Question:

I think you need to contact your surgeon.  This is not normal for after surgery.  Please call right away!

I agree with Andrea, you do need to contact your surgeon or GI doc as soon as you can.  This is not normal.  Please keep us posted on how you are doing. Believe me, we all care.   Love,   Margie CD Class of 67 UC Class of 96

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Hi Donna,      I’m really concerned for you.  How long ago did you have the surgery?  It sounds like my symptoms before Crohns surgery. I don’t believe that having the gall bladder removed should give you any dietary symptoms.  I’ve had mine removed and don’t see any ill effects.  My major symptoms which lead to surgery included bloating to the point of looking severely pregnant, vomitting and terrible bile tasting reflux.  My food was backing up because of the stricture in my intestines.  My body would produce extra bile (acid) to break down the food remaining in my stomach too long.  As a result I would have burning belches.  Finally the puking would come. I think you need to contact your surgeon.  This is not normal for after surgery.  Please call right away! Andrea Crohn’s 98′

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Hi Guys, Well the surgeon went in for the Crohns and ended up taking out my gallbladder too.  The problem now is that EVERYTHING I eat makes me sick!! (Literally-Throwing Up)  The doc told me to eat a regular diet but that’s a joke! If I don’t throw up, I BLOAT like a PIG and have terrible reflux!! Anyone got any diet suggestions for those that have had their gallbladder out?  The tummy troubles now are completely different from the CD troubles (although now the co-exist!)  I feel worse now than I did before.  HELP!! * Sent from AltaVista http://www.altavista.com Where you can also find related Web Pages, Images, Audios, Videos, News, and Shopping.  Smart is Beautiful

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That sounds like an obstruction to me.  I would ask my doc to perform a colonoscopy to see if you may have a stricture that is blocking you. Although I assume that if you have just had surgery for CD, then you have probably had strictured or diseased portions of your bowel removed.  One danger my surgeon warned me of was the potential for obstruction due to surgery.  I guess it is pretty rare, but I would check with my doc just to be safe.  Anyways, good luck with it!  I had my gallbladder out 10 yrs ago and my first bowel resection two weeks ago…..I can’t imagine having to have both done at once…yow!

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Hi Guys, Well the surgeon went in for the Crohns and ended up taking out my gallbladder too.  The problem now is that EVERYTHING I eat makes me sick!! (Literally-Throwing Up)   The doc told me to eat a regular diet but that’s a joke! If I don’t throw up, I BLOAT like a PIG and have terrible reflux!!

It’s been two months since I had a foot and a half of large gut and my gall bladder taken out… I’m probably the exception, but I’ve had no ill effects so far… The barf thing does sound like an obstruction, I had a colon stricture removed that was caused by Crohn’s, the stricture caused blockages that would cause me to throw up until the obstruction passed on. Anyway, my diet has been no problem as yet, but of course I still stay away from things that traditionally caused me problems. I have always had a reflux problem too, but a bad back has had me sleeping sitting up on the couch for the last ten years or so, and that has really kept the reflux under control. Um… sorry if this doesn’t help you any… I’d encourage you to talk to your doc some more, tell him all this… if he’s not responsive, give him the old heave ho. russell +  http://home.mmcable.com/rjanuary/index.htm  +            +  pick the booger to mail me  +

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That sounds like an obstruction to me.  I would ask my doc to perform a colonoscopy to see if you may have a stricture that is blocking you.

  I apoplogize for the misinformation…..a colonoscopy i believe is where they go up the rear with the scope…the procedure I was suggesting was where you drink the barium and then they do the xray thing…sorry.

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Hi Donna,     A few people have said that taking Calcium supplements or Questran does the trick. Might be worth a try. Nick – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi Guys, Well the surgeon went in for the Crohns and ended up taking out my gallbladder too.  The problem now is that EVERYTHING I eat makes me sick!! (Literally-Throwing Up)  The doc told me to eat a regular diet but that’s a joke! If I don’t throw up, I BLOAT like a PIG and have terrible reflux!! Anyone got any diet suggestions for those that have had their gallbladder out?  The tummy troubles now are completely different from the CD troubles (although now the co-exist!)  I feel worse now than I did before.  HELP!! * Sent from AltaVista http://www.altavista.com Where you can also find related Web Pages, Images, Audios, Videos, News, and Shopping.  Smart is Beautiful

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Question:

My very close cousin just had surgery for his Crohns disease.  Apparently, he had an almost complete blockage of one of his intestines. From what I understand, they removed the blocked area.. Is anyone familiar with this type of surgery?  Does anyone know of the positive/negative aspects of it?  What can we expect? Any response would be greatly appreciated.  Please reply to: .Yarone

