Comments on: Takedown: 1 Lameness: 0 http://www.jpouch.net/2009/07/19/takedown-1-lameness-0/ Stories: Ostomy, Ileostomy, Jpouch, Colitis, Crohn's, Surgery and Support Thu, 11 Mar 2010 18:00:17 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Mel http://www.jpouch.net/2009/07/19/takedown-1-lameness-0/#comment-5082 Mel Thu, 20 Aug 2009 19:05:28 +0000 http://www.jpouch.net/?p=2074#comment-5082 Hi Brevin, I stumbled upon your blog today and enjoyed reading about your experience! I am having the j-pouch surgeries in 3 steps, so I still have a long ways to go (I had step one 3 months ago). I, too, have difficulties coming out of surgery - I was in the recovery room for 5 HOURS after stage one. It didn't help that I was severly ill going into surgery though. And yes, potassium HURTS!! I had to have potassium by IV during a hospital stay last summer. So this time around, I begged the nurse to slow the potassium rate down so it was equal to the saline, and that helped tremendously. I didn't care that it was going to take a lot longer to get through the potassium bag at that rate - I wasn't going anywhere! ha ha. Thanks for sharing your experience! Hi Brevin,

I stumbled upon your blog today and enjoyed reading about your experience! I am having the j-pouch surgeries in 3 steps, so I still have a long ways to go (I had step one 3 months ago).

I, too, have difficulties coming out of surgery – I was in the recovery room for 5 HOURS after stage one. It didn’t help that I was severly ill going into surgery though.

And yes, potassium HURTS!! I had to have potassium by IV during a hospital stay last summer. So this time around, I begged the nurse to slow the potassium rate down so it was equal to the saline, and that helped tremendously. I didn’t care that it was going to take a lot longer to get through the potassium bag at that rate – I wasn’t going anywhere! ha ha.
Thanks for sharing your experience!

]]> By: Megan http://www.jpouch.net/2009/07/19/takedown-1-lameness-0/#comment-4832 Megan Wed, 22 Jul 2009 09:30:01 +0000 http://www.jpouch.net/?p=2074#comment-4832 Emily, When Mark had his surgery we were watching in the hospital an episode of the Family Guy, and he started to laugh, then tears started welling in his eyes and he is telling me "Change the channel, change the chanel" - I always wanted to write Seth McFarlane of the Family Guy and tell him his show was so funny that we had to turn it off. Gives another name to laughing your ass off. As for the insomnia, sorry you have that right now. I know this might sound odd but two tricks for me really work: (1) Use the 20 minute rule. If you aren't asleep in 20 mins. you have to try something new, read, eat, watch tv, change beds/couch, etc... (2) I create scenarios where I try to figure out how in my everyday life I could meet someone famous and have a conversation with them. It is a fun mind game to play that can take time to really figure out when you are travelling, etc..and how it might happen. What I've found by this is that is keeps my mind stimulated but not stressed and often I fall asleep in the planning stages of meeting someone, the conversation, etc... I hope I don't sound insane by sharing this! Emily, When Mark had his surgery we were watching in the hospital an episode of the Family Guy, and he started to laugh, then tears started welling in his eyes and he is telling me “Change the channel, change the chanel” – I always wanted to write Seth McFarlane of the Family Guy and tell him his show was so funny that we had to turn it off. Gives another name to laughing your ass off. As for the insomnia, sorry you have that right now. I know this might sound odd but two tricks for me really work: (1) Use the 20 minute rule. If you aren’t asleep in 20 mins. you have to try something new, read, eat, watch tv, change beds/couch, etc… (2) I create scenarios where I try to figure out how in my everyday life I could meet someone famous and have a conversation with them. It is a fun mind game to play that can take time to really figure out when you are travelling, etc..and how it might happen. What I’ve found by this is that is keeps my mind stimulated but not stressed and often I fall asleep in the planning stages of meeting someone, the conversation, etc… I hope I don’t sound insane by sharing this!

]]> By: Emily http://www.jpouch.net/2009/07/19/takedown-1-lameness-0/#comment-4830 Emily Wed, 22 Jul 2009 06:13:38 +0000 http://www.jpouch.net/?p=2074#comment-4830 Hi Brevin, I would welcome a visit anytime, just don't make me laugh too hard! Happy to hear that you don't need pain meds for round two, but I curse the prednisone continuation! The insomnia is killing me! Did you have the dreaded Heprin shots again? Hi Brevin,

I would welcome a visit anytime, just don’t make me laugh too hard! Happy to hear that you don’t need pain meds for round two, but I curse the prednisone continuation! The insomnia is killing me! Did you have the dreaded Heprin shots again?

]]> By: Paul http://www.jpouch.net/2009/07/19/takedown-1-lameness-0/#comment-4829 Paul Wed, 22 Jul 2009 03:43:10 +0000 http://www.jpouch.net/?p=2074#comment-4829 Hey Brevin, I don't believe its quite the same boat. I have a blood clot at the base of the incision (surgery was open rather than lapro), which caused significant swelling, an open wound, and lots of pain and discomfort. The doc assured me that the blood clot would heal on its own as it pumps the blood out and it appears to have nearly healed, only I still have the swelling and pain, so I'm a little concerned. Thanks for sharing the details. How long did your blood clot last? Anything similar to what I described? Hey Brevin, I don’t believe its quite the same boat. I have a blood clot at the base of the incision (surgery was open rather than lapro), which caused significant swelling, an open wound, and lots of pain and discomfort. The doc assured me that the blood clot would heal on its own as it pumps the blood out and it appears to have nearly healed, only I still have the swelling and pain, so I’m a little concerned. Thanks for sharing the details. How long did your blood clot last? Anything similar to what I described?

