Hi CatHair -
So here's my update. Surgery on Thursday; home yesterday afternoon. Except for wound pain (and there is some), I feel pretty good - I'm overweight, so my wound is pretty deep (looks like I was run through with a broadsword). Had a wound vac in the hospital and expect to have one here by Wednesday.
Otherwise, so far so good. I went clear liquids on Friday breakfast and lunch, whole/full liquids for Friday dinner (cream of potato soup and the like). Had some liquid output and gas that sounded like I was auditioning for a sequel to Animal House. Having progressed thusly, they moved me to low fiber/low residue diet on Saturday morning. Had oatmeal and toast for breakfast with a cup of coffee - no problem (in the bathroom every hour to two, mind you, but no accidents or other issues). Had chicken and rice for lunch with a cup of coffee - still no problem. So by Saturday night I was feeling so good that I decided that, by golly, I must be cured, and they'd be writing articles about me in the Journal. So I had some chicken quesadilla, two slices of pizza, little apple pie and a few spoonfuls of vanilla ice cream (on the low fiber/low residue diet). I paid for it; I mean I really paid for it. Horrific gas pains followed by horrific gas. Lotta bathroom time from 12-1 am, and from 5-6 am. I was tempted to set up a cot in there.
So Sunday and today (and for the the foreseeable future), a very bland diet (oatmeal, rice, chicken, banana, applesauce, etc), and since then, it hasn't yet been horrible. I have, however, ordered a bidet seat, a squatty potty, and some cream, and I'm sure I won't regret it - I'm already tired of the wipes that I used to consider luxurious.
Went to bed at 11:30 last evening, woke up at 7 this morning with no interim bathroom visits and no "escapees" (but the cost of an unused Depends is a small price to pay for peace of mind). Moved my bowels at 7 am when I woke up, was back in at 7:30 for another round, and since then (now nearly 4 pm) nothing.
I'm sure I can't draw any conclusions from any of this, but my roommate at MSK was a fellow who had been reversed last Thursday and was still there after I left (11 days in) (first several days he was vomiting, and couldn't pass gas, had all kinds of issues) so I really can't complain.
Keep your fingers crossed.
Jim
CatHair wrote:JDMNYC, I had the same deep apprehensions before my takedown. It truly has been nowhere near as awful as I had imagined. Hope all goes well and smoothly for you tomorrow. Oh, here's a helpful hint: bring prune juice with you to the hospital. It won't be on the low-residue diet menu, but you may need it! My chaplain scored some for me from the 19th floor...