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J-pouch
surgery -- what an incredible, almost unbelievable answer to the chronic
ulcerative colitis I suffered with for 16 years. I don't have to describe the
pain and discomfort, or the psychological roller coaster this disease inflicted
on me, because I am sure that anyone reading this article is all too aware of
these things.
I do want to say, to anyone considering or facing J-pouch surgery, that there is
another life on the other side. The first wonderful thing I noticed upon waking
up from the surgery was that the all-too-familiar pain in my abdomen was gone --
that I had begun my journey to "the other side." I was fortunate in
that my surgery was done laparoscopically, so I did not have a very big incision
to deal with. There will be some rough spots in your recovery, but, rest
assured, it will be better when it is all over. It has been a little over
three years and things are going very well for me now. I feel that I can be the
most help to others by offering some suggestions based on my experience -- this
could help get you to "the other side."
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Talk
to someone who has been through it. Ask them all the questions that are
going through your mind. Someone who has been there can answer your
questions from experience. I did this, and it was helpful in making my
decision to have the surgery. Your doctor can give you the name of someone
he or she recommends to whom you should talk.
-
Be
sure your family (including your children) has a basic understanding of what
the surgery involves. They will be able to support and understand your
physical and emotional needs so much better if this is the case. After the
surgery, share your daily troubles and triumphs with your family. They can
celebrate with you and encourage you better than anyone else.
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Share
with someone very close to you (such as your husband, your parents, or a
very close friend) your deepest and most personal fears and feelings as you
go through the process of preparing for and recovering from the surgery. My
husband and children's reassurance and support was so important to my
well-being during this time.
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My
surgery was done in two phases, as most j-pouch surgeries are. This means I
had an external colostomy pouch for about three months. If this is the case,
and if you experience any problems, use the specialized nursing staff at the
hospital to help you through it. It was extremely frustrating to deal with,
especially at first, and they were a great source of helpful hints and
support.
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Three
of my "best friends" during my recuperation after the closure of
the external colostomy were the following:
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"Sitz"
baths -- I had a portable disposable sitz bath that fit right on the
toilet, so I could have frequent sitz baths. |
|
Disposable
wipes -- with aloe -- which, by the way, I still use. |
|
A&D
ointment -- also still on my necessity list. |
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My
other best friends were my husband and children. They cooked and cleaned. My
husband was a great "Mr. Mom!" You also know who your true friends
are when they will go out at 10:00 at night to get you a fresh supply of
banana popsicles. My husband also slept in another bed for about a week
after I came home -- this was a huge help to me. I know I probably rested
better without having to be concerned that I might disturb him, or that he
might accidentally roll into me in the night.
My children were so considerate of what I was going through. I was extremely
sensitive to loud noises in the hospital, and when I first came home. They
were very careful to keep the volume on the TV and their radios turned down.
I was also so sensitive to smells that even the smell of the fabric softener
in our clothes would make me nauseous. We solved that problem by using
unscented fabric softener for a while.
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Do
not push yourself, but as soon as you feel like it, start getting out. My
first outing was with a girlfriend. She took me out to eat at Applebee's. It
was very uplifting. My husband took me to the movies about two weeks after I
got home. It was such a great feeling to be able to actually sit through a
movie without that nagging cramping in my abdomen, or having to run to the
bathroom several times while there. I returned to work part-time in about
four weeks and worked my way back up to full-time as my strength returned.
As
time goes by, you'll find yourself expanding your diet to include foods you
haven't been able to eat in years, going places you haven't been able to visit
in years, and doing things you haven't been able to do in years. Then, one day,
you will look back on the whole experience and you will realize that you have
made it to "the other side."
-- Annis McCollum
(This piece is from the "Predni-Zone," a column in our Georgia
Chapter's newsletter, "The Crohn's and Colitis Chronicle.")
Date Posted: May 12, 2000
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