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Three Surgeries done at Once with Robotic .

So I had my entire Large Colon Removed as well as a J- Pouch created. With no Bag.

So I have been trying to let my body heal from this Major Surgery.  I attached photos of the aftermath.

The incisions on my stomach look Great.

But on the inside , o,my Goodness. I am happy to see it gets better Day by Day. So the Days can't go fast enough. I'm having more pain in the upper Middle of thy stomach. It feels like a tightness right in between my ribs.

I thought possibly Muscle. But it's the only part hurting above all. Feels like I have been doing situps all day for a week straight.

Hopefully it's nothing serious. But who better to ask then those who have been there.

Since I'm new and not sure what to look for or what different pains may be. Hopefully someone can help ease my mind.

Thank you All and God bless 🙏

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Images (5)
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  • IMG_20210829_131403719_HDR
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You look like you are doing so well!!  
As Lauren noted, it does get easier.   That area for me what very sore,   delicate area and the muscles were smaller and tighter but it healed.
My bigger challenge was when food began to pass from my bottom, the entire anal area burned like it was on fire 🔥!   I was in tears for a week and doing the ‘my bottom feels like it is on fire dance’  Surgeon said it was the acidity from the liquid / very loose stools that were passing.  The hydrocodone would not touch that pain, he added Lorazepam and the 2 worked.
We also used diaper rash cream 🤗.
praying for continued great recovery.

@DSL Alabama posted:

You look like you are doing so well!!  
As Lauren noted, it does get easier.   That area for me what very sore,   delicate area and the muscles were smaller and tighter but it healed.
My bigger challenge was when food began to pass from my bottom, the entire anal area burned like it was on fire 🔥!   I was in tears for a week and doing the ‘my bottom feels like it is on fire dance’  Surgeon said it was the acidity from the liquid / very loose stools that were passing.  The hydrocodone would not touch that pain, he added Lorazepam and the 2 worked.
We also used diaper rash cream 🤗.
praying for continued great recovery.

Thank-you

So you had a 1-step j-pouch. The good news is that no more surgeries for you. The bad news is that There is a LOT of recovery to do at once. I know because I had a 1-step too.

Most likely you are having gas pains while you adjust to a regular diet. Maybe eat smaller, more frequent meals. Rest a lot. Check your temp daily to make sure you aren’t picking up an infection. If your pain ratchets way up and you have a fever, something IS wrong and you need to call your surgeon.

Jan

Hi,

I just had laparoscopic surgery  3 days ago to fix a few things inside including to pick-up my K pouch.

They inject a lot of air into you to make it easier for them to see inside...that said, they do try to uninflated you but face it, they stretched those muscles from the inside-out. They also played 18holes of golf inside of you...moving around, pushing, pulling, repositioning things and cutting various things out...your body, even if you do not have 1 huge scar, has been through a lot of trauma.

It will hurt. I just tried to pull up my socks and discovered a whole new level of pain! As long as I lay flat or am propped up with pillows, I'm fine but any movement that requires my abdominal muscles is just horrible.

Like Jan said, look out for 'unusual pain, a major increase in pain, heat or redness on or around the site, fever, chills etc that could all be a sign of infection.

You need to walk, as much as possible (small little walks at first) to get the gas circulating. You need it to leave. I get shoulder pain post-op from the gas too...upper quadrant, like a punch in the stomach. Most of it is manageable with mild pain meds (I hate narcotics so I refuse to use them).

Not sure what your diet is like but avoid any gas-producing foods if possible. I'm sticking to soups, proteins and nothing pointy! (nuts, fibers...)

Hubby laughed because I scream every time that I burp...it feels like my burps have sharp edges!

Good luck on your healing and take it slowly...this is a marathon, not a sprint. The easier you are on your body now, the better you will heal...and that is the final goal.

Sharon

Gas pain are no joke! I am currently on postop day 7 and still having some pain when using the toilet I am in tears most of the time..the abdominal pain has subsided and I can easily move around better. But using the toilet to try to pass gas or anything is no joke!! I have tried walking around to c if it helps with release of gas but hasn’t been helpful, I found bending over while on the toilet seems to help with passing gas and having a bowel movement. I am currently having lots of pain to pass though and can’t find anything helpful as of now. Good luck!

Not sure about what will help you but heating pads are my best friends. I do not use hot-water bottles (bad experiences with them opening up). I now use cherry-pit heating pads that I heat for 3 minutes in the microwave.

I have had so much success with them for both cervical pain and lower back pain that I am making them myself...no, I am not eating that many cherries and spitting out the pits...I just bought a 50lb bag of them...I make tiny cotton pillowcases, fill and quilt them and sew them shut (you can use cotton sports socks or the sleeves of an old sweatshirt)...Then I heat for 3-4 minutes and place them on my mattress at strategic places...under my spine, my neck etc...on my abdomen when in pain...they help a lot!

They work better than most of my pain meds!

For the burning of your 'whistle' when you empty out your pouch...2 possibilities.

1: use a diaper rash cream with zinc oxide...the cream is thick and white and is a great barrier.

2: use a bidet or a squirt bottle with a very mild soap like liquid castille or glycerine soap. Add a few drops to a bottle of warm water, squirt. Rince. Pat dry. Use cream. It takes time.

I have an abdominal stoma but the same acidic output. They've moved my stoma 4xs...each time the skin around burns and gets red, Welty, blisters and my output is like acid on it. I use a washcloth with Castille soap and warm water...it takes time but the skin builds up a resistance and you eventually no longer feel the burn.

I know it is hard but you will get better over time and not even realize it.

Patience...in the meantime, try sticking to high protein and low carbs...it reduces the quantity of output...

Sharon

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