UC surgery Decision to Make
by Megan on Monday, June 23, 2008 7:57
Webcast of Why you shouldnt wait too long to have surgery for colitis?
Hosted by HealthTalk. Talks with Surgeon, Sonia Ramamoorthy, M.D.
Join us as we speak with leading colitis specialists about when colitis surgery might work best to help you maintain an active, healthy life, and why waiting too long may be hazardous to your health. We’ll talk about the types of surgeries available, post-operative complications that may occur and the realities of living short or long-term with an ostomy. Plus, you’ll also learn about support groups, counseling and other ways to process emotional stress before and after colitis surgery. ” – (health talk website text)
*Around minute 14 the surgeon talks about being on steriods before surgery, Minute 26 talks about weening of pred. before surgery to improve wound healing. High protein for good wound healing. A good Attitude for mind over body. when you understand the risks and benefits before you go into surgery you will feel empowered. Getting your family ready for support.
**Minute 20 talks about alternative medicines.
**Minute 24 talks about possible risks of surgery.
**Minute 30 talks about lapro versus open surgery. Talks about length of time recovery.
**Minute 33 talks about fertility (female).
**Minute 35 talks about ostomy.
**Min. 37 talks about living with jpouch, diet, BM function.
Do post your thoughts if you listen to the webcast! Deciding to have the “elective” surgery was the hardest decision to make. My reason was because I was in a year 6 flare and no medicine working, pred. dependent, I just couldn’t live sick any longer. I wish we had found information like this before I made my decision. This is a good webcast, they discuss the biggest reason people wait (people who are medicine dependent and still with symptoms they mean – not those on meds in remisison). Reasons people wait or delay their decision to have the “elective” surgery:
1) FEAR
2) Worry of surgery related complications
3) Surgery apprhension b/c live with disease so long.
4) Risk of having ileo or colostomy.
5) People worry that it is the beginning of a slippery slope that will lead to more surgeries down the line.
6) Quality of life, childbearing fear, etc..
mdhilton says:
June 24th, 2008 at 2:39 am
We had Jenn leave the below message on another post, and we wanted to share it with you, so I moved it here with cut/past so you could see what a viewer thought of the webcast, sounded like it was useful for her?
“It was an amazing webcast. I have never listened to or participated in a webcast and this was a real eye opener. They really touch on everything Colitis related. They answer lots of questions right down to how u might feel the day after surgery.. and the days afterwards.. etc etc etc. Its truly a good listen. :O) Thanks got the info Mark.. your blog is great, I love the picture diary and the link to this webcast was also GREAT. :O) Thank you soooo much.
——————————————————————————–
Jenn 26/female
Ulcerative PANCOLITIS diagnosed 2004″
EdieKristen said:
“I was finally able to listen to this and it was great. Anyone considering surgery should definitely listen to this webcast.”
Source: http://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=38&p=1&m=1162775#m1163737
ediekristen says:
June 24th, 2008 at 1:02 pm
Just to add… I’ve been considering surgery for awhile and this was really informative and gave me more confidence. I had my boyfriend listen to it as well since he never wants to talk about surgery with me, and while he didn’t say anything after, I think it could at least have made him understand my decision a little. If you are having a hard time talking to someone in your life about surgery, have them listen to this webcast alone or with you; it really covers a lot of issues about UC, some that we might not even think about.
It’s great that a doctor is coming out and being honest about the risks of taking all these questionable medications long term that they nonchalantly put us on, and I think anyone with UC should at least think about surgery and understand it, just in case if you ever come to that point you will go in feeling a lot more confident and a lot less emotionally scarred!! Reading Mark’s blog and listening to this webcast will definitely help.
UC Story to J-pouch Life says:
January 4th, 2009 at 12:59 pm
[...] listen to this webcast. Also, back a few months ago, we recommeneded you listen to “Colitis and Surgery: Why You Shouldn’t Wait Too Long” – I think this is one of the best and most informative and objective discussions regarding [...]