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Post surgery for CD


Tue, February 27, 2018 9:31 AM

Hi everyone! I hope everyone is doing well. I just had surgery for Crohns disease exactly 4 weeks ago this week. I had an ileocecectomy where they removed the inflamed part of my ileum and closed everything back up. I had my post op dose of Remiade and I just finished my prednisone taper two days ago. I really thought after my surgery I'd feel really good but since I finished my taper I feel like I am feeling some of those same symptoms I felt every time I got off my steroids prior to the surgery! I am getting really worried and would like some input from anyone else who has had surgery in the past. How soon did your Crohn's recur? Is it even possible for it to come back this fast (off steroids for just two days and surgery just 4 weeks ago!) or am I totally overthinking every little belch and tummy movement? I haven't spoken to my doctor yet because I don't want to be one of those annoying problem patients, I thought I'd get some input from fellow patients before I really start to worry. Any input will be highly appreciated. thank you everyone in advance!

FPO nygirl
Joined Feb 27, 2018

Sat, March 31, 2018 3:43 PM

Reply posted for nygirl.

Hey nygirl!

I have my surgery in 2011, my first one. My doctor took me off the prednisone and I felt better after some months. I felt 100 percent after the take down seven months later. I think your stomach is feeling funny because of the ileocectomy but do you have an ostomy bag? If you do, that can be the reason since you can't technically have a bowel movement. If you don't have an ostomy bag, I would suggest contacting your doctor and see what they say. I hope this help and good luck!

FPO lpugh89
Joined Mar 28, 2018

Wed, February 28, 2018 4:58 PM

Reply posted for nygirl.

Great question... My 2015 was complicated. I had a post-surgical blood clot and then chronic bleeding with blood thinners. That summer I was beginning to feel better but was having terrible night sweats. I had a routine colonoscopy in August and although my symptoms were pretty mild the anastomosis looked, according to my GI, "like a drawstring bag". We didn't do anything for awhile until a PET scan revealed more inflammatory problems that would have been tougher to evaluate (tonsils and behind my sternum) and continued night sweats. After ruling out basically every infectious disease we removed another foot of intestine. The rest of my symptoms disappeared quickly after that. I'm pretty positive they didn't remove everything the first time, or the way the anastomosis was constructed aggravated the tissue to the point that it was symptomatic even though I was in remission by biopsy. The november 2015 surgery resulted in an incisional hernia that I finally had repaired this past October 2017 and I am doing so so much better. I've been on entyvio since fall 2014. 

FPO akr008
Joined Sep 2, 2014

Wed, February 28, 2018 12:25 PM

Reply posted for akr008.

Thank you so much for your reply! I really appreciate it! I had another question, if you don't mind, why did you need another resection so soon? Did you have additional inflammation that was not removed the first time or was it recurring inflammation? 

FPO nygirl
Joined Feb 27, 2018

Wed, February 28, 2018 12:20 PM

Reply posted for nygirl.

Hi! I had my illeum removed because of Crohn's disease in Feb 2015. I also had an additional resection in Nov 2015.The recovery process is long. After my first surgery I didn't begin to feel normal until around May (don't get me wrong, I was feeling better but not 100%). Diarrhea post-op is extremely common if they remove your illeocecal valve, 3 years later I still have diarrhea multiple times a week even though I am in remission. Depending on what meds your on can also contribute to upset stomach. I suggest talking to your doctor about what symptoms your having but it's likely your intestines just re-orienting themselves after surgery. Best of luck on your recovery!

FPO akr008
Joined Sep 2, 2014

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