← Return to Problems months after colon resection surgery: What Helps?

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@johnmcgeechan

Hi,

First thing I would say - in my experience - is that expectation is the biggest hurdle. I found recovery wasn't linear. When I have had an injury in the past, typically each day feels better than the last. For me at least, this surgery was v. different. It would seem ok and i would think that I was back to 'normal' then I would hit a bump which would seem to set me back a little. Expectations. From what I have read and now had confirmed from the doc's is that this is all normal.

I oozed for a long time post op as well btw.

Overall you WILL be healing, but will be having little setbacks, all completely normal. I am now 5 months after the op, feel night and day better than I did after 2 months post op, I feel much stronger, but still if I lift too much, I get pain - and I know I have overdone it.

Try to put the worries to the back of your mind. We are all different and you will be healing in a way that is completely unique to you. I would of course speak to your doctor if the pain is continuing for a while and it is preventing you from sleeping, you could just be one of those who has longer post op pain. I would experiment too, do some pain meds work more than others ? do you get the pain at certain times ? can you sleep in a different position ? when i was getting a lot of pain, i slept on the sofa, I found being sat up propped on my side helped me greatly to get to sleep. Interestingly trying to sleep on the opposite side was too painful. Like I say try experimenting. Also food. I found that if I ate certain foods it could leave me in agony.

The number one tip though, try not to worry. I did too, it's natural. But after 5 months I see that recovery just takes a while with this sort of surgery.

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Replies to "Hi, First thing I would say - in my experience - is that expectation is the..."

true , it wil pg get better and we are alll different ,, but we wall heal ,, as i said i got infection so it stop my healing and was on vac machine from my wound for 5 weeks or more ? but 10 months later i sure am feeling a ;lolt better ,,,, god bless . you will get there ,,,,

Thank you! This helps a lot. I was thinking this should be a linear recovery - knowing that’s not really how this works gives me a new perspective. I never thought about sleeping on the couch either for the pain. You are right it takes a while to figure out a good position. I’ve really just started trying to eat normal and I too realized that’s a whole different type of pain with food - agony is accurate. I’m assuming I need to keep it still extremely simple at the 2 month mark. Thank you so much! I think I understand this whole process a little bit better now! I hope you too continue to heal!!!