I had 8 inches of colon removed for diverticulitis about 10-12 years ago and have never had a single issue since. It was laproscopic through my bellybutton, no scar and no colostomy bag. Went 7.5 days without solid food, was in the hospital 4 days and on good drugs there. Worst things were a) having a catheter for 2 days and b) taking the first dump after surgery.
If you're isn't laproscopic and they're opening you up, that sounds like potential colostomy bag which is not fun and I hope you can get away without that. Also, if they open your abdomen up, PLEASE take it easy on your recovery. Had a friend who pushed himself and had multiple hernia type issues including them re-opening him for some mesh net/screen inside him to help it heal.
All in all, whatever discomfort you have is very temporary and worth feeling much better for a long time after, GL.
Thanks for sharing your experience.
This is planned Laparoscopic. About 5" length of colon. An incision above the naval with 2 smaller incisions off to the side. Surgeon reserves right during the surgery to convert to a full open surgery.
Plan includes a 4 day stay & a month away from work.
Surgeon has been doing this a long time and seems very confident in a good outcome. However, I'm a fat mofo which isn't ideal. I think DK has me at -110 for survival.
Not to scare anyone off a colonoscopy because what happened to me was super rare, but on the second one I had as they clipped a polyp, it was too close to the wall and ended up tearing later that day. Extreme pain, had to be taken to the hospital for emergency surgery with a mortality rate higher than you would want (26%). They also went in through the belly button, no scar, I was in the hospital I think 3 days. They just decided to cut out the section with the tear so the "seams" (I know they didn't call it this but I don't know how to describe it) would be cleaner and stronger. I've never had a single problem with it. I was back at work the following week. It sounds like yours will be a larger section, but I hope your recovery is just as smooth.
I've had follow up colonoscopy appointments since then with no problems, except that they do their job and find these precancerous polyps before they grow into something worse. My family has history with it, and thankfully I started early (I think 39 or so) because I've had polyps each time. Colonoscopy is not a scary thing, it saves lives so please don't avoid it! (That was for people I may have scared with my rare story - my doctor said he'd done thousands of those operations and had never had that happen).
