Surgery

[jennaceeta25]

ohnoagain said:

Hi Jenna,
I'm a nurse, I don't know much about what you're having done. I'm thinking the procedure you described about the 2 inch scars and it sounds like the removal of the pre-cancerous lesion is a polyp, is a laparoscopy? But, I could be wrong. The tube down your throat is intubation, and an anesthesiologist has to be there. You won't have the tube put down your throat until you are completly under sedation via an IV drip in your arm. So you won't feel it go down or come out ( you shouldn't ). I don't know why it will take 6 hours, but I don't know your history, so I won't guess. If you are the type that gets sick after being "out", ask the Dr. when he comes in for your pre-op visit for an anti-emetic, that is given through your IV and will prevent or stop any nausea or vomiting that sometimes happens after anesthesia. I'm not trying to scare you, just giving you some advice that alot of people aren't aware of. I'm sure everything will be fine, you're young and you'll live to see Apolo grow into an old man. And yeah, if you think about him while counting backwards, you might have some wild dreams. Good luck to you and you have my thoughts and prayers.

Ohnoagain, you made me laugh with that last part. It's 6 hours for surgery because the surgeon has to be very careful and he's taking my whole colon out. So I'm completely cured of Ulcerative Colitis. I like that your honest, I'm already scared already so whatever imput you have won't scare me any less. Yeah, that's a good idea with that stuff that provents nausea..I've been that feeling forever. I had no idea that what I have could cause so much damage to my body. I lost so much weight while in the hospital and blood. I hope to dream about Apolo.. Thanks for praying for me. I appreaciate it.

[ohnoagain]

Well, at least you'll know after your surgery you won't have the awful nausea and pain. And you'll be able to regain some weight back?? So, think of those things and not the few uncomfortable days, I know, easier said than done. But with todays new technology and new medications and the insurance companies kicking us out of the hospital as soon as we open our eyes and blink, you'll be back home and joking about Apolo's package in no time, just hope you don't rip your stitches laughing..........

[jennaceeta25]

LOL! I hope not. That's too funny! Thank you for your kind words. I've gained 10 pounds, I was 68 in the hospital but now I'm 78. I hope that makes the surgeon happy. He did say it wasn't about the weight, though, it was about the blood count or something..see I need to listen more. lol. I see him tomorrow at Lankeau. Just to see when the surgery is and I guess how to prepare for it. It's been a bad summer. lol.

[ohnoagain]

I'm sure with the loss of blood you must be very anemic, very low iron count. So, you must feel very weak and tired. So, with a couple of transfusions and iron pills after surgery, you will feel so much better, you won't remember these horrible days. I hate saying this, living in the snow capital of the world, but, here's to a better winter!!!!!!

[jennaceeta25]

Yeah, I am. I had to get a blood transfusion at my mom's hospital (she wanted to be a nurse but it didn't work out. Now she's a secertary at the Birthplace.) I was losing a lot of blood and not eating, I felt so nausated. I had 2 liters of blood put through my pickline. I got a pickline because I'm taking Hyperal now for neutration (sp?). I've had it for a month now, I think. It made me build up so much. The stuff is great. Thank you for a better winter comment.

[mtnme]

Jenn,
you poor thing! you've already gone through a lot in your young life.
I've never had surgery, but have had a few stints in the emergency room, which brought me to the following conclusions:

Make sure you have an advocate (friend, sibling, parent) who is there with you when you go into the hospital. In fact, it would probably be a good idea to have that person there when you go in for talks with the doctor. When you have so much hard information coming at you at once and it can be so overwhelming, having a third party there can help you clarify, not to mention speak up for you when you may not be in the best "head space" to do it for yourself

...and always get second opinions.
Gee, I guess I could have been more uplifting here, but felt the need to be practical.

In the meantime, you will be in my prayers and I know everyone here on the boards will be looking for your posts after the surgery to make sure you're OK.

[jennaceeta25]

aww, mtnme thank you for your kind words. I absoutly did have a second opinion, since my mom was so frightened from the GI's comments about surgery. Since I'm so young it's better to get it done early before the precancer turns into a cancer and starts spreading. He made it perfectly clear about me being 20 and every year it gets worse without surgery. We got a second opinion anyway at University of Penn in Philly which was an eye opener. My GI doctor and the second opinion (which was a Gi specialist) share the same last name but arn't related. I find that odd. So he was also perfectly clear about surgery and that it should be done in the next 2 months..this was back in July of this year.

I was petrified to say the least. 2 surgeries he said, one; to take out the colon and the second is to resect everything back together. The small intestine to the anal. (am I aloud to say that? sorry in advance) He suggested Dr. Marks my surgeon, he's very well known for his liperscoptic (sp?) procedure. He's probably one of the few who do it like that. I heard like people from across the country come to see him just for that. I will have a bag attached to me where the poop comes out..lol. haha, sorry. I also found out if I resect back together in 2 months my fertility rate gets lower.. I was so upset. But I'll probably keep the bag. Thanks for your words and your prayers. I will defiently keep everyone posted.

[skaterswaltz]

Hi Jenna,

It's so wonderful they are able to do diagnostic testing in this day and age and take care of this for you now. Sounds like you are in really good hands. And ohnoagain's advice about letting them know if you get sick after being "out" is really good because I have that reaction after being sedated. But it wears off and you will be fine. Like she says - just think about our handsome boy and take some of your favorite pictures of him (so many - it would be hard for me to choose) with you to the hospital! I've got the new full length one of him from the Santa Monica shoot at the Oceana Hotel as my desktop right now!

