If you’re facing the prospect of surgery, one of the best ways to cope with your concerns or fears is to understand exactly why a particular procedure is required (or recommended), and what to expect before, during, and after the operation.
First, it is important to grasp the fact that surgery for IBD is not the “last ditch” treatment. Like medication and nutritional approaches, it represents another important therapeutic option. For many people with IBD, surgery can result in a healthier, more active lifestyle. Indeed, for those with ulcerative colitis, surgery to remove diseased intestinal tissue actually represents a “cure.” Crohn’s disease, on the other hand, cannot be eradicated by an operation. However, surgery can relieve symptoms and thereby vastly improve the quality of life.
Medical treatment is definitely the preferred first line of treatment. But when it no longer keeps your disease under control, then surgery is the way to go for long-term relief of symptoms. Surgery may also reduce or completely eliminate the need for ongoing use of medication.
When you are confronted with the need for surgery (assuming that it is not an emergency), use all available resources to arrive at the decision that’s right for you. In addition to speaking with your gastroenterologist and surgeon, talk to people who have already undergone an operation. After you have gathered as much information as possible on each procedure, you are in a good position to decide which one will best improve the quality of your life. Once you have had the operation, you may even wish that you had made this choice earlier. Many people suffer needlessly because they have tried to avoid surgery at all costs.
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