Jannine wrote:I can't speak to gallbladder removal; I had 10 inches of colon including the sigmoid removed a year and a half ago in laparoscopic surgery. Perhaps my experience will be helpful, though. I was up and walking around about 24 hours after surgery, which was much later than we all would have liked. There wasn't a bed for me in a room that had both a chair and an attached bathroom, and they didn't want to take the catheter out and get me walking under those conditions. (My surgery happened after I went to the ER, rather than being pre-scheduled.) I had a bowel movement once I got moving (they won't let you go home until you've had a bowel movement) and then went home -- I think that was less than 48 hours after surgery. I only needed painkillers the first 12-or-so hours after surgery, and even then the nurses were impressed with how few doses I'd used. I might have taken a few over the counter painkillers once I got home, but I don't remember doing so. I was walking plenty but not picking up heavy things a week later. I think they tell you not to pick up anything heavier than a gallon of milk for the first month or so. I went back to work as soon as my staples came out; I probably could have gone back sooner though, since I work a desk job and don't lift anything heavy.
Open surgery may be different than laparoscopic; I"m sure there are people here who can answer that question. I have no idea if you might need open surgery.
Usmccolon wrote:It could be longer then 2 to 3 days if I have ilieus? Basically if my bowels are slow to start.
I found out my VA primary had sent request for consult with 2nd surgeon so it looks like I'm on the right path and to let him know if I don't here from the community Care team in a week who make final decision.
I'll be honest and maybe this will help someone else in future who reads this but not only am I impressed that I got a message from primary on weekend at 10:15pm but it also kinda plays into my fear of cancer because a government employee and even a medical professional in general took the time to reply at 1015 pm on a weekend to a message I sent about a referral for removing my gallbladder for which studies say it should be removed because of the chance of cancer.
In other words he obviously was thinking of me and felt it necessary to reply after hours. If it wasn't potentially serious in his mind I can't see why he would reply on a weekend at night.
Seriously thanks for letting me vent and talk on here even though I may not have cancer and if I do may not be colon cancer.
I'm trying my best to have the mentality of not worrying because I don't know anything yet and if it is cancer then I'll have plenty of time to worry then hopefully.
Pyro wrote:Usmccolon wrote:It could be longer then 2 to 3 days if I have ilieus? Basically if my bowels are slow to start.
I found out my VA primary had sent request for consult with 2nd surgeon so it looks like I'm on the right path and to let him know if I don't here from the community Care team in a week who make final decision.
I'll be honest and maybe this will help someone else in future who reads this but not only am I impressed that I got a message from primary on weekend at 10:15pm but it also kinda plays into my fear of cancer because a government employee and even a medical professional in general took the time to reply at 1015 pm on a weekend to a message I sent about a referral for removing my gallbladder for which studies say it should be removed because of the chance of cancer.
In other words he obviously was thinking of me and felt it necessary to reply after hours. If it wasn't potentially serious in his mind I can't see why he would reply on a weekend at night.
Seriously thanks for letting me vent and talk on here even though I may not have cancer and if I do may not be colon cancer.
I'm trying my best to have the mentality of not worrying because I don't know anything yet and if it is cancer then I'll have plenty of time to worry then hopefully.
Veterans Administration medical is heads and tails above the paper pusher Veterans Administration. There’s a difference, a very large one.
Return to “Colon Talk - Colon cancer (colorectal cancer) support forum”
Users browsing this forum: Google [Bot], Google Feedfetcher and 363 guests