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Recent Small Bowel Resection Surgery

Wed, July 09, 2008 12:00 AM

Hello All.

I have been very sick (Crohns, 29yo male, diagnosed 9 years ago, no previous major flares) for the past three months and spent half of June in the hospital. They figured out I had CMV infection and started me on some Gancylclovere. They also determined I had a blood clot from my pick line (I was on TPN for nutrition for weeks) so they put me on blood thinners. They did a colonoscopy and the air was pushed through a fistula that I had from my colon to my ileocecal and my ileocecal was ruptured forcing an emergency surgery.

They did not want to do surgery since I was so flared, on blood thinners and my Protien or albumen level was at 1.7 (way low) but once they got in there, they decided to resect 20 cm from the ileocecal valve and up the terminal ileum. They also took out my appendix and put in an ostomy bag. I will get this removed in 3-6 months. I have felt great since the surgery (one day of nausea 3 days after) and was discharged 6 days after. It has been 11 days since and I am eating like a horse. I dropped from 140 pounds to 100 during all of this (5'9 male) and I can say that gaining the weight back is the biggest challenge for me now.

A few questions:
1. Does anyone have experience with the CMV virus? Apparently this virus is carried by 98% of people but only becomes active in those with suppressed immune systems. The Valcyte I am on now is pretty heavy duty and I want to know if I should be worried. Apparently this virus was hampering our efforts to make me better without surgery.

2. How much will this surgery cost me? I have insurance and everyone is different but even if someone knows how much the ballpark pre-insurance amount normally is, it would help me be prepared.

3. How long did people take off of work after surgery? I have an office job and may go back as early as next monday if possible (would be 16 days after surgery). My work has been very good about giving me as much PTO as I need so I want to make a smart choice.

Thanks in advance - Thomas

tmartenst
Joined May 25, 2008

Tue, July 15, 2008 12:27 PM

Reply posted for tmartenst.

Hi Thomas. I had a small bowel resection in March 2002 after only having my first Crohn's symptoms in July 2001 at the age of 27. My disease progressed rapidly. I had an obstruction due to scarring and then developed an abcess (which required a drain). I was put on TPN for 36 days prior to resection surgery. I believe I took about 6 weeks off work after surgery. I was exhausted both physically and mentally from months of being in and out of the hospital. I really needed that amount of time to re-gain my strength.

I believe my surgery was roughly $150,000. With my deductibles (everyone's are different) I guess I probably paid a few thousand.

I am so thankful I had the surgery. Not to jinx myself (knock on wood), I have not taken a drop of medication in 6 years and I have had no signs of recurrence. I continue to have colonoscopies every two years and so far all has been well.

I wish you well!

heather
Joined Jul 15, 2008

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