I had similar surgery in April this year to deal with my Crohn’s, I had a Right Hemicolectomy to try to control the spread of my Crohn’s, the drugs didn’t help and I was in continual pain.  1 month after surgery I was able to return to work on light duties and now am back into the full swing of things.  There is one complete drawback though, after the surgery I was advised that they did not know whether or not they got all of the affected areas, and now 5 months later I know that for a fact.  I am now having a few minor attacks and I know that the Crohn’s is back. But even after all the pain and discomfort of the operation I would do it all over again just to have those few months of relief. I also agree that the best was to get over the surgery is through support, I felt very isolated here in Australia as there was no way I could talk to anyone face to face about what I had gone through, the internet (especially this newsgorup) saved me severe anguish, and supported me through my rough times. Brendan

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I had a small bowel resection in March 1997. My bowell was obstructed also. In terms of what your cousin has to look forward to, remember that Crohn’s never leaves you. They can’t cure it. It can only go into remission or become inactive. The surgery is not to cure it but only to relieve the obstruction. Your cousin has a good chance of having at least one other surgery for the same problem, probably at the same site as the last surgery. This chance can range from 50 to 80 percent within 5 years. The chances of a third or more surgery is much less, however. There is one woman in my support group who has had 6 such surgeries in the past 30 years. However, she is the exception. He can substantially reduce the chance of the need for a second surgery by taking preventitive medicine as soon as possible after surgery. This can reduce the chances of a second operation from 50 to 30 percent. Many gastroenteroligists do not believe in taking medication for the disease until it becomes active again. However, the evidence is clear that preventive medications can substantially reduce the chances of a second surgery. Between the first and second surgeries your cousin is likely to have complete remission of symptoms. I have been symptom free for over a year. Good luck. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – My very close cousin just had surgery for his Crohns disease.  Apparently, he had an almost complete blockage of one of his intestines. From what I understand, they removed the blocked area.. Is anyone familiar with this type of surgery?  Does anyone know of the positive/negative aspects of it?  What can we expect? Any response would be greatly appreciated.  Please reply to: .Yarone I had similar surgery in April this year to deal with my Crohn’s, I had a Right Hemicolectomy to try to control the spread of my Crohn’s, the drugs didn’t help and I was in continual pain.  1 month after surgery I was able to return to work on light duties and now am back into the full swing of things.  There is one complete drawback though, after the surgery I was advised that they did not know whether or not they got all of the affected areas, and now 5 months later I know that for a fact.  I am now having a few minor attacks and I know that the Crohn’s is back. But even after all the pain and discomfort of the operation I would do it all over again just to have those few months of relief. I also agree that the best was to get over the surgery is through support, I felt very isolated here in Australia as there was no way I could talk to anyone face to face about what I had gone through, the internet (especially this newsgorup) saved me severe anguish, and supported me through my rough times. Brendan

Response:

My very close cousin just had surgery for his Crohns disease.  Apparently, he had an almost complete blockage of one of his intestines. From what I understand, they removed the blocked area.. Is anyone familiar with this type of surgery?  Does anyone know of the positive/negative aspects of it?  What can we expect?

You cousin probably had a small bowel resection, a common practice in dealing with Crohn’s disease.  Probably be feeling fine in two weeks or so and ready for work/activity in about a month.  I had a small bowel resection in ‘85 and was relatively symptom free for 9 years.  Now the Crohn’s is back with a vengeance.  They could do the surgery again I suppose but eventually you run out of bowel and are stuck with ’short bowel syndrome’ and have a hard time maintaining nutrition.  A newer surgical technique is strictureplasty where the narrowed section is cut apart and sewn back together in a manner that eliminates the blockage.  This has the benefit of saving bowel but is apparently a little harder to recover from.                                                                 —john. — — Railroad Enthusiast – Pipe Organ Owner – Software Engineer –

Response:

My very close cousin just had surgery for his Crohns disease.  Apparently, he had an almost complete blockage of one of his intestines. From what I understand, they removed the blocked area.. Is anyone familiar with this type of surgery?  Does anyone know of the positive/negative aspects of it?  What can we expect? Any response would be greatly appreciated.  Please reply to: .Yarone

Response:

I’ve had such surgery twice.  If my own experiences are any indication, he’ll be back to ‘normal’ in two weeks or so.  If your cousin has a computer, get him online with us here at the newsgroup. If he doesn’t, you can keep monitoring it for him so that you can reassure him from time to time when and if he needs it as well as downloading and printing messages that he might find relevant to his own travails.  It will also help you understand what he is experiencing, or to intervene and explain it to other family members and friends who may be less than sympathetic about his plight.           That’s what the ’support’ in ’support group’ is all about! We’ll look forward to hearing from you and from him from now on!           Welcome to the group, m’dear!  We are glad to have you! Is anyone familiar with this type of surgery?  Does anyone know of the positive/negative aspects of it?  What can we expect?

