How to Help a Friend Who Undergoes a Bowel Resection

One of the greatest fears of Crohn's patients is the day the doctor says there is a blockage. Blockages form from scar tissue left behind from repeated Crohn's flare-ups. They may also occur when scar tissue develops near the sight of a previous bowel resection.

The only way to clear a complete bowel obstruction is through surgery. Surgery on your intestines, large or small, is not comfortable. It isn't comfortable to endure. It isn't comfortable to talk about, and it takes a lengthy recovery.

In 2001, my best friend had a bowel resection. This after many misdiagnoses of what her medical problem was. Crohn's is often difficult to diagnose, although medical advances and testing have made the early detection and diagnoses somewhat easier since 2001.

Prior to being told she needed a bowel resection, my friend had her gall bladder and appendix removed. Surely, that would stop her gut pain, but it didn't. They referred her out to an OBGYN. It must be a female problem since removal of the gall bladder and appendix didn't affect her condition. They did a hysterectomy. Two surgeries and three body parts removed and the pain persisted.

She was hospitalized by a gastroenterologist who wanted her on bed rest and a soft liquid diet. He did nothing else for her. After four days and feeling she was about to die, she walked out of the hospital. You wouldn't blame her if you knew the pain, nausea, fatigue, and general since of illness that accompanies Crohn's and ulcerative colitis.

Practically on her death bed, and that is said without exaggeration, she found a gastroenterologist through the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America who was able to diagnose her problem and help her begin to work toward wellness.

The first step was to pump her stomach. Everything she had been eating was backing up into her stomach and even her esophagus. Very little liquefied food was able to pass through the restricted small bowel (also known as the ileum). According to my friend, this was one of the worst experiences of her life, but had this doctor not identified the problem and pumped the food and build-up of toxins out of her system she may have died.

At this point, she had a significant, though not complete, obstruction that required complete bed rest, complete bowel rest, extensive treatment with prednisone, and the beginning of a heavy regiment of 5-ASA medication.

Bed rest equals isolation. If you have a friend on bed rest for Crohn's or ulcerative colitis pay them a visit. Because they are prone to frequent flare-ups they often develop the mindset that no one cares, or they are a burden. A short visit will remind your friend that you care and that you are available should they need you.

Prednisone equals moon-face, weight gain, irritability, fatigue...you name the side effect and prednisone can cause it. It is a steroid with powerful anti-inflammatory qualities. Side effects can really get a Crohn's or colitis patient down, depressed, even suicidal. Your role as a friend at this time is to ensure that they make it through their treatment regime.

It's also good to check up and make sure they are taking their medications. Sometimes the sheer number of pills, fatigue, and pain medication combines to cause the Crohn's or ulcerative colitis patient to forget to take their medication. Help your friend by placing pills in a container labeled morning, noon, afternoon, and night.

The time eventually came when the restricted portion of my friend's small bowel became completely blocked. She knew the symptoms, the backed up feeling in your stomach and throat. An upper and lower G.I. test, which should have taken no more than two hours, confirmed the restriction as the technicians watched the barium remain isolated in one part of her ileum for up to six hours.

It was time for surgery. Surgery went well, but recover in the hospital alone was fourteen days or more.

When you have a friend who has a resection it is important to visit as often as you can. Don't be surprised if your friend doses off and on while you are there. Patients who have had a bowel resection are usually brought from surgery with a morphine pump. They may also have a pouch that releases medicine directly to the affected area.

From morphine, other high-powered pain relievers like Toridal, Hydrocodone, Oxycodone, Percodan, Oxycontin, Vicoden, or similar drugs. The drug they receive depends on hospital policy. Regardless of what drug it is, please, understand that your friend under the influence of the medication may not remember your visit, may say things out of character, or may do things he or she would not otherwise do in your presence. The best thing to do is overlook this and not bring it back up later. It is embarrassing to Crohn's and ulcerative colitis patients to know that they acted a little wacky when they were on medication.

One way you can help with medication is by watching for allergic reactions of which the patient may be unaware. My friend was not aware of an allergy to Toridal. Once she was in the room and coherent, she complained of a constant itch. She thought it was the pressurized pads that help prevent blood clots. She didn't realize she had the itching problem all day. As an observer, I was able to recognize the potential allergic reaction. You may be able to do the same for your friend who has had surgery and cannot think clearly or coherently due to medication.

As they recover, continue hospital visits. I've seen many Crohn's and ulcerative colitis patients who had visitors immediately following the surgery, usually when the patient was out of it. As time wears on, visitors decrease. Help keep your friends spirits lifted by visiting as often as possible. If you can't visit call or send a card. The hospital will see that it is delivered to the correct room.

Think of other little things to lift the patient's spirits. Send flowers or pick fresh flowers. Most hospitals have VHS or DVD players. Bring in fun movies.

Laughter is the best medicine. I can remember sitting with my friend who has a severe case of Crohn's following her bowel resection. We watched a Christian comedian and laughed until we cried. Nurses were coming in off the hall to find out what was so funny. As it turns out, they hung around and had a few laughs, too.

A Crohn's patient who has had a bowel resection cannot eat anything solid for a while, as the ileum heals, so don't bring food that may tempt the patient. Ingesting food will only prolong the healing process and the hospitalization.

Once your friend is moved to a liquid diet, pick up her favorite Jello or favorite flavor of Popsicles for a surprise treat. When his or her diet is elevated to soft liquids, prepackaged puddings are appreciated. Sure, the patient can get hospital food most anytime, but it is hospital food.

Once your friend is able to leave the hospital, continue with follow-up. Sometimes family gets tired. Prepare a meal, with the Crohn's patient in mind, which the entire family can enjoy. Take time to visit at home with your friend. If visitors dwindled at the hospital, they will dwindle even more when the patient is home.

Lastly, and no less important, continue to be sensitive to fatigue and bowel irregularities. The recovery process from a bowel resection can take a while. Your friend may look healthier than they actually are. Don't expect the Crohn's patient to pick up and be ready to cook, clean, travel, or even get out right away. Let your friend tell you when he or she feels up to venturing out. Maybe, until then, you can help with some of the household chores.

Remember, a bowel resection for a Crohn's patient does not heal the disease. More often than not, once a Crohn's patient has had surgery once, they will need it again at some point. The disease tends to pick up where it was removed and keep moving into the colon. This may be a lingering concern for your friend with Crohn's.

I wouldn't recommend being the one to bring it up in conversation. It may or may not happen, and it may be years away if it does. Just keep this in the back of your mind, because you can bet it is in the back of your friend's mind.

Pay attention and remain sensitive, regardless of how long the healing process takes. You'll never have a more dear or grateful friend than the one you stick with through major surgery, such as a bowel resection.