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Gas & Gurgling
I was diagnosed with colon cancer in April 2021 and had surgery in May 2021 to remove two cancerous tumors, which fortunately did not spread. A colon resection was done. My question ... it seems that ever since then, I have increased gas and my stomach frequently makes noise. I also notice that my bowel movements are very loose, similar to diarrhea. Has anyone else experienced this? Thanks so much.
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Yes, but I didn't have a resection, I had my whole colon removed. This may not apply.
Now you don't state how much of your colon was removed. The major function of the colon is to remove liquid so that your stool is semi-solid, so if a portion was removed it will not do as good of a job because there's less of it.
I don't know if this would apply to you, but Mayo recommended a thick, barely drinkable slurry of Metamucil to help absorb the excess fluid. Frequency and amount will vary with the situation. I do a heaping teaspoon in 2-3 oz. of water usually 2 hours after meals and once overnight. The 2 hours offset is to not impact medications.
Again, I don't have any colon remaining, so this likely would require a lot less Metamucil. Note: it has to be a water-absorbing fiber supplement like Meta.
In your case, you should probably start with a small amount and adjust as needed. Also, you may want to run this by your medical team.
Hope this helps
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3 ReactionsAnd about the gas part... I found that some heavier cooking oils can cause the gas symptoms. Watching the fat intake and type may help.
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2 ReactionsThanks so much for your response.
I had about 2/5 of my colon removed. I actually had a colonoscopy today and thankfully, there was only one small polyp which was removed and did not appear to be malignant. I'll know for sure after the biopsy results.
Thank you again and I will consult with my doctor about the Metamucil.
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2 ReactionsAlso, there are foods that are more likely to provoke gases like dairy, cabbage, brocoli, cauliflower, onions, and beans. So you might want to avoid those. You could also check with your doctor about GasX or BeanO for controlling gases.
As for liquid stools, it's a matter of balancing soluble and insoluble fibers in a way that will work for you, probably by trial and error, although a (clinical) dietitian should be able to help you.
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1 ReactionI definitely have rhe gurgling!
My husband was diagnosed with colon cancer. He has the colostomy bag and goes for infusion chemo 2X month for 6 months.
He has a smell about him. Not a poop smell but a weird, awful chemical smell?! The smell will last and the whole house will smell. Not sure if he is emptying his bag correctly? or what the problem could be??