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Living with long-term bowel side effects post anal cancer treatment
Colorectal Cancer | Last Active: Sep 24 3:10pm | Replies (43)Comment receiving replies
My cancer was rectal which included a partial sigmoid colon resection along with the rectum and radiation. A classic case of low anterior resection syndrome. I try to limit my movements to what is in the descending colon but am not very successful. I am surprised that you are not getting more uninterrupted sleep. Is this because of unpredictable diarrhea bouts?
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I had the whole of sigmoid and rectum removed The descending colon was brought down to form a J loop and anal canal was attached to the base of the J.So as per physiology both the storage areas for the stools has been removed.So the descending colon which has an interrupted movement unlike the small bowel keeps emptying once in a few minutes depending on the consistency of the stools.As high fibre diet is essential for good gut health the evacuation is more.The large bowel movement is more at night and stools come into storage to evacuate in the mornings,which is our routine habit since child hood.So fragmentation frequency and the fibrosis of anal canal following radiation which has produced incontinence are all creating the challenge.Anyway I have learnt to live with it.Maybe more time to read while the others sleep and read in peace.I was a practicing Obstetrician for 45 years,so God trained me for so many years with interrupted sleep and got me ready for this ultimate phase of life.Thanks to HIM who knew what awaited me.