3 replies to this topic

[jessicaw]

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Last week I underwent a laparoscopic ventral rectopexy for a rectal prolapse that was related to my IBS. The surgery all happened really quickly and I was pretty much in the hospital a week after I was diagnosed.

Unfortunately, they gave me a button post-op that was green and had morphine and happiness in it and made all the pain go away   however, it means I have no memory of whether or not I was told what my diet was supposed to be, how I was supposed to exercise - pretty much all I remember is being discharged with a heap of pain medication and some Benefiber.

 

I really have no idea what I am supposed to be doing and its scary - I'm only 22 and I don't want to do something wrong and have to go through this all again. My post-op appointment is not for a while. Has anyone had this surgery before who can give me some ideas?

 

Thankyou!

[annie7]

call your surgeon's office and ask. to me that seems the safest thing to do. after i had my bowel surgery (not a rectopexy) my surgeon told me to call anytime if i had any questions at all, leave a message with the nurse and they would get back to me same day with answers.

 

before i left the hospital, both the surgeon and the nurse talked to me about post op care and gave me a lot of paperwork on it, too, covering diet, execise etc.  was there any info like this included in your hospital discharge paperwork?

 

wishing you a quick and complete recovery. take care.

[postmortem]

definitely check in with the surgeon's office. they won't bite! it's understandable that you may have some questions or need some clarification.

 

i was just wondering what made them perform the procedure on you? was it an external prolapse? i've been asking about surgery for my prolapse, but doctors have been hesitant because my prolapse is internal.

[rewinj]

Surgeons' advice always seems quite different. I had a rectopexy & sigmoid resection for a full prolpase.

 

After surgery, I was told I could eat anything, but to go a bit easy on the fiber. I was told to take Milk of Magnesia on any day which I did not have a bowel movement. My recovery was so-so, and I have unfortunately not regained good bowel function (my obstructed defecation has worsened), so I can't really recommend his advice. It seems some people are told high-fiber, others low-fiber. You definitely want to be passing stool regularly. I was told to avoid Miralax, but that seems like what is usually prescribed.

 

Sigh!

 

And to be honest, once I found out how helpful marijuana was for all the gut symptoms, I was quickly able to quit all the pain/anxiety meds I needed immediately post-op. And it definitely helps with the appetite, which is sooo important for healing.

 

Make sure you eat lots of protein & drink lots of water! Don't expect things to go "smoothly" for a while. Be proactive and call doctors or visit the hospital if you feel you need to.