet, I had to vomit (trashcan).  The nurse got on to me, because I did not use the plastic container provided so she could messure it....long story short, that evening I ended up with a tub through my nose to have my stomach pumped out.  At first I felt better, no nausea, pluse I actually got some sleep.  The next morning the doctor saw me (on weekends doctors only make rounds in the morning around 7) and I could not speak and my husband was not here yet.  He told the nurse to change the pump to a gravity bag and if not much else would come out the tube could be removed.  Finally early afternoon the change was made.  By now I had a bad sore throat, tried to avoid swallowing, my teeth started hurting and I got an ear ache, yet I still had to get up to go to the bathroom every 10 minutes. I regreted asking for the bed by the window and not near the bathroom.  Since it was Sunday and the doctor had made the rounds for the day my tube was not to be removed until the doctor could see me the next moring.  I was miserable and began crying.  Before my husband left I told him to let the nurses know I could not speak and to come see me when I would push the call button. He did.  That evening I pushed the call botton twice, but nobody came, so I gave up.  I did not sleep that night because I was so miserable.  Finally in the morning the tube was removed (if looks could kill).  That evening I was allowed some solid food, but I was unable to eat much.  Tuesday late afternoon we convinced the surgeon to release me.  I thought maybe at home I do better.  We arrived late that evening and I felt ok.  Still did not get much sleep since I had to use the bathroom every hour. The next moring I felt ok and in the afternoon I decided to get some sleep, but everytime I got comfortable I had to get back up to use the bathroom, so I kept trying, that evening I moved onto the couch.  I was nauseated and weak.  Finally, I ended up vomiting and my husband decided it was time to head for the emergency room, I did not fight since I was barely concious. Back on liquid diet (what a weighloss program).  I called my local GI and informed him of the hospital visit, as the doctor had recommended.  The next day the nurse called me back and said my GI had said since I don't have a colon anymore he does not need to see me anymore and I should call my family physician with any problems. (What? This from the guy that said he would gladly do the follow-up care).
Anyway, my behind got extremly raw and I called my surgeons office.  I was told to take imodium, which I started and things got somewhat better, but then I started to get badly naseauted again and very tired (it seems this may be a side effect of the imodium), another symtom began (extremly bad itching) now this kept me from returning to work and earning money.  Seems that I have now gotten some hemerroids. Just great!!!  I have a follow up appointment with my surgeon next week (I may also have pouchitis).  I feel miserable, can't work, am behind in my housework, have difficulty dealing with my 2 year old, have a husband who is tired of picking up the slack from me and I feel very alone.  I know I am depressed, but that doesn't make it any easier.  I feel overwhelmed and don't know if I can handle it.  Is there anyone out there that can tell me things are going to get better??????

I just needed to unload.  Thanks for listening.

Silka