Foulboul

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Question:

Mike, Check into an option called the "Hill-Burton ACT" It guarantees hospital care for those that cannot afford it. There are some qualifying circumstances that need to be met. Hope this helps.  Any body out there know what I am talking about? Joe

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Hill Burton requires hospitals built with federal funds to guarantee some services in-house for people who cannot pay. The catch is that many hospitals have outlived the time limits, and especially those which have gone to for-profit status are not hot on continuing to do it when they don’t have to. JC

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Hello, You need to apply for state local hospitalization through your local social service dept. With crohn’s or uc you need constant medical care and this is the U.S. so it cost plenty . Much more than that, I did it my way!….Cat

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Exactly. I am in NC and was in the hospital for 2 days and the total bill came up to $4000 – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – 345.00for 2 tylenol That’s outrageous!  And people wonder why health insurance is so expensive. The hospitals overcharge! Shirls

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When I lived in Massachusetts, state law required hospitals to admit people and provide free or discounted services, if  needed. The trick would be to get admitted in the first place. In CA, where I now live, hospitals cost more and have fewer ways to gain admission–many have closed their emergency rooms, for example, and apparently there is no state law guaranteeing services. I was told a SF hospital would charge me $1500 per day for intensive care ward, $300 to $500 per day for a regular room with 3 roommates. Some surgeons will waive charges or give a huge discount, but some hospitals won’t–and some apparently bill the doctor if s/he tries to offer free services…use of hospital space, equipment, etc. has to be paid for by some source John.

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I remember looking at my medical bills,and thank god for insurance because by now I am up to about a half a million dollars if not more. They charged me 345.00for 2 tylenol at NYU, thats ridiculous, insurance comes in hand, even though mine stinks…{Its an HMO}  Self-explanatory…lol

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345.00for 2 tylenol

That’s outrageous!  And people wonder why health insurance is so expensive. The hospitals overcharge! Shirls

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Actually, if this is really documented, you should forward this to your insurance company and bring to their attention. There is NO way in HELL any doctor or hospital could justify this cost, and it is illegal, the problem is the insurance company gets SO many bill submissions, they don’t have the time to scrutinize each one. I’d bust the fuckers personally, Grundman – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I remember looking at my medical bills,and thank god for insurance because by now I am up to about a half a million dollars if not more. They charged me 345.00for 2 tylenol at NYU, thats ridiculous, insurance comes in hand, even though mine stinks…{Its an HMO}  Self-explanatory…lol

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For someone WITHOUT US medical insurance in the US, what sort of cost is one looking at for crohns type surgery. (ie ostomy) Mike

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It varies by region, by Dr., by hospital, and by your own condition. I never saw my surgeon’s bills for the five surgeries I had. I did see the hospital bill (no Dr. charges) for my first 6 week stay (I was really sick) was over $50,000. This was in an area with a low cost of living. My room charge (no services) was over $150 a day for my latest operation. That was in a higher cost city. If you get price quotes from people remember there are a variety of different types of charges — usually billed separately. The biggies are Dr. charges (surgeon, pre-op physical, anestitist, x-ray reading, etc.) Hospital charges (room and board) Supplies charges, ET nurse charges. You get billed for every single moment a medical professional even thinks about you and every single supply used on you. One of my favs is how they charge you for meals when you aren’t even allowed to eat or drink before and immediately after surgery! Reportedly some Dr.s will reduce their charges if you are uninsured. Hospitals rarely reduce charges. Some states now offer state insurance for the uninsured. Have you checked with your state? Barbara Skoglund For someone WITHOUT US medical insurance in the US, what sort of cost is one looking at for crohns type surgery. (ie ostomy) Mike

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I currently sell individual life insurance and have sold individual life and health insurance.  If you have the ability to get on a group healt plan thru your employer or your spouse’s DO IT! (This is asuming that you currently don’t have any health insurance – if you do have it, KEEP IT AT ALL COSTS.) Unfortunately, if you aren’t on  a group plan of any sort, individual health insurance is going to be next to impossible to obtain.  That doesn’t mean you’ll never find any, but what it does mean is that when you do find it, It’ll cost an arm and a leg.  If you or anyone else would like help in I’ll see what I can do for you. Good wishes… Mike

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