Constipation

I think that constipation can be the result of many reasons, too many to mention. Even if you are having some bowel movements it's never complete and you can feel that you're not empty which is very unpleasant. I take a medication that's know to cause constipation and not even laxatives are very helpful, I recently started using Metamucil, a fiber mixture you add to water, it's been around for many, many years and it's fairly helpful but even with the added fiber you still need to drink lots of water and eat lots of fiber in your food, starting with fruits and vegetables. It might take some time for things to go back to the way it was or perhaps it's a change within your own system, good that you've been for help to rule out any other possibilities, that should always be your first step, good luck with everything.

Also exercising can help with the motility of the colon; it can simply be walking half an hour daily.

Seems unusual. What is confusing to me is that the patient had a "total colectomy", but retained the ascending part of the colon. I don't understand a "total colectomy" that still has part of the ascending colon.

Typically after a total colectomy (which I had in 2021) one has the opposite problem of watery stools because there's no colon to absorb the liquid and make the stool semi-solid. In my case, they connected the end of the small intestine to the rectum.

Second, after a total colectomy there is no buffer space in the colon and one requires more frequent trips to the toilet.

Whether a total or partial colectomy, Metamucil or equivalent is a suggested therapy. For a partial colectomy, the fiber helps keep stuff moving. For a full colectomy, it's recommended to absorb the liquid and tighten it up.

One other thing - keep in mind that we're not medical professionals on this site, we're patients with real patient experiences.

At the age of 13, this patient suffered from chronic constipation until presently age (21). It’s unusual because the colon has been removed however the patient is still dependent on laxatives.

Patient has been walking approximately 2000-5000 steps daily. Adequate water & fruits but in results the patient is unable to have a bowel movement despite prior treatment of colectomy.

Patient consumed adequate amount of water, 2000-5000 steps daily, tried few medications such as linzess, amitiza, trulence & motegrity which didn’t help that the leave with no option other than total colectomy however after the surgery it’s the same issue as before. It’s been 8 months since the surgery had done and it’s getting worse.

I too was puzzled by the apparent incongruence between "total colectomy" and still having the ascending colon.
Question for you, @rjjacobsen : in a total colectomy do they remove the sygmoid and rectum too?

Apparently the transverse, descending and sigmoid colon was remove not the ascending colon.

I’m sorry my message didn’t help but you are doing all the right things especially getting a medical professional involved. In your case a lot has been done with no change and that’s terrible, please don’t give up the fight because sometimes it takes forever to get the best treatment and results.

In my case, which was considered a "total colectomy", Mayo connected the end of the small intestine to the rectum. Removed the cecum through the sigmoid section. My cancer was mainly before and at the splenic flexure, but the sigmoid section was so messed up with diverticula, they took it out too.

So, that would mean a TC doesn't include the rectum, but I'm just reporting what they told me.

Hope this helps.