Problems months after colon resection surgery: What Helps?

Hi, I am sorry this is harder for you. I only have one main 1 inch incision where the diseased colon was removed and 5 other little incisions that on the surface look good but sometimes hurt and my stomach is still distended. The colon massages my therapist has me doing help but sometimes my stomach feels sore. The massages are of the ascending, transverse and descending colon that runs in an upside down U, with the transverse colon running across right under the ribs and the two sides running up and down near the hips. It seems to help move things along. That and the Kegels and very deep breathing has helped. Have your doctor refer you to pelvic floor or rectum physical therapy and to a dietician to help you with what you can eat. Cream of wheat, applesauce, ground meats, canned green beans and canned fruits, white rice/mashed potatoes and lactose free drinks and foods seem to help me. And smaller, more frequent meals. The Culturelle probiotic and Benefiber help a lot and the enzymes from Whole Foods might help you with gas.
I had pain at the resection for a couple of months and it always went with gas and was told that even the pain right under my rib was from gas in the colon there. Felt like a heart attack once.

And don’t be depressed. The recovery from this fairly invasive surgery can take a long time, even a year or more. The internet makes you feel like you should be fine to go back to work in two weeks. NOT!

Hello, I had this surgery on my sigmoid colon on July 21st 2020. After, that, and 6 months of chemo I am coming upon a year. I have just about given up feeling normal again with all the bloating, gas, constipation, diarrhea, etc. Some of your testimonies have made me at least feel like I'm not alone. I know one of you said after two years you now feel normal. I don't know if I have another 13 months left in me. I'm 44, still out of work, off chemo just about 3 months. I don't know how to adjust to this with unpredictable embarrassing bowel issues that will certainly interfere with my work. I will say this is the first place where I have found others like me talking about this. Thank you.

Thanks for your reply, Lacy. I am able to sustain my life fortunately. I miss everything else about it though. I felt fine one day, then in a matter of hours my life changed. They tell me it will get better, but I think that's just what people say.

Hello @brian77 and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I am so glad you have found this group to normalize your feelings and realize you are not alone in your journey post colon surgery. Reaching out for support when recovery doesn't go like you may have thought is actually a really big step so bravo on that note.

What are the main pain points of this process that you would like to connect with other members on to support you?

I would like to know if it actually does get better after the surgery or am I stuck in some uncomfortable, and unreliable shell of my former self. Because i have been cleared of cancer, but do not feel as celebratory as I should. I feel poorly altered.

I heard the pain and discomfort cld be associated with something called adhesion and laser treatment is prefered.
I wondered why is abdominal surgery so full of drastic aftermath for everyone😱

I’ve finally got a date for my surgery 7/14/21! In Texas! A precancer polyp in appendix (the appendeceal orifice , going up into colon. So if no cancer cells then I’m free to go home in a couple days! But if reeection then a long recovery.. I’m 83I’ve written in here before. Thank you and others for your experience! It’s very scary... at my age. But so many thanks!!!!

Fabulous, Bonnie. Finally. Any questions as you prepare for surgery?

Thank you, I do still have questions but I’ve asked surgeon and he’s answered re: the procedure..?I still do not understand why such a huge gap in each surgeons opinion on the polyps, how many?? And the mass in colon concerning malignancy (Aug. 2020!) with no other cancer tests? The reports varied so much, it has left me still feeling very vulnerable. The surgeon doing the surgery does have my trust... and convinced me the polyp has to be removed. The ‘mass’ still seems to be a mystery.. if it’s really a mass or a mistake..by Radioligy.. or hidden in orifice. Will make all the difference in my recovery period, if it’s truly there. Thank you.