Problems months after colon resection surgery: What Helps?

I'm a 44 yo female and 2.5 months post sigmoidectomy from complicated diverticulitis, where I had an incomplete fistula and adhesions to my bladder and a perforated colon with abscess. I was in the hospital twice prior to this to since January, for 3-5 days each time , working to eradicate it with antibiotics.

Unfortunately, I have a metabolization issue with opioids, which means I don't experience any pain relief with them, but get incredibly sick when I take them (all of the bad but none of the good). So my pain post surgery was managed only with tylonal and ibuprofin - the most incredible pain of my life - like the final stage of childbirth with no breaks between contractions for days on end. I was wracked with pain, and wasn't able to move the surgical gas out even until something like day 5, despite hour long "shuffles" (hanging over a walker) around the ward. I mention this, because I wonder if this has caused some of the difficulty in recovering that I've experienced? When I left the hospital 7 days post surgery, it was against the OTs advice, as I wasn't able to walk more than 100 feet, and certainly not without a stroller. But I needed out, as I needed to be able to be in pain in private and was not receiving any help fr being in the hospital at all (The right decision, as at home I felt a little better by that evening).

So, rough time immediately post surgery. Along with that, I had a "tuck", like a couch cushion button, on the opposite side of my abdomen, in the upper right corner. It was *extremely* painful from day one after surgery (it felt like my guts were caught somehow and couldn't move where they needed to go). No explanation on what it was, but about 5-6 (?) weeks post surgery, it tore/released, which stopped the "caught" feeling and reduced the pain substantially. (More on that spot in a moment)

The recovery I have experienced doesn't look anything like what is expected in the literature they give you, nor anywhere online. Today, while I can walk about a mile at a rate of a 25 minute mile a few times a week, hills are really, really hard, and I am still very weak (have been doing physical therapy for a few weeks, which is limited to largely stretching still). My upper right stomach is hurting nearly as bad, if not as bad as right after surgery (just more focused), and as others have mentioned, feels like a hard ball that gets in the way if I bend, and has a stinging, sharp, crampy pain signature. BMs are fine, but several per day, and I when I have to pee, I have to pee right then!

I have to say, I have been extremely disheartened to have this recovery last so long, but have everything online sound like you are up and back to normal in 6 weeks. If I had better expectations set, I wouldn't have felt so bad about the recovery period. The (general) surgeon was not helpful in this regard - I can't help but think he doesn't actually talk to patients much during the actual recovery? My GP has no idea what to expect - I feel like I am blazing new ground on the recovery - surely someone could give a better roadmap? It's hard to know what is a serious issue, and what is just normal recovery, when there is nothing online and no resources to follow that match.

I guess my big question is - what did those of you who had the upper right pain (possibly "gallbladder" type pain?) experience in terms of recovery? How long did it last? What helped or didn't help? What was the cause for you?

Ironically, the actual connection point of my colon feels like it is healing as I would expect, and all of my external wounds healed at about 8 weeks (long because I was a little low on iron at 30 ug, after getting tested because my hair was falling out and I struggled to move easily at 7 weeks) - after a week and a half of iron supplements, I started feeling much better and my surgical wounds finally healed. I have about a 5-6" "zipper" over my belly button, 4 lap ports, and 2 drain ports (which was a hellish experience itself upon removal).

Am I alone in this crazy long healing experience, or are there others?

One thing I have discovered that has been amazing is silicone scar sheets - I've been using them for a few weeks now, and they are really reducing the external scarring it - visibly and tactically way better..

So, any advice to share?

I’m a 45 yr old female and I’m almost 4 months post sigmoidectomy. The best advice I received is that it’s not a linear recovery. I still have pain/setbacks. I’m hoping the 5 month mark is the turning point. I also have “pulling” pain as well as sharp pains and some nerve damage. It’s my understanding that all this can be normal but certainly speak with your physician. What has helped me the most is staying on a routine with - tons of water, kefir, fiber supplement, stool softener and peppermint tea. Certain foods still put me in agony so I take note of that when I try new things. I’m also pretty distended still - that is the worst part for me and I’ve not figured out how to solve that issue. This group has really helped me through this unexpected lengthy recovery - I hope you find some answers. Hang in there!!!

