Chronic pains after right hemicolectomy

Hi Ana,
I had a right hemicolectomy in 2016, stage 1 cancer. Did you have a laparoscopically surgery? I needed to take stool softeners in order to keep things moving after the surgery. I do not have any pain now except when I haven’t had a bowel movement in a couple of days. I will get a deep pain or uncomfortableness in the left side. A bowel movement tends to relieve that.

I take a magnesium supplement now that helps keep me regular, but I will take stool softeners if I occasionally get constipated.

Have you had a colonoscopy since your surgery? I have one every 3 years. My one last year showed my sigmoid colon “stretched out” due to the constipation and now I have a loop (called a redundant colon). I think that is where my pain comes from when I have not had a bm in a couple of days.

A right hemicolectomy is a shit surgery. You get your valve taken out. You 100% have sibo forever. Get on an antibiotic.

Looking for advice. I had a right hemicolectomy on June 30 2025 to remove precancerous lesion. Surgeon preformed laparoscopic robotic surgery removing 14 inches. After three days I developed fever,could not eat,gained 10 pounds and had severe pain. On postoperative day 5, CT scan revealed “ leakage” at the anastomosis site. The bowel had adhered to scar tissue over the years so I was opened up for traditional surgery that day.
I was one three different IV antibiotics,nasogastric tube,total parental nutrition,magnesium,potassium……seven IVs for the duration of my 13 day hospital stay.
On day 14 I was released to home with a caregiver and on home antibiotic infusion four times daily through a midline for two more weeks. To make it worse my abdominal incision dehissed on day two after suture removal.
I was never advised on diet or probiotics,but after a month of antibiotics I began taking Probiotic and eating soft foods. By middle September I felt good,normal again,no diarrhea,no constipation.
Then on September 28 I developed a low grade fever, pain and swelling lower right quadrant. I assumed my appendix had been removed during surgery since I was so full of infection,but it was classic signs of appendicitis . It was the weekend. On Monday morning I called my surgeons office and no one could tell me if my appendix had been removed so I was instructed to go to ER for CT scan and blood work.
Impression from CT scan suggested enterocolitis. Nothing was done. I was sent home with no treatment. I have called my surgeons office twice and my GP twice for help and no one has returned my calls. I still have low grade fever, the pain has moved from the right lower quadrant to the left side.
Has anyone experienced enterocolitis? I’ve read that heavy antibiotic use can cause it, but how can I get rid of it. The doctors don’t seem concerned so I’m living on Ibuprofen and gasX

Oh and BTW I have no appendix. I have lost the 10 pound water weight as well as an additional 30 pounds due to inability to eat much

@hallo643

They don't necessarily remove the ileocecal valve ( that's the valve you're referring to, between the terminal ileum and the caecum if it's not damaged or close to the malignant growths in your colon for which they are doing the surgery. I had a hemicolectomy three years ago ( for a stage II adenocarcinoma on the right side of my colon near the hepatic junction). They removed my caecum ( not the ileocecal valve), ascending colon and as much of the transverse colon as needed to get good cancer-free margins from the cancer. It was an endoscopic surgery and I recovered well, with GI function within a normal range at this point. I do take probiotics, but never needed any antibiotics after the surgery.

It's inexcusable that you not supported by caring doctors. So many health issues and no answers. Keep busting heads until you get the help you need. Please keep us informed of your progress!!! If hugs help I'm sending one to you.

@lauramae3 thank you for the hug.
This is why people turn to Google for answers if their doctors cant answer questions. I am not one to run to a doctor for every little sneeze. I quit taking the ibuprofen for the pain because I believe the fever is a way of the body to heal itself and the ibuprofen takes away the fever. At this point it doesnt feel like an emergency situation anymore so it can’t possibly go on forever,so its a wait and see I guess.

As long as the fever doesn't come and go frequently. I hope you get the answers to your health issues sooner than later. There is always the worry aspect. Keep us updated.

@lkc12345 first, my heart goes out to you…one thing I learned through all this tsouris is if something doesn’t feel right, get on it as soon as possible..keep at it and get medical help—these things can really ‘’go south’ fast, something we all wish to avoid ! Best of luck !

Thank you all for your support. No fever last night or this evening. Pain has subsided considerably unless I cough. Still bloated but whatever this was I feel like I’m on the backside of it. Still have not heard from my surgeon or GP which is discouraging to say the least. Still eating bland foods and small portions but making sure I get my protein. I’m perplexed.