I had colon resection at Cedar’s Sinai on 2/4/21 due to a very large diverticulum that was hitting my Fallopian tube and ureter. So it has been 2 1/2 months and I have had various problems. The pain on the right side where the robot entered has subsided, but off and on, my whole stomach area aches, especially where the main 1” incision to remove the diseased section is. My main concern has been the pencil thin soft stools,
for which I have to strain to evacuate. It comes and goes and sometimes for a day or so, I have almost normal bowel movements, but ar least 4 to 5 times a day, once in a while very suddenly, almost incontinent.
My surgeon said muscle spasms in my rectum could have been triggered by the surgery and prescribed a compounded gel to insert as well as fairly hot sitz baths. Did not help so he referred me to a rectal physical therapist (really), who recommended more frequent Kegel excercises and special massages of the colon to encourage relaxation and movement.
He also said to increase my Benefiber intake and I read somewhere to mix it with applesauce or peanut butter, not drinking liquids for at least an hour.
However, every time I try to eat fairly normal food, I revert back to the pencil thin stools. The surgeon now said there is a very slight possibility that I have a structure where the colon was stapled back together. Hope not!! Not another surgery! It does not seem likely since I sometimes have a normally formed stool. I am having a special rectal MRI (defecography?) on 6/25 to see what is going on. It will show problems in all areas of the colon.
Am I being too impatient, expecting fairly normal bowel movements, or at least a steady improvement?