]]> By: Brevin http://www.jpouch.net/2009/07/19/takedown-1-lameness-0/#comment-4826 Brevin Tue, 21 Jul 2009 23:32:24 +0000 http://www.jpouch.net/?p=2074#comment-4826 Hi Paul, I had a hepatic blood clot of some kind leading to the liver (not unusual for surgery patients). It was only discovered after they took a CT scan when I was resubmitted after surgery one due to pain. Since they found it, it had to be treated. We started with lovely Lovenox injections twice a day and then built my system up with Warfarin/Coumodin. I had to get blood work done frequently to check the INR levels, since once I reached 2.0 I could stop the Lovenox injections and just stay on Warfarin pills. 2 weeks before my surgery, the pre-op scans showed the blood clot was gone, so I could stop with the anti-coagulants. Either way, they would have taken me off any blood-centric meds 5 to 6 days before surgery. Are you in the same boat? Hi Paul, I had a hepatic blood clot of some kind leading to the liver (not unusual for surgery patients). It was only discovered after they took a CT scan when I was resubmitted after surgery one due to pain. Since they found it, it had to be treated. We started with lovely Lovenox injections twice a day and then built my system up with Warfarin/Coumodin. I had to get blood work done frequently to check the INR levels, since once I reached 2.0 I could stop the Lovenox injections and just stay on Warfarin pills. 2 weeks before my surgery, the pre-op scans showed the blood clot was gone, so I could stop with the anti-coagulants. Either way, they would have taken me off any blood-centric meds 5 to 6 days before surgery. Are you in the same boat?

]]> By: Paul http://www.jpouch.net/2009/07/19/takedown-1-lameness-0/#comment-4824 Paul Tue, 21 Jul 2009 21:06:51 +0000 http://www.jpouch.net/?p=2074#comment-4824 You mentioned blood clot brevin so I'm curious as I have one lingering now 4 weeks still after surgery 1. How long did it take for yours to go away and what meds did they put you on for the blood clot other than pain meds? You mentioned blood clot brevin so I’m curious as I have one lingering now 4 weeks still after surgery 1. How long did it take for yours to go away and what meds did they put you on for the blood clot other than pain meds?

]]> By: Brevin http://www.jpouch.net/2009/07/19/takedown-1-lameness-0/#comment-4822 Brevin Tue, 21 Jul 2009 18:54:35 +0000 http://www.jpouch.net/?p=2074#comment-4822 CURSE YOU POTASSIUM!! CURSE YOU POTASSIUM!!

]]> By: Brevin http://www.jpouch.net/2009/07/19/takedown-1-lameness-0/#comment-4821 Brevin Tue, 21 Jul 2009 18:53:58 +0000 http://www.jpouch.net/?p=2074#comment-4821 Thanks Mark! I'm still adjusting to my diet (turns out I was feeling a little too optimistic and tried different food types a tad too fast), so I can totally see this adjustment you are are referring to. Trying to find a balance and routine seems like fun, though : ) Thanks Mark! I’m still adjusting to my diet (turns out I was feeling a little too optimistic and tried different food types a tad too fast), so I can totally see this adjustment you are are referring to. Trying to find a balance and routine seems like fun, though : )

]]> By: Brevin http://www.jpouch.net/2009/07/19/takedown-1-lameness-0/#comment-4820 Brevin Tue, 21 Jul 2009 18:51:19 +0000 http://www.jpouch.net/?p=2074#comment-4820 Hi Emily, I'm on a tiny Predinsone taper (10mg tapering down to 2.5mg in 4 or 5 weeks), which is the only med I'm taking post-surgery. I had a zillion meds to take after the first one, mostly due to the blood clot that has since dissolved, so this is a cakewalk. I'll come visit when you're going in! Let me know: br3vin@gmail.com Hi Emily,
I’m on a tiny Predinsone taper (10mg tapering down to 2.5mg in 4 or 5 weeks), which is the only med I’m taking post-surgery. I had a zillion meds to take after the first one, mostly due to the blood clot that has since dissolved, so this is a cakewalk.
I’ll come visit when you’re going in! Let me know: br3vin@gmail.com

]]> By: Mark http://www.jpouch.net/2009/07/19/takedown-1-lameness-0/#comment-4819 Mark Tue, 21 Jul 2009 18:51:04 +0000 http://www.jpouch.net/?p=2074#comment-4819 Sounds like you are doing great. My takedown went pretty smooth too, and I was just so ready to get the jpouch and find out what life was going to be like with it. I had a couple bumpy weeks when I first got my jpouch and it was trying to settle in and find a routine, so if you happen to have kinda a rough start, don't get discouraged it should ease quickly. Or maybe yours will be smooth like it sounds like you've already had. Also, I just wanted to applaud you on your approach to all this, you've been so candid yet positive, you are an excellent inspiration even to those of us who've gone through the process. Sounds like you are doing great. My takedown went pretty smooth too, and I was just so ready to get the jpouch and find out what life was going to be like with it. I had a couple bumpy weeks when I first got my jpouch and it was trying to settle in and find a routine, so if you happen to have kinda a rough start, don’t get discouraged it should ease quickly. Or maybe yours will be smooth like it sounds like you’ve already had. Also, I just wanted to applaud you on your approach to all this, you’ve been so candid yet positive, you are an excellent inspiration even to those of us who’ve gone through the process.

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