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Post by cass on Oct 26, 2006 21:56:17 GMT -5
i havent read anywhere about bowel re section so i hope i am right in starting a new thread for this.
has anyone had bowel resection surgery? I am wanting to find out some information on the procedure and the recovery etc.
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Post by ouchy on Oct 26, 2006 22:13:43 GMT -5
Hi!!! To my knowledge there is only one thread referencing it, but it was just someone whose doctor had brought up the topic of hysterectomy and bowel resection; however, that member has only posted once and hasn't logged in for a while.
I think this will turn in to a great thread, and I'm glad you posted it! I'm trying to find a way now to see if either of us moderators or the administrator can correct the spelling of the title of this thread so that it will show up in searches. If not, I may ask you to repost with a corrected title spelling.
Anyway, I have not had a bowel resection surgery, but I am thinking of having it done. I have endo on my intestines that yanks them in all sorts of contorted positions and glues them to other organs. I've had it lasered off twice, but I can tell that it is back now--exactly one year since my last lap. From what i know about the procedure, affected parts of the intestines are removed and the ends sewn back together.
Hope this helps a little.
Edited to add**Upon an edit of my reply, I was able to correct the spelling of the name of the thread in my reply, but it did not change the original title.
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Post by cass on Oct 27, 2006 5:08:53 GMT -5
Hi Ouchy,
thanks for your response i am sorry about the incorrect spelling of the title of this thread i really need to start paying more attention to detail!
from what i understand : Bowel resection is performed while you are under general anesthesia (unconscious and pain-free). An incision is made in your abdomen. The diseased part of the large intestine is removed and the two healthy ends are sewn back together (resected). The abdominal incision is closed. If the entire colon and rectum is removed, it is called a proctocolectomy.
A bowel resection may be performed as a traditional "open" procedure or as a mimimally invasive laparoscopic procedure .
the above definition is basically how you described it above. It sounds quite painful and i understand that it depends on how much is removed etc but i was wondering how much recovery time would be needed for something like this. this is the procedure i need to have for my endo on my bowel and the rest will apparently be lasered off. does anyone know how successful this is for the removal of endo?
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Post by cass on Oct 27, 2006 5:11:22 GMT -5
i copied and pasted that definition and re read it and realised it makes a point of saying the abdominal incision is closed!!
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Post by ouchy on Oct 27, 2006 9:03:35 GMT -5
You can read studies on it online. Try a search on Yahoo. I have to go to the dentist, or I'd search for you and post it myself.
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Post by akcheryl on Nov 19, 2006 1:39:19 GMT -5
My surgeon mentioned maybe doing a bowel resection on me (if she finds endo on my bowels - I'm hoping not, but I have a very hard time with bowel movements and it hurts to eat). She said if she did, I'd probably be in the hospital for a week with a feeding tube in for a few days.
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Post by akcheryl on Nov 19, 2006 1:40:30 GMT -5
I'm also quite interested to know what others' experiences are with bowel resection.
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Post by Shannon78 on Nov 20, 2006 23:47:12 GMT -5
I too am very interested to see if anyone else has had any experience with this.
When I had my lap last week, my doc found endo on my bowel that he said he could not remove without doing a resection, so he left it there. He wants to try Lupron to see if it will help first, but I've been dealing with horrible GI problems for the last two years, and now he thinks he finally found out why. The bowel resection sounds horrible, but if it would fix what I am going through, I wonder if it would be worth it.
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Post by suzymart on Nov 30, 2006 16:38:57 GMT -5
Just adding my interest to everyone else's!
I remember reading on Dr Redwine's site that he has done it with the assistance of bowel specialists, but not just anybody can go ahead and do it. It requires specialized training.
My uterus was attached to my bowel, parts of which apparently felt like concrete, according to the surgeon who did my lap last thursday. (yuck! not only is that disgusting, it means it is still there as they didn't dare remove it. it also explains some of the strange feelings I have sometimes around there) They separated the two but did not dare operate on the bowel itself as they are gynaecological laparaoscopic surgeons. They are suggesting Lupron will help dry up whatever is left. (I've decided not to take this option just yet, and am still working up the courage to inform my dr. of this tomorrow)
Would love to hear from anyone else.
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Post by suzymart on Nov 30, 2006 16:52:42 GMT -5
To be honest I can't personally recommend Dr. Redwine (heven't met him), but I went to his site a lot when I first suspected that I had endo and that I might have to go beyond Jamaica for surgery. As it was, I ended up staying here and my surgery experience was ok, but you can check out the site at www.endometriosistreatment.org/ ....Maybe his secretary or someone can help you with info on the bowel topic?
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Post by meldart on Nov 30, 2006 17:19:08 GMT -5
I have never had bowel resection but my doc has said if he finds any endo on my bowel he will be carrying it out. I don't have terribly painful bowel movement but I do find food goes right through me so quickly. Might try the psyllium husk that ouchy has been recommending!
