Posted by
Catmman on Wednesday, May 26, 2010 12:32:05 PM
Been out of the loop for awhile.
Been home for a week from my five days in the hospital. My colostomy takedown was a success. The doc had to remove another six inches of my colon which was still diseased from the diverticulosis/diverticulitis infection a few months back. The procedure went well, though longer than the doctor had planned by about an hour.
A few differences with this surgery from my colostomy procedure back in February. I have problems with anesthesia - it makes me very sick upon recovery from surgery and with a major abdominal operation, vomiting is a non-starter. It has also caused my heart to stop in the past. If the anesthesiologist isn't on complete top of things, I can go under to much, to easy. I had to be coded back in 1992 after my appendectomy.
This time, the anesthesiologist recommended an epidural for post-op pain management and to alleviate the need for some anesthesia during surgery. Worked well. It was a bit weird waking up and not being able to feel my legs normally, but it wasn't too bad. It did work pretty well for pain management (with some tweaking of the catheter two days after surgery), which kept me from having to use so much morphine post-op. The anesthesiologist team also did an AWESOME job! I had ZERO post op nausea or vomiting - NONE! They gave me some chemo anti-nauseau medication pre-op and whatever other drugs they gave me, whatever the cocktail was really worked well. Kudos.
I developed a pretty back 'pressure ulcer' (bed sore) at the top of my bum after only one day in the hospital. I also developed a bit of an infection in the site where my stoma was located. The doc opened that area back up on the third second day after surgery. It's still open and I have to do twice daily wet-dry dressing changes, but after a week of anti-biotic treatment it's healing well, though it is a pain and hurts a bit. The doc removed all of the scar tissue from the previous surgery, of which there was a lot so he said so now the scar I'll have will be just as long, but not nearly as wide as it was before.
The doc pulled the staples out of my abdominal incision after only seven days on my first follow up after the surgery and discharge. A day later, a small section of the bottom part of the incision closest to my crotch started to open a bit. My wife put some steri-strips over the spot to help it stay closed. This area of the abdominal incision is causing me the most discomfort, but it isn't too bad. The abdominal incision is a little over a foot long. The doc had to 'dig' into my pelvis to get to the lower part of my colon pouch still attached to my rectum after the original surgery. Plus the machines used to staple my colon and rectum back together need a good bit of working space - I was splayed open pretty good from what I understand.
Due to the pressure ulcer, I have to sit and sleep on special air mattresses/cushions so it can heal right. Its kind of a pain to sit normally, but I'm getting better every day.
This recovery is a bit slower than what I experienced from my surgery back in February, but I'm progressing well, all things considered. I experienced a few post-op complications this time, so things are a bit slower. The biggest thing is that my appetite is taking forever to bounce back, I don't know why. Only in the past few days has it started to normalize, but it's still not where it should be. No fevers or anything, it's just kinda weird. Sleeping has gotten better though, even with having the pressure ulcer and sleeping on the air mattress.
The wound nurse was pretty ticked about the pressure ulcer. Apparently it's a big deal, showing the nursing staff wasn't/isn't making sure the patient - in this case me - isn't being looked after properly. In a partial defense of the staff, I was up and walking around the evening of the day after my surgery and was getting up walking around about every two hours thereafter until I was discharged, even during the night. I was up and around all the time so I wasn't simply laying in bed vegetating. Ambulating is a big deal in the hospital after surgery. It helps prevent blood clots (of which I'm at risk since developing a DVT in my right arm after shoulder surgery back in 2007). It helps prevent getting lung infections. I was sure to do the small breathing exerciser every time I got out of bed. Physical therapy also came by and gave me exercises to do since I was on an epidural and my legs needed to get back to working normally. Alas, even when you do everything you are supposed to, complications can arise.
Also a big plus was that my wife was allowed to stay with me in the hospital. I hate being 'tied' down in the hospital. All the IV tubes, the leg pressure cuffs which also help to prevent blood clots. I also cannot stand how the narcotics for pain control affect my mind. They make my head feel 'fuzzy' and I have a tendency to get anxiety attacks if everything comes together properly, especially at night. I get 'antsy'. Then start to feel somewhat claustrophobic. Then all hell can break loose. My wife is awesome at helping me through things when that happens. It happened a couple of times. It wasn't bad, but my wife was there. Had she not been allowed to stay, it could have been 'interesting' to say the least. I don't know what the deal was. I was on the same floor, same ward as I was three months ago and they didn't allow her to stay. This time they did. It was nice.
My biggest complaint was the food. It was four days before I was allowed to have food (counting the day of the surgery when you can't have anything by mouth after midnight). Starting with a 'liquid' diet, then graduating the next day to normal or 'regular' diet. The food was awful, truly awful. Wilford Hall used to be the place to go for lunch. The food, though not 'great' compared to not being hospital food, was tasty and not bad. Now it's bland, tasteless 'goo'. The hospital must have changed food contractors or something. The funny thing is, the food was fine when I was in back in February. I don't know what the deal is, but now it is terrible.
The recovery continues. I'm just now getting back into reading the blogs and wanting to blog so things will be a bit slow for awhile.