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Small bowel resection

Sun, January 09, 2022 4:56 PM

Hi, I'm preparing to have an ileocecal resection in the next couple months due to multiple strictures. They're estimating about 25 cm. I was wondering what advice people had about ways to prepare, or what to expect in recovery. I've read up about it on this site and from the advice my doctor gave me, but I was wondering about tips from personal experience. Thanks!

jess123
Joined Jan 9, 2022

Thu, June 27, 2024 3:02 AM

Reply posted for MrNews.

enderson
Joined Jun 27, 2024

Wed, May 17, 2023 9:11 AM

Reply posted for jess123.

Good luck .

Discuss any concerns or questions you have with your healthcare team.
*When recovery:
You may receive intravenous fluids and nutrients initially to aid in healing. build now gg
*When Post-Discharge Recovery:

Follow your surgeon's instructions regarding incision care, pain management, and prescribed medications.

Gradually reintroduce a healthy and balanced diet as guided by your healthcare provider, starting with easily digestible foods and progressing slowly.

Stay hydrated and consider fiber supplements if recommended by your healthcare team to prevent constipation or bowel irregularities.

gameofcrohns42
Joined May 11, 2023

Mon, May 15, 2023 11:21 PM

Reply posted for natalie321.

I have some advices for you.
*When prepare for surgegy:
Follow any pre-operative instructions provided by your surgeon, such as fasting guidelines and medication management.

Follow your surgeon's instructions regarding incision care, pain management, and prescribed medications.

Gradually reintroduce a healthy and balanced diet as guided by your healthcare provider, starting with easily digestible foods and progressing slowly.

Stay hydrated and consider fiber supplements if recommended by your healthcare team to prevent constipation or bowel irregularities.

natalie321
Joined May 15, 2023

Fri, February 24, 2023 7:47 PM

Reply posted for jess123.

Hi Jess123.
From personal experience, I starting planning my resection 11 months in advance. My GI doc and I decided that I would go on Humira (first time on biologic), and if my apparent strictures didn't resolve, I would have a surgical consult. I had repeated bloodwork, MREs, and a colonoscopy over the next 8 months, and the strictures looked only marginally better. Meantime, I started walking for at least an hour daily, and eating as healthy as I could (given the strictures). I met with my surgeon 3 months before the planned procedure, reviewed the MRE images, and he told me I was an excellent candidate. Exercise regularly, don't smoke, reasonably well-nourished, not overweight, and not very old (66 at the time). My only co-morbidity was paroxysmal a-fib, mostly controlled with medication.
Three months later I had my ileocecectomy, losing about 25cm of terminal ileum, the ileo-cecal valve, the cecum, appendix, and a small piece of ascending colon. My anastamosis bled for a couple days, causing frequent diarrhea and tumbling hemoglobin, but then stopped and RBC recovered, so I ended up in hospital a total of 6 days/5 nights. I resumed both eating and walking VERY slowly and carefully, and I'd say started feeling fairly normal in 6-7 months.
I am very glad I had the surgery (my first ever, for anything), as the stricture(s) were causing fairly continuous low-to-moderate pain. I felt feally good about my surgeon, who was personally very pleasant, and has probably done a few thousand of these.
The best plan is to thoroughly prepare, physically and mentally (I meditated daily), and bring your own pillow and noise-cancelling headphones from home...

MrNews
Joined Mar 5, 2024

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Small bowel resection

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