1. < Colorectal Cancer

Problems months after colon resection surgery: What Helps?

Posted by joyce1 @joyce1, Feb 25, 2017

Three months after colon resection I had a severe stomach cramp this morning and have not had a bowel movement yet. This is the first time this has happened. So far things have been good.

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lsdd13 | @lsdd13 | Jun 3, 2022
In reply to @tracilynn1969 "I had surgery April 6, 2022. I had my sigmoid colon removed due to diverticulitis and..." + (show)
@tracilynn1969

I had surgery April 6, 2022. I had my sigmoid colon removed due to diverticulitis and severe infection. I had been sick for about 6 weeks but kept thinking my body would fix itself. I’m 53yo healthy female….at least until then. I had open surgery and I’m still having pain at the incision site. I think I might have a hernia whicj might be causing some of the pain. I have a CT scan scheduled for 6/13. I am so frustrated! I am exhausted all the time. I am a massage therapist and am only able to do 2 or 3 massages a day now. Last night I was up most of the night and I had loose bowels and vomiting. I have felt nauseous all day. I was able to get through my work day and make it home to rest. I’m tired of feeling like this. I’m tired of complaining. I just want to feel normal again. My surgeon was wonderful but she just says I was very sick before surgery and had a major surgery and I’ll get there. I know my body and I know something isn’t right. I’m goin to start iron pills and magnesium citrate tm and D3. I don’t take any medications. When will I geel myself?

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I had surgery Nov 1 st and still am not back to where I was before. I’m 75 !
I’m not nauseous or in pain, but I evidently have incomplete emptying. I started Pelvic Floor Therapy and if no improvement I will have another test to see if I have a stricture. I’ve already had an ultrasound and a scan. My belly is always bloated. Very frustrating!

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lisag03 | @lisag03 | Jun 3, 2022
In reply to @tracilynn1969 "I had surgery April 6, 2022. I had my sigmoid colon removed due to diverticulitis and..." + (show)
@tracilynn1969

I had surgery April 6, 2022. I had my sigmoid colon removed due to diverticulitis and severe infection. I had been sick for about 6 weeks but kept thinking my body would fix itself. I’m 53yo healthy female….at least until then. I had open surgery and I’m still having pain at the incision site. I think I might have a hernia whicj might be causing some of the pain. I have a CT scan scheduled for 6/13. I am so frustrated! I am exhausted all the time. I am a massage therapist and am only able to do 2 or 3 massages a day now. Last night I was up most of the night and I had loose bowels and vomiting. I have felt nauseous all day. I was able to get through my work day and make it home to rest. I’m tired of feeling like this. I’m tired of complaining. I just want to feel normal again. My surgeon was wonderful but she just says I was very sick before surgery and had a major surgery and I’ll get there. I know my body and I know something isn’t right. I’m goin to start iron pills and magnesium citrate tm and D3. I don’t take any medications. When will I geel myself?

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Magnesium citrate is a laxative.

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1 reply
makatak47 | @makatak47 | Jun 3, 2022
In reply to @onamission "@makatak47, why not contact Mayo Clinic in Arizona or MD Anderson in Houston, Texas directly? You..." + (show)
@onamission

@makatak47, why not contact Mayo Clinic in Arizona or MD Anderson in Houston, Texas directly? You did not mention having chemo at this time. Annatto tocotrienol may offer an intervention until you receive responses to your inquiries. If you are using a supplement containing tocopherol separate taking annatto tocotrienol for four hours as tocopherol will diminish annatto tocotrienol's absorption. Always consult with your health care provider before using any supplement.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6386883/
https://www.dougcookrd.com/annatto/

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While I am still in the Philippine Islands, it is very difficult to make any contacts. I will be in Phoenix about Sept.4 and can make any appointments I need. I'm praying it doesn't advance by then. I have a large tumor at my colon that shows stage4 cancer. I am now awaiting the results of a bone marrow biopsy, and praying. I will call Mayo in Arizona today or tomorrow. The phone connections from here are very sketchy. in & out.I got the earliest flights I could afford. Thank You very much

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tracilynn1969 | @tracilynn1969 | Jun 4, 2022
In reply to @robinmacdonald "Open surgery, so not laparoscopic? I am 79 and had robotic laparoscopic surgery in 2/21 and..." + (show)
@robinmacdonald

Open surgery, so not laparoscopic? I am 79 and had robotic laparoscopic surgery in 2/21 and it took a lot longer than 2 months to be back to normal. I also did not have a severe infection like you before the surgery. I had pain and sudden propulsive bowel movements which prevented me from going out much at all. . It took several months for me to feel better and now after a year and 4 months my most worrisome symptom is frequent bowel movements, 3 to 5 in a 24 hour period, which I am told might be my new normal. However, I feel well otherwise and no longer fear a diverticulitis attack from my giant diverticula.

