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Rectovaginal fistula after rectal radiotherapy

Colorectal Cancer | Last Active: Mar 12 12:49pm | Replies (16)

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@verol65

Update
Last Monday morning, I had a 3-hour-long period of going to the bathroom with light BMs. Tuesday evening and night were five hours of the same, at the end, the BMs turned to liquid. The skin of my butt cheeks and of the vulva was terribly irritated. I ended up calling my surgeon after midnight. Still I had a few mor trips to the bathroom during the night and early morning.

When I called my surgeon, he suggested going back to the hospital, but I would not have it. So he told me to take a fairly strong analgesic I had at home and see him at 8 in the morning. Since I had barely slept, I got in touch with him at that time and explained I could not make it. He was leaving on holidays, so he set me an appointment with his fellow surgeon who had operated on me together with him. I saw that second surgeon early in the afternoon. He took out my abdominal drain, examined me, noted a very inflammed hemorrhoid, and changed my meds to try to regulate my BMs. He called my problem: Low Anterior Resection Syndrome (LARS).

Since then, I had a soft BM on Friday, then since Saturday, I've had periods of about 6 BMs, well-formed and firm, but small, and because of the hemorrhoid, they hurt. I'm also never sure that another BM is not coming. In a way, I'm better, because the urgency is less as to going to the bathroom, no more ardor of the skin, but pain from the hemorrhoid and not being able to push out the BMs.

I've messaged the second surgeon earlier today to explain what's going on and if there's something I could do to make it easier. He's not answered yet.

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Replies to "Update Last Monday morning, I had a 3-hour-long period of going to the bathroom with light..."

What an ordeal. I'm glad you persisted eventhough you were in such a horrible state. You might find these related discussions about LARS helpful:
- Dealing with LARS (low anterior resection syndrome)
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/dealing-with-lars/
.
- Looking for a Low anterior resection syndrome (LARS) specialist
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/lars-any-specialists-here/
How are you doing today?