I'm wondering how soon post op I might be able to get off Rx painkillers. I'm hoping maybe 6 or 7 days. Does that seem realistic after removing 8 inches of intestine along with the IC Valve, mesentery, nodes, and palpating the bowel (all open surgery)? By then I'll be recouping alone in a distant city and would hope to be able to drive. (Of course I understand everything can change during surgery if more tumors are found.)

Were you able to take immodium or cholestyrene or colestipol as soon as discharged and did it work satisfactorily to help the diarrhea? If you had constipaton those first days, was there anything that helped.

I'm also wondering about energy & discomfort level and will I be able to do more than toddle around the abode by day 6. Cook, drive myself to appts. What about climbing flights of stairs?

Was anyone discharged to a skilled nursing or rehab unit on Original Medicare and do you know how that was facilitated? I'm hearing from Mayo that is very unlikely though it seems like it would be very helpful for someone recovering alone.

Thank you, everyone. You have been more helpful than you can imagine!