Started out with toxic mega-colon in Georgetown (SC not DC). Transfered to MUSC, with a perforated bowel and then an abdominal abcess 5 days post colectomy. Came home 2 weeks after abcess surgery, June 10 I think. I had step 2 in November (needed to regain 30 lbs after step 1). Step 2 went so well, amazing pain control and I was home in 6 days. I had difficulty maintaining hydration with loop ostomy, went in on Thanksgiving night and had to get a pic line to maintain hydration and nutrition. (takedown was scheduled for Jan 15) Woke up on Christmas Eve and felt strange,I ached all over and there was an egg size lump on my chest (abcess from pic line), called my emergency number, attending surgeon met me in ER. Dr. Morgan came in Christmas morning about 1:20 am. I received amazing care. Sent me home with new pic line on Jan 3.They checked out my pouch the next week and moved my surgery up one week. Take down was easy on me. My bowels woke up immediately. Started low residue diet on day 2, went home day 4.
My sister and I are from Georgetown and my mom from Camden. Whew, I don't know what I would have done without them. I personally had a good experience at MUSC and I feel like I tested their expertise. I loved the nursing staff. GI surgery is difficult on a good day, when things go wrong, and they often do, those nurses are your saving grace. The care from doctors, cna staff and nursing was consistent and professional. They were all very kind and understanding to my very frightened and stressed mother and sister. I really didn't have any scarey incidents or close calls that were not immediately addressed. I have a medical background so I probably could be even more critical than the average patient. My pouch works so well, it is amazing. It took me a full year to get to the OMG I'm fine point. My first 3 months were miserable. Butt burn, long nights and just worrying if I had made the right choice of a j pouch. I am healthier and more active than my friends with colons.It is a tough decision, go and interview surgeons. I didn't have the luxury or burden of choice since I became ill so quickly and unexpectedly. MUSC has a new beautiful GI hospital, Ashley River Towers. They are going for the big bucks in bariatric surgery. Just makes for fancier, upgraded hospital experience for those of us with broken colons...Good luck.
Karen