Thank you! That helps a lot. I do have a call into the surgeon for a follow up, but don't expect much more than a 2 minute appointment where he says it's all fine with no explanation. I'll try upping my water and fibre intake to see if it helps. I really appreciate hearing a story of someone ahead on the path. Thanks!

@cdnmom Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. How discouraging to expect a certain time frame for recovery, only to find out that is not the case. You picked a great conversation to be a part of.

Have you asked your physician if they can check for gallstones? They have done studies that show an increase of gallstones and gallbladder disease in patients who have had stomach/intestinal surgeries.

Not yet, but I will ask when I next see him. I will say that I increased my water intake to the maximum amount I could tolerate, and that seemed to help (thanks for the tip!) . Also, nearly exactly at the three month mark, my stomach finally released the stiffness it had had since surgery, and I had a few days of it being soft and palpable. I immediately added in exercise probably too quickly, and noticed that on this fourth day it has stiffened again a little bit, but it’s still better than it was. So there’s one story for those searching about how quickly you can expect recovery. In terms of how far along my recovery is, I can walk about one or two miles flat right now (hills continue to slay me), I’m allowed to do five minutes on the bike, and my physiotherapy still looks mostly like stretches. But I’m feeling pretty good.

Jacob, I believe that 3" incision is where they removed the colon and not for the robotic arm. With the robot OR with regular Lap surgery the scope usually goes through the belly button, which for me was very bruised and still is after 3 months.

I too had a sigmoidectomy op - 20th November 2020 due to a severe stricture from UC... my recovery has been nothing like I was lead to believe. Prior to surgery I was reasonably fit and was as prepared as I could be for my surgery (in hindsight there was so much information I wasn’t told prior - that I should have been told - eg - nerve endings being damaged / urinary issues / pelvic pain - the list goes on). Follow up post op has been non existent and a joke.. a phone call 6 weeks after. I either have chronic runny stools or constipation, a bloated gut (I could pass for 7 months pregnant) revolting smelling gas which my poor family have to live with - they never complain . All wonderful different sorts of pain - mainly at the resection sight - the pain I have been experiencing the last week is constant and if I stretch or move the wrong way the pain is a 10/10 - takes my breath away. I never know how much pain I am supposed to deal with - what’s normal and what’s not. I have been back to my GP - a couple of times - had a CT scan about 3 weeks ago and everything looked normal - on the outside i suppose. Nothing feels normal - everyday I am anxious and stressed about what the day will bring -how much pain will I have to deal with / will I be near a public toilet / what happens if I need to pass wind (it’s like an explosion - nothing discreet about it) .. I have been walking for about 45 minutes a day - everything I’ve researched has advised to undertake physical activity...I just want my normal life back - none of this is what I expected... 🥲.. I just want a normal bowel motion once a day and to be pain free and not pain every time I am doubled over in pain...this is so frustrating - coming up to 9 weeks post surgery..

Just a follow up a week later.. I took someone else's advice and even though my bowel movements are quite regular and of no concern, I decided to add LaxaDay back into my daily routine. I'm happy to say that between that and more water, the gallbladder area pain has reduced to a more tolerable place, so that's great advice for anyone else experiencing that.

This is indeed a new normal. It's very clear that I won't be "bouncing back" anytime soon - this will be a slow, gradual recovery. So glad to be able to read through everyone else's stories so it doesn't feel so lonely and unexpected.

Hello I just registered and not sure how to navigate site yet. I wish to get feedback on some symptoms I just recently started having. Had bowel surgery due to scar tissue adhesions 11/13/20. I have been taking Linzess and a stool softener to keep things moving along. Years ago I had gastric bypass surgery which I believe caused the adhesions. Anyway I have been able to eat with no problems that is until 1/15/21. All of a sudden my inner stomach feels tender and sore inside as if I just had surgery. Sharp pain in lower left bottom stomach and passing gas doesn’t seem to relieve it. For a couple of days my right side near liver was extremely tender inside and when pressed on. I cannot sleep on my stomach or sides only on my back. Anyway experiencing this?

@riana1 - Welcome to Connect!
Your new pain and discomfort sound a bit worrisome and you should probably check with your doctor.