Scar tissue after colon resection causing bowel obstruction

Yes, it does help. Thank you.

I was thrilled to find this group. My mother had colon cancer in 2000 and the prognosis was not good. She is alive 25 years later but has suffered from terrible repeat bowel blockages that have gotten worse and worse. She had a surgery for adhesions in 2023 and it helped somewhat. We have had conflicting dietary advice throughout the years and the regime has gotten increasingly complex (too complex for an 85 year old to manage) so she has been in an out of hospital since the summer. Finally someone looked at her scans and noticed the blockages were always at the same site (where here colon was reattached) and that her colon leading up to that site was so stretched and enlarged. She is having a colonoscopy today and hopefully they can stretch the scar tissue. While we are so grateful she survived beyond the initial prognosis, the time since then has been marked by worry, middle of the night trips to the hospital, and many many many family conversations about diet, etc. Also, she is at the point where she needs to go into a senior’s facility and they don’t cater to low fibre diets. Is there anyone who is an expert in managing a low residue diet to help us with all the conflicting lists and advice out there? (Although i am so hopeful that today’s colonoscopy will make this request redundant).

@teexx
Good evening Teexx,
My name is Jofree and I am 80 years on top: I have a permanent colostomy since 1999, have experienced innumerable hours in various hospitals, my Wife Cecilia at my side always and through it all, I am still here. Consuming foods with hi fiber is always a challenge and one of the things that we do, my wife and counseling at the Mayo clinic, learned that eating several small meals a day is much easier on a compromised gut. Enteritis and scar tissue have been challenges but nevertheless, we're still in the game.
Don't give up; share with your mom that attitude and a mindset of appreciation for what she dose have, still on top, everyone has challenges. My wife and I resist our age and challenges and just keep moving. Stay engaged with life and appreciate the small things all around you. One can never change their challenges but they can resist them to the very end. It's not easy, but by sharing her experiences with others may actually prove beneficial to her well being.
We ride bike daily, three wheeled bikes, no falling, recumbent style and we see so much inspiration each and every day. Old age is not for the fainthearted: Your mom has survived thus far, who knows how many miles yet stand before her? Just keep keeping on. Jofree

@jofree thank you for your encouragement. I will pass all that on to her.

@teexx
Good morning Teexx,
Thank you for responding: It is always so appreciated. If your Mom is still engaged with our current times perhaps you could share that I would be most happy to communicate directly with her. My Dad lived to be 90 years and my grandparents, mothers side lived to be 102 years and still walking about.
And, I also forgot to wish you and yours a most grateful Thanksgiving holiday: Being grateful for what we do have and are still able to do is so empowering. We wish the best for all of you and you're in our prayers.
Write anytime...
Jofree

Hi Jofree,

I hope you and your wife had a wonderful Thanksgiving! I appreciate your kind offer. I will suggest that to my mother and see if she is comfortable reaching her out. At this point, her main concern is navigating diet (she is almost purely on fibre free Boost). We are from Canada and are hoping to connect with an expert in diet. Did you come across anyone you would consider an expert in this field (we’ve spoken to many hospital dietitians but we get conflicting advice). Thank you again for your encouragement and offer of connection,

Tee

@teexx you are right, so much conflicting advice…we’ll-meaning nutritionist urged me to eat too much too soon…. Just have had to eat smaller meals with simpler foods, trying to balance nutrition gently, and trying to avoid pre diabetes, etc….basically I learned to not overload my system, to truly hydrate, and now and then eat less or soft diet if my gut told me to …wishing you good healing and health.

@teexx
Hello Ms. Tee,
Thank you for your kind words. All of my medical experiences were at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida. I consulted regularly with the holistic unit and several dieticians who specialized in homeopathic remedies' and non-traditional diets were a valuable source for my wife and I. All at this Mayo.
Eating more than three small meals per day helped initially, I ate about five small meals per day for about 5 years. We juiced our vegetables and did not eat the skins of any foods. Slowly, my compromised gut was able to adapt to many different foods. Of course in smaller amounts. And exercise, plenty of capable exercise depending on ones mobility and ambulation capabilities; even somethings as simple as lifting a book, slowly above your head, lifting your legs several times if your chair or bed bound, any movement at all will benefit circulation which has an overall affect on ones attitude.
Attitude at our age, I believe, is as crucial as treatments, or other remedies within our reach. For most individuals over 80, that is kind of all that we have. I am still extremely active, work out every day and watch what I eat. I volunteer my experiences with cancer at nursing homes, hospitals, and now that covid is hiding about, whenever an opportunity presents itself, a one on one conversation with any individuals in nursing homes or veterans hospital. Helping others is so rewarding and a blessing beyond descriptions. I hope some of this writing helps.
Best to all, Jofree

Thank you for sharing your experiences. It sounds like you have been on quite the journey and are thriving. So lovely to hear. Thank you for your advice and support.

Best

Tee

Good morning to everyone who is or has been apart of this discussion. Hoping for some information from @colleenyoung regarding possible GI procedures available to rough Mayo. I’ve had Crohn’s disease for 42 years. One resection due to a trauma accident not Crohn’s. Two anasamosis sites with extensive scar tissue have cause large and small partial obstructions this year. I was originally told I could have the balloon dilation procedure once a month for 4-6 months. After the initial dilation I felt amazing but it only lasted 8 weeks. Then I was told I can’t have the dilation procedure again and i misunderstood what was said. I’ve been researching what other procedures could be performed to open up the structure in the colon at the anastamosis site. My GI doctor requested the medical research articles for this topic. I found a few of strictureplasy specifically in the colon and for Crohn’s disease to which he said it wasn’t for anastamotic sites. I do not believe I need a resection and that there are so many more options to try before this. I’m willing to get new insurance if need be to find a doctor that will help me with this. Any and all responses welcomed.
Kindly
Tara