We'll be thinking of you!

[jennaceeta25]

Oh, I will don't you worry, skaterwaltz. While I was in the hospital in June and then went in August from both a flair up, I took like 6 pictures of Apolo with me. The Nurses and techs all knew who he was and one of the nurses made a nickname for me for him. It's quite silly, but I call him my studmuffin. lol. You probably think I'm all weird now.. But, I'm glad there's technology and medicine in this day and age. I wouldn't know what I would do 20 years ago. Thanks for thinking of me. You're so sweet.

[Rhiannon]

:-XJenna, I just read all the posts about your pending surgery. Jenna you've only been here a short while like myself by you're what I call our Peppy Poster. I never would have known you were ill. I looked at your profile and I noticed you are 20. Jenna you are young and that is such a plus for you. My sister is 67 and last summer she had about 2 foot of her colon removed because of diverticulitis. She's doing great now. My sister-in-laws mother also had part of her colon removed and had the bag for the "poopies" and then a few months later they took the bag off and she was in her 60's at the time too. My Mom also had a part of her colon removed and that was 25 years ago and she did well. You're going to be a success story just like all these women I mentioned. It's so hard for waiting right now. I'm sure you just want to get it over with and be on your way to healing. I had a full hysterectomy back in 2001 so I know what you're feeling right now as far as anxiety. The doctors will give you something to relax you and when you wake up in the recovery room the nurses stay right by your side and they keep giving you pain meds if you need them. They'll take really good care of you. September 6th we'll all be praying for you and I'll start now so that you have peace in your heart knowing that by having this surgery you are going to be made healthy and whole, everything that you've lost will be restored. You have a nice long life ahead of you and you'll be able to enjoy it without being sick you just have to go through this valley to get to the mountain top. So Sept. 6th is the day and then take all the time you need to get strong before you start posting. Don't hurt yourself trying to get to the keyboard ... cause you are our Peppy Poster here at GotApolo and you know Apolo would tell you to take care of yourself first but make sure you have lots of healthy pictures of Apolo to look at every day like good medicine, he is.

[jennaceeta25]

Aww! That almost made me cry, Rhiannon, you are so sweet. I find out today at 4:00 if it was correct what the lady said on the phone. She said the 6th but she wasn't sure. My surgeon will tell me the exact date and time, probably. But I have a gut instinct it's the 6th.

My grandma said multiple times she wished she could phone Apolo and have him come visit me in the hospital while I had my flair ups. It's quite sad, but he's what keeps me going and my family and you guys! He is great medicine! Thanks for your prayers, it means a lot! ;D You have no idea.

[linmiste]

Wow. Sounds like a big procedure, but it also sounds like the doctors know what they're doing, and everyone here is giving great input.

I was struck by your comment that you're concerned about your fertility rate going down. I know that's really hard to think about, as the instinct to have kids is instilled in almost all of us. Some years ago, I knew a girl just your age who started bleeding suddenly and doctors found a growth on an ovary that needed to be removed immediately. She was very petite -- probably not 100 pounds -- and the thing was the size of a cantaloupe! Well, she pretty much couldn't have kids after that, but she married this great guy and they adopted twins from Mongolia who are the cutest things you've ever seen! I think they feel very blessed.

In my own case, I had my son with no problems, but have had two miscarriages since, in the third month of pregnancy. I've struggled with frustration and discouragement and doubt, but as time passes, I'm believing that God has something else for me. I love my son, and I want to pour as much into him as I can, but I do have more free time than friends with multiple kids, so I have to ask myself... is there something else God has for me to do? Maybe there is some opportunity He will open up because He seems to have closed the door to more kids. So, I have to keep my heart open. And frankly, I'm getting too old for those middle-of-the-night wake ups!

God bless you, Jenn.

[jennaceeta25]

Thanks for your storys, linmiste. I'm sorry about your miscarrages but I'm glad you had your son. I'm an only child too. My mom tried to have a child before me but the boy died because me and my mom have a bone dysbasia called Melnic Neddles. Apparently men can't have curved backs. And that poor girl. But it was nice she found a man and adopted cute kids. Such a lovely story. God can do mysterious things. Maybe what I have is a blessing in disguise.

God bless you, too.

[tynormem]

Jen, I just wanted to let you know that you will be in my thoughts and prayers now and after your surgery. I know this is a scary time for you as it was for me too just before my surgeries (I had an open reduction on my elbow and then a second surgery to add pins when the open reduction didn't work). The scariest part is the waiting before the surgery!

I also wanted to comment on your fear of losing fertility- my sister had terrible stomach pain one day and ended up in the ER in October of 2005. After some tests, it was determined that she had a tumor on her right ovary and tube. After a lenghty surgery to remove a "basketball sized tumor", she spent 5 nights in the hospital. No one was sure if she could have kids, and if she could how many years she would have before a new tumor appeared and she would need a hysterectomy.

Today, my sister is pregnant with my nephew, and due 12/26. She has had no complications from her surgery during the pregnancy.

I wish you all the best!

[jennaceeta25]

AW! That's wonderful news about you getting a nephew soon, tynormen! ;D I'm glad for your sister as well. By your story, I feel much better. I've always dreamed of having 3 children. Who knows if it'll happen? Only God knows. When did you have your surgeries? I am to have 2 surgeries as well.

Thanks for thinking of me and praying.