I'm hopefully going to have ileostomy surgery soon for my IBS-C. Actually I'm excited the have it fixed but nervous about little things like having a catheter in the hospital and how my skin will react to the pouching equipment. Plus, my Tourette's will most likely make the equipment drive me insane having something stuck to me 24/7.

I want to get the surgery done this year if I can, but it mostly depends on when my dad has enough work vacation saved up since the surgery will be about 3 hours away and I'll be in the hospital for a bit. I definitely have to make a doctor appointment on Monday since last night I got my first "lady issue" (don't know if that topic is cool to talk about on here?) in 8+ years on the shot. Freaked me out and I can only think it would be related to the IBS-C somehow since my next shot should be another 2 months away.

So many cramps. So many stupid reasons for having them.

Anyway, if anyone has any advice or personal experiences they're willing to share about surgeries and this sort of stuff, I could use all the knowledge I can get!

I've had 4 surgeries. Three were C-Sections, and I was awake through them. The other was a laparoscopic cholecystectomy to remove my gallbladder. That was under general anesthesia. I haven't had complications with any of them and my recoveries all went pretty smoothly. Any problems I've had were related to being pregnant and not the surgery. After your surgery, I'd try to keep a balance with both the pain meds and being active. Don't be afraid to use the meds, but try to not get too dependent on them or use them for too long. Start moving around a little as soon as the dr says it's ok, but don't go all out at once. Sorry, but that's about all I've got. Good luck! Hope the surgery goes well for you and clears up your problems. I had some bowel issues with this last pregnancy, and it sucked. I can't imagine it being chronic.

I've had 4 surgeries, 2 on my nose (respiratory problems), a breast reduction and a gallbladder removal. The scariest part is the anesthesia because you can sometimes feel your arm getting number and number, then poof, you're sleeping. It's very weird to wake up in a different place than the one you "slept" in, but other than that having a surgery and staying at a hospital have been good experiences.

Good luck with your surgery <3

What I can honestly say from my own experiences with surgery is that it's never as worse as you think it's going to be. I psyched myself up so bad for a couple of procedures I had (getting my wisdom teeth out, having a thyroid procedure, etc) that I made myself sick. But then when I actually went through each thing, it was fine. No problems.

I can relate to the money issues too. I want so badly to have breast reduction surgery because my neck, shoulders, and back are always hurting and to have a few moles removed for cosmetic reasons, but both procedures are hellishly expensive. I need the money for things like my car, my phone, and you know, food, so that's not happening.

The only advice I would give, is that if you're going to be under any kind of anesthesia, and they tell you to not eat for an hour or a day or whatever beforehand, listen to them.