Re: colon removal- Reply to Cheryl - from Larry

[Guest guest]

Hi Cheryl,

I guess I am the newest person in the group to have had my colon removed. I had UC for 12 years and my last colonoscopy in May. I had a major bleed last year and in March, so I wasn't sure what to expect. Well, the GI found a small lesion which turned out to be cancer. I had an option to just take out about a foot of my colon or have the entire colon removed. Of course with UC there was a big chance that it might come back again in a few years and could spread to other areas. I chose to have the entire colon removed. I didn't want my family going through this again. The surgeon also took out 21 lymph nodes and all came back clean...thank God. I also saw an oncologist to determine if I would need any chemo...thank God that wasn't necessary.

I read as much as I could on what to expect and also posted to the group and I got some great support and good answer to my questions.

I had my first surgery on 15 June. The post op period has been pretty good. I was pretty sore at first and made sure I took it easy. I couldn't go back to work for 6 weeks, which was just about right. I was still moving a little slow and continued to take it easy for another couple of weeks.

I had the J-Pouch procedure done and of course without the colon you have to have the bag until the second surgery. The bag hasn't been as bad as I envisioned it would be. I always thought that having it would be the worst thing in the world...not so. Having cancer and not being able to do anything about it would be worse.

My next surgery is this Friday and I will have my plumbing reconnected. The surgeon did a great job the first time so I am hopeful that he will work his magic again. The last surgery was 5 hours, this one is only 1 hour. I was in the hospital for 5 days last time and will only be in 2-3 days this time.

I will have more information in a few weeks after my second surgery. There are a few people in the group that have had the J-Pouch for a few years. I am sure you will hear from them.

If you would like to talk more about this we can chat via email or I will give you my phone number.

When is your surgery date? Will you be doing it in two stages?

Please know that I will be keeping you in my prayers.

God bless...

Larry, 58, Baltimore, PSC, UC, 95, J-Pouch 07Get a sneak peek of the all-new AOL.com.