Re: OT - Questions for surgery veterans

September 6, 2009

Thank you all for sharing your experiences! It's quite helpful to hear what

others have been through. I do have one more question for you guys. I take

Effexor for depression/anxiety, and if I miss a pill, it really makes me feel

wonky (withdrawal symptoms, I guess). Do they let you take any pills with just a

tiny sip of water while waiting for your bowels to wake up?

Jody, I never had any problems after gallbladder removal, so I never had to take

Questran. Pre-SCD, I always had constipation problems. That's much better now,

but I still have to take extra magnesium everyday.

I live with my parents, so I don't have to worry about doing too much when I get

home. I've already started cooking some stuff to put in the freezer though, so

that my mom doesn't have to be overwhelmed with cooking my foods. I hate to

shove the responsibility of taking care of my bird on her, on top of everything

else she already does. I wonder if I could devise a way to pull the trays out of

her cage for cleaning that wouldn't put a strain on my gut?

When I had my gallbladder out, I sort of devised a way to roll out of my bed to

make it easier to get up. Maybe that technique will come back to me!

I have some mp3's that are supposed to help you relax, and even have one with

subliminal messages for having a successful surgery. I need to dig them out and

see if they would help with anxiety. Right now I'm okay, but once the date draws

near, I might become a nervous wreck.

Tom, I hope my experience goes as well as yours! It sounds like you healed

ideally. I'm hoping that since my surgery is " elective, " that I'll have an

easier time than someone who has an emergency resection. If I can escape the NG

tube, I'll be pretty happy! I've only had them try to insert one once, and it

was a disaster. They gave up, but my thoat really was sore and croaky for

awhile.

Holly

Crohn's

SCD 12/01/08

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