Hi. My name is Jan. I have had a procedure, a Right Hemicolectomy and I am hoping someone here might be able to offer me some advice or share their experience if they too have had a Right Hemicolectomy. Just a quick background- I went in to hospital on 11-12-14 expecting nthing more than an appendectomey. When I awoke in recovery I knew something more drastic had been done and learned they had to do a Right Hemicolectomy as there was a large mass and great infection in my bowel. It was quite a shock, to say the least. They did the procedure through an open surgery and left me with about a 5 inch long incision.
On Boxing day, about 3 weeks later my wound blew open and a massive amount of infection poured out. I went back to hospital where they put me under anestesia and drained the wound. They decided to leave to wound open and pack in with a dressing to let it continue to drain.
The following day, a District Nurse came to the house to check the wound and when she removed the dressing the room filled with an awful odour and feacal matter was oozing out of the hole in my tummy. This too was quite a shock and very upsetting to me.
Back to hospital - they checked it out and believed a fistula had formed and they reccomended using a Stoma Bag to catch the draining feacel matter.
a few wekks later, I had a second infection which blew out another spot in my wound - back to hospital - treated and sent home - 2 dressings - the stoma bag and traditional packed dressing. No more feacel matter, just a beige ooze from my site. Sometimes foul smelling but not of feacel.
I am now 2 months and 2 weeks post surgery. I had the stoma bag treatment end last week and am now using normal dressing though there is still a lot of output and these need changing 2-3 sometims 4 times a day.
Again, outflow is light brown, sometimes smells almost what I would conisder "Bad breathe". Sometimes the outflow is nearly black - a very very dark brown and when this happens in is painful. Other times not so much.
Phew - if you made it this far, thank you That brings me up to where I am now.
I feel disheartened and find this procedure difficult to cope with in some ways because I cannot see any measurable improvement - the hole in my tummy is still draining, is still painful, it still looks the same width (about 3 cm) and I just feel like there is change or no end in sight?
Can anyone else share any information, experience, advice with me that might help? I don;t understand why the outflow changes colours and why it hurts when it is dark but not when it is light in colour. How long does it take for a hole in your gut to heal?
Also, my bowel functions were absolutely perfect immediately following the surger - the first 2-3 weeks or more - but now - I have at times URGENT needs to open my bowels, and feel I may not make it to the toilet. This is a worry when I am on the trains, or walking to work, etc. I have not yet returned to work yet, but still worry. This can occur 3 or 4 times a day whereas before and for my whole life, I was a one a day kinda gal. The substance is very loose, and at times painful to go and there is bright red blood on the tissue. (I do have a history of piles which were surgically repaired over a year ago).
Well, thats me, inside and out.
Thanks for your interest and any guidance you can offer.
Jan
But it will come. I have not had a bath since December - and am longing too - I also have arthritis, and a hot bath was my only happy place.