Anyway back to the point, my lap is going ahead on 21st Dec (only a few weeks-yay)! so if he does carry it out I will post an update to let you all know how it goes
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Post by donnadee on Feb 16, 2007 17:43:11 GMT -5
Since finding out that I have endo on bowel as well as other sites my Gy Dr has said that the only option regarding the bowel is to have a resection. Both he and the bowel spec have explained the risks of this surgery which really scares me as they said that the risk of having a 'outside bowel bag' is extremely high.
They say it's impossible to remove the endo without the resection that it's all or nothing. So at the moment I face the question do I have this surgery or do I try to live with the pain and agony of endo. I also worry that if I don't have the surgery now what would my bowel be like in say 10 years time? As they explained that the bowel has three layers - I cannot remember the proper names but basically there is a outer, middle and inner layer. The endo at the moment has got into the middle layer.
I feel that the only option is to go for the resection, I just wish there was an easier option.
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Post by scarlett on Feb 16, 2007 18:00:00 GMT -5
Hi Donnadee, sorry to hear a resection is the only option. Did you have the colonoscopy and is that how they knew how far into your bowel wall the endo had gone?
Is there any way they can remove at least some of the endo and maybe leave that closest to your bowel to see if that gives you some relief but avoids the riskiest areas?
It's really scary when they start talking about bowel bags I know. I really feel for you.
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Post by donnadee on Feb 17, 2007 16:29:16 GMT -5
Hi Scarlett,
No I haven't had my colonscopy yet but I have a date for 27th March. (Not looking forward to that)
I have since seen Dr Hunter again and he explained that the MRI scan showed that endo has got into my bowel. I asked him if I could have excision to remove everything else and leave the bowel, but he explained that it would be impossible to do so as my bowel seems to be attached to other organs. He also said that even if he were to separate my 'kissing ovaries' he thinks it would be unlikely that I would notice any pain relief. I guess he believes that most of my pain is caused because of the state of the bowel.
I have to be honest the thought of this op really makes me feel so sick I know there are risks will all ops but both Dr's have really emphasized the risks greatly with the bowel, but I know I need this op so I really have no choice if there are no other alternatives.
He explained everything very well, he really is a very nice Dr, I find him very understanding. He suggested that I purchased a book called 'endometriosis and other pelvic pain by Dr Susan Evans' which I got from amazon which I would recommend for endo sufferers. It explains everything about endo so clearly. I got it last Saturday and had it finished (275 pages) by Sunday night, I just couldn't put it down. I am going to give it to my husband to read next and then maybe my mum as I know it's hard for them to understand.
Are you due to have your colonscopy soon with Dr K?
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Post by scarlett on Feb 17, 2007 19:46:54 GMT -5
Hi Donnadee, So many things to reply...... i know what you mean about the op being scary, I also feel the same. I find it a bit weird the way Dr Hunter was able to tell about your endo from the MRI, so why does he need to do a colonoscopy? I just say that because I haven't had an MRI, just my previous lap and he said he would need to do the colonoscopy to determine whether the endo had gone through my bowel and if so, how far through. Plus the likelihood or my needing a resection and how risky this might be. But it seems like he took a different route with your treatment and he was already able to tell this without a colonoscopy? I guess it's just different and the drs know best. Just wondering what he's hoping to tell you from the colonoscopy. My friend's sister had a colonoscopy for a different reason, not endo, she said the worst part by far was the prep she had to take the day before - she couldn't go too far from toilet! But the actual procedure was fine she said, no problem at all. I have also ordered that book you read! Dr H had also mentioned it to me and I had meant to get it. By coincidence I just ordered it last night! That's good it's good - I need to read all I can and try to understand this whole thing, it's the only way I can cope. I haven't got a date for my colonoscopy yet. I had a date for late January, but it was the same week I was going back to work after my lap in Dec and I a) didn't want to take any more time off after 2 laps in 2 months and b) I couldn't cope with any more procedures at that time (I cried when I got the letter because the thought of it upset me so much). I feel stronger now, and am due to get another appointment, but we went to see Dr McManus (the surgeon who did my 1st lap) a couple of weeks ago and she said that she thought I still had a small chance of conceiving naturally and would recommend trying ourselves for another 9 months before going for IVF. So now I don't know whether to have the colonoscopy done or not. I am really having problems conceiving rather than severe pain problems - my pain is manageable at the moment - and the op may not be successful, and may not give me that much more chance at conception, plus has risks as you know. So I'm thinking I might just leave things for the moment and keep trying to get pregnant myself. I would maybe like to talk to Dr H again though to see what he thinks. I think he possibly only suggested the op because I was soooo disappointed after my last lap which didn't go all that well, I don't know. As you say, he is very understanding. He mentioned how frustrating it is for him because he can only help a certain number of people and has no control over the waiting lists. It must be a big strain to have all that responsibility. Sorry for the long, rambling post!! I really feel for you with your decision over having the op. Let me know how things go for you.
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