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Thank you and I’m glad you’re feeling better!

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tracilynn1969 | @tracilynn1969 | Jun 4, 2022

I am actually in the hospital now because my pain was so bad I came to ER yesterday. They found two moderate sized fluid pockets that developed after surgery which is most likely causing my pain and weakness. My blood levels are good. I am waiting for them to perform a procedure with IR to drain the areas. I am hopeful that this will resolve my issues. I haven’t been very patient with myself and very frustrated lately!

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tracilynn1969 | @tracilynn1969 | Jun 4, 2022
In reply to @robinmacdonald "Open surgery, so not laparoscopic? I am 79 and had robotic laparoscopic surgery in 2/21 and..." + (show)
@robinmacdonald

Open surgery, so not laparoscopic? I am 79 and had robotic laparoscopic surgery in 2/21 and it took a lot longer than 2 months to be back to normal. I also did not have a severe infection like you before the surgery. I had pain and sudden propulsive bowel movements which prevented me from going out much at all. . It took several months for me to feel better and now after a year and 4 months my most worrisome symptom is frequent bowel movements, 3 to 5 in a 24 hour period, which I am told might be my new normal. However, I feel well otherwise and no longer fear a diverticulitis attack from my giant diverticula.

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Yes, i had to be cut open….they were not able to do perform surgery laparoscopically because I was so sick and infected.

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1 reply
robinmacdonald | @robinmacdonald | Jun 7, 2022
In reply to @tracilynn1969 "Yes, i had to be cut open….they were not able to do perform surgery laparoscopically because..." + (show)
@tracilynn1969

Yes, i had to be cut open….they were not able to do perform surgery laparoscopically because I was so sick and infected.

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The doctors decided because of my “giant” diverticula that kept getting infected, I had to have the surgery during a time when I was not severely infected. Otherwise, they were worried I would have to have emergency surgery like I believe you did. I sure did resist the surgery for over a year but I guess it was needed.
My mom had the open resection surgery in her 90s and did not seem to have many of the problems I have had. But besides more frequent bowel movements, after 14 months I am pretty much back to normal with no sudden diverticulitis attacks.
It will take you time but you will get better and be glad for the surgery. It sounds like you were in danger.

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jodiepage | @jodiepage | Jun 7, 2022
In reply to @tracilynn1969 "I had surgery April 6, 2022. I had my sigmoid colon removed due to diverticulitis and..." + (show)
@tracilynn1969

I had surgery April 6, 2022. I had my sigmoid colon removed due to diverticulitis and severe infection. I had been sick for about 6 weeks but kept thinking my body would fix itself. I’m 53yo healthy female….at least until then. I had open surgery and I’m still having pain at the incision site. I think I might have a hernia whicj might be causing some of the pain. I have a CT scan scheduled for 6/13. I am so frustrated! I am exhausted all the time. I am a massage therapist and am only able to do 2 or 3 massages a day now. Last night I was up most of the night and I had loose bowels and vomiting. I have felt nauseous all day. I was able to get through my work day and make it home to rest. I’m tired of feeling like this. I’m tired of complaining. I just want to feel normal again. My surgeon was wonderful but she just says I was very sick before surgery and had a major surgery and I’ll get there. I know my body and I know something isn’t right. I’m goin to start iron pills and magnesium citrate tm and D3. I don’t take any medications. When will I geel myself?

Jump to this post

I know exactly what you are feeling as I also had my sigmoid colon removed/resection. I had the robotic surgery. Maybe, it will make you feel better that I also felt like I had a hernia and after four months, digestion and pain have finally subsided, substantially. Don't over-do, don't lift anything over 5 lbs. and pamper yourself. Seems it vacillates from constipation to diarrhea. Ask your doctor if you can drink prune juice, sparingly. It is a take you down surgery, but you will start to feel much better about four months afterwards. It still takes a year after major surgery to heal. Good luck and stay in touch.

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jodiepage | @jodiepage | Jun 7, 2022

I had/have the same issues, still. I drank small amounts of prune juice, warmed in the microwave with a teaspoon of butter. Start out slow and see how much your body will tolerate if your doctor says it is okay. Something the surgeon seems to skip over is how painful and debilitating the surgery is for months. I am strong and it wobbled me for four months...still does but much less. The fatigue is really horrible. It does get better, and I know how frustrated you feel.
Good luck!

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