Bowel Resection - what to expect?

[MD54999]

Hi everyone I've got Stage 4 Endometriosis which affects my ovaries, colon and appendix. I've had a laparoscopy to remove endometriosis from my ovaries for fertility purposes but I've now been advised that I need a further surgery to remove two parts of my colon and my appendix, which have significant Endo masses growing in those areas. I've been referred to a specialist colorectal surgeon for the surgery. I may also need a colostomy bag for the recovery period.

Does anyone know how long the recovery period can be for a bowel resection?

I've been advised that this surgery could have a negative impact on my fertility, which surprised me - does anyone know how likely this is? I'm doing a round of IVF as a precaution before the surgery.

How difficult is it to work/do normal activities with a temporary colostomy bag?

Thanks!

[Bexyrich]

Hi, I'm also waiting for a bowel resection, along with a full hysterectomy, so I'd be really interested in responses.

[Cocoacupid]

I’m having a bowel resection next month but I’m seeing my coleractal surgeon tomorrow so I will write on here tomorrow how long he expects me to be off work etc but I’ve waited since I saw my endo specialist last June to now having surgery in may but originally I was told a years wait as they have to have an mdt and meeting with all the surgeons and specialist about each individual case and on the nhs was told they only have two lists a month for this extreme surgery due to complications and things so as said will comment tomorrow and then will comment when I’m on the road to recovery.

[Cocoacupid in reply to Cocoacupid]

Also they will need to have an update mri so they can map out the extensive nature of surgery. X

[MD54999 in reply to Cocoacupid]

Thank you so much - that would be extremely helpful! Good luck with your appointment and with the surgery next month - hope it goes smoothly for you! Good to know about the MRI also - I've had a CT colonography but no MRI yet x

[Cocoacupid in reply to MD54999]

Thank you 🙏 xx as soon as I have finished in my appointment I will be able to give you a time scale of how long off work.

[MrsPaddingtonBear]

Hello

I had a hysterectomy last October that resulted in an emergency colostomy bag being done. My bowel was stuck to my womb and the bowel was torn. The surgeon stopped the surgery to call my husband to say I may not pull through. Thankfully due to my two great surgeons I made it. It was very tough. I was on a morphine drip for 4 days, fluids and oxygen. I also had two drains in my stomach and a catheter. I didn’t move for 4 days. On day 5 they got my out of bed and my legs just buckled,. I can’t imagine what state I must have looked, trying to grapple with a walking frame, a drip stand, a morphine drip, and carry two drain bags! The catheter was then removed. I then went on to morphine tablets twice daily and paracetamol with liquid morphine top up. I spent 11 days in hospital in total. I had a great team and amazing nurses. The stoma nurses come every day and show you what to do and help you to do it yourself. Once they’re happy then you are allowed to be discharged. They will support you. I’m having a reversal in June hopefully. I have good and bad days, sometime stomach aches, some foods are off the menu, you will get there! Good luck

[MD54999 in reply to MrsPaddingtonBear]

Thank you so much for your reply and you have really been through it - that sounds incredibly tough. A great medical team makes such a difference. Really glad to hear you are managing with the stoma - it seems like a big life adjustment but like you said some days are probably harder than others but you get through it. This really reassures me! All the best with your reversal. x

[Cocoacupid]

time scale to have off work was told 6 weeks if a lap but if it’s more open surgery nearing 12 weeks but I think it just depend a how people heal so will be a more individual thing .

[MD54999 in reply to Cocoacupid]

Thanks, that's really good to know! Hope your surgery goes well!

[Cocoacupid]

hun I didn’t end up needing a bowel resection after they had unstuck my bowel from rectum uterus and I can go tiolet easier but when I came out of hospital I took laxido as I had a lot of gas pain in the tip of the shoulder and in my stomach. They gave me a month off but I said I needed longer as I work in an extremely heavy role in a nursing home using hoists etc so I’m going to use two weeks annual leave and then go back to work on reduced hours and shorter days till I can cope with the longer days xxx I was in theatre for three hours and then I was in recovery for I think it was nearly four hours . When I texted people I was really away with the fairies seriously i still am a bit but not as bad as Monday / Tuesday looked at my messages yesterday and they were really weird and wonderful I think the shorter messages just about ok but the other longer ones weren’t I think they would have got the gist of the message but being on predicted text I sent messages then relised oh dear 😅. My sister in law came to see me my mum didn’t as she thought I would literally be on another planet which was so true. But my sister in law bought in a little picture that my youngest niece had coloured and put get well on it. The day after surgery they take a catheter out you need to pee twice and then you have a bladder scan and bloods taken in the early morning. I came out on the Tuesday about five ish in the evening but for me I begged to go home as I like it quiet and not busy. I was feeling very ill as had been vomiting a lot due to the fact they gave me oral morphine I did say am sick with codiene co codamol but I think another dr must have not read notes to a sensitive to a lot of medications which didn’t help me. When I did ask for meds during the night I ended up saying please can you just put the paracetamol into my veins please as when you have had abdominal surgery to be sick it really pulls on the stomach . I did see coleractal team and they were in my surgery and whilst under after freeing everything up they then do like a colonoscopy but it’s a sigmoidoscopy in surgery they said they don’t know why I still have blood in my stool as they have removed everything on the outside. I’m thinking because of all the strong medicine I’m on I may have a stomach ulcer as I get pain all the time after eating and terrible terrible indigestion so when I go next week to dr about my high blood pressure after giving them more readings I will ask if they can look into that. As I still have visible blood in stool. but my bowel is fine now so as history of stomach ulcers in my family and high blood pressure and cholesterol I think as the stomach pain is still there and not improving. So I will speak to dr. And go from there

[MD54999 in reply to Cocoacupid]

Thank you for the update! I'm glad you got more clarity on your bowel symptoms, it's great that the colorectal team attended your surgery and that's a big plus that you didn't need the bowel resection. I hope your recovery goes well and that you discover the cause of the stomach issues. Rest up and give yourself lots of time to heal Xx