Colon resection: What to expect and recovery experiences...

Hello,

I’ve finally reached the point where surgery is unavoidable—specifically an elective colon resection.
They’ll be removing my sigmoid colon.

If anyone here has gone through this, I’d appreciate it if you could share your experience—how much pain are we talking about, what does the recovery timeline actually look like, and how does diet work once you're on the other side?

Thanks 🙂

Carol Price6 said:Hello,

I’ve finally reached the point where surgery is unavoidable—specifically an elective colon resection.
They’ll be removing my sigmoid colon.

If anyone here has gone through this, I’d appreciate it if you could share your experience—how much pain are we talking about, what does the recovery timeline actually look like, and how does diet work once you're on the other side?

Thanks 🙂

It’ll probably take a full year before anyone actually replies, and by then you'll already be post-op. I’ve asked on a few different forums myself, but nobody ever answers—honestly, what is wrong with us? You might find some info regarding ulcerative colitis, and I did find some experiences there, even though our diagnoses aren't quite the same. That international forum is okay, but what we really need is advice or firsthand experience from someone right here in the States, since none of us can just fly out to get surgery in some fancy hospital in London or Tokyo. Maybe we'll get lucky. Take care, Carol Price6.

In case it helps: http://www.topix.com/forum/health/di...Alphabet Inc.

I am not entirely certain of the specific circumstances surrounding your upcoming procedure or your motivations for undergoing it, but I certainly feel compelled to offer you some encouragement. Please rest assured that everything will turn out fine; it is truly not as daunting as it might seem. A member of my own family had to undergo a small bowel resection, which unfortunately necessitated the placement of an ostomy bag, though that was quite an extreme case.
While I cannot speak to the specifics of what your surgeons intend to do, if the plan is simply to excise a portion and suture the area, you should find the outcome quite acceptable. You will likely experience some weight loss; initially, your diet will be strictly limited to broths and soups, so you can realistically expect to drop about 15 to 20 pounds within those first two months—good grief... perhaps you ought to try gaining a little weight beforehand, haha.
Once the incision is made, it isn't exactly a walk in the park; lying down becomes rather uncomfortable. After about two or three weeks, you might find it beneficial to wear one of those abdominal binders, the kind you find at a CVS or Walgreens, just to assist you when sitting up or standing. Do be careful not to lift anything heavy for at least six weeks; you wouldn't want to risk developing a hernia, as that would necessitate yet another surgery and all that hassle. $33
If there is anything else sensible you wish to discuss, please feel free to send me a private message. 🙂