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Wife scared to get colostomy, do all the side effects really happen?

Posted by Roger @logsdon, Jun 29 12:29pm

Hello My wife is 69, has been constipated for decades, dyssergenic defecation, rectal hypersensitivity, etc. Basically the muscles DONT WORK! Has tried Everything, still getting worse, now to the point of half a miralax cleanout dose every 3 days which puts her in Bed for a day, and feeling lousy/pain/pressure the next 2 days. Afraid to eat so BMI~14 Neurogastroenterologist has suggested colostomy, but she is worried she's just trading in old problems for new ones.....
severe skin irritation
leakage (sometimes due to equipment failure)
dehydration/electrolyte imbalance
srtenosis,
recurrent pain the the anus
And that she still might have constipation.
How common are all of these things for you? How severe are they?
Thank you

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Roger | @logsdon | Jul 31 5:02pm
In reply to @logsdon "How many of you have stromg feeling to have BM? and how often? My wife is..." + (show)
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How many of you have stromg feeling to have BM? and how often? My wife is contemplating ostomy surgery to deal with her constipation. She also has very strong (she would say 'tormenting') feeling of pressure, needing to have a BM. Surgeon said the ostomy surgery would not correct that. In fact, Dr. Google seems to indicate that this is a common symptom post surgery. What is your experience?

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Thanks Susan,
the surgeon recommended colectomy and ostomy - I guess if he takes out her whole colon, it would be ileostomy.
did not mention APR, this is the first I have heard of it. what led the surgeon to go that route?

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Mentor
Susan F, Volunteer Mentor | @susanf8 | Aug 1 9:15am
In reply to @logsdon "Thanks Susan, the surgeon recommended colectomy and ostomy - I guess if he takes out her..." + (show)
Profile picture for Roger @logsdon

Thanks Susan,
the surgeon recommended colectomy and ostomy - I guess if he takes out her whole colon, it would be ileostomy.
did not mention APR, this is the first I have heard of it. what led the surgeon to go that route?

Jump to this post

@logsdon I have Crohn's disease, and a history of anal abscesses and fissures. I had the permanent ileostomy to remove my j-pouch, and had no plans to try that again. With a history of disease in the area there was no reason to leave the anus intact.

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jtntd | @jtntd | Aug 2 10:05am
In reply to @logsdon "How many of you have stromg feeling to have BM? and how often? My wife is..." + (show)
Profile picture for Roger @logsdon

How many of you have stromg feeling to have BM? and how often? My wife is contemplating ostomy surgery to deal with her constipation. She also has very strong (she would say 'tormenting') feeling of pressure, needing to have a BM. Surgeon said the ostomy surgery would not correct that. In fact, Dr. Google seems to indicate that this is a common symptom post surgery. What is your experience?

Jump to this post

I have the sensation, feeling of pressure, needing to have a BM, once a day every few days. I also have clear mucus from my anus every time I urinate. I was told both of these things are normal. I have a loop colostomy that is permanent. I had anal cancer in 2006, surgery got it all. After 18 years it came back and settled in the rectum. Surgery was not an option; colostomy was a necessity due to severe constipation and fecal incontinence. The colostomy has improved my quality of life. 15 months after chemo and radiation cancer is back again. The surgeon has recommended a pelvic evisceration, no guarantee they can get all of it. My thought is no thank you. I’m an holistic physician and herbalist. I do natural treatment when possible. Hope this helps you.

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