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.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Colorectal Cancer Support Group.

karina1954 | @karina1954 | Jul 30, 2022
In reply to @marsct "Hi Colleen, i had the surgery in mid of March 2022. for full thickness intussusception. as..." + (show)
@marsct

Hi Colleen,

i had the surgery in mid of March 2022. for full thickness intussusception. as i had to sit around 10 to 30 mins to fully evacuate my bowel. part of sigmoid colon removed

however since surgery, things got worst i feel I cannot even evacuate 10% of what i used to do. only can pass stools if they are watery othersise cannot. and stools are thin like ribbon.

i feel there is some blockage at the point of surgery. had a CT scan yesterday and nothing was found. is it possible that CT scan do not detect anastomosis stricture. should i ask for colonoscopy.

My Surgeon says things will improve by time but it is getting bad, i am sure things are not moving as they should to Rectum.

Look forward to any helpful advice.

Jump to this post

Hi Marsct,
I had my surgery for resection in May and going thru the same thing. Quite frustrated 😔

REPLY
1 reply
karina1954 | @karina1954 | Jul 30, 2022
In reply to @lisag03 "The first one was to remove a cancerous tumor and I had two areas that were..." + (show)
@lisag03

The first one was to remove a cancerous tumor and I had two areas that were resected (one was at the sigmoid and the other was removal of ileocecal valve and appendix ovary etc) so two resections. About 10 days after that initial surgery, I was still hospitalized and feeling very sick. It didn’t get better and my drain was producing fecal material so they opened me back up and there was a leak at theresected site (the one at the ileocecal area) Two months later I developed a small bowel obstruction and it wouldn’t clear so they removed a portion of small bowel. Unbeknownst to any of us, my small bowel was possibly knickers and I developed an enterocutaneous fistula. They couldn’t fix it surgically because I was not strong enough for another procedure so we just waited to see if the bowel would heal. Ultimately it didn’t and the fistula broke loose and perforated my colon. I had emergency surgery and a fourth resection. I developed sepsis and also had a small leak so I was put in full bowel rest for 12 weeks (five of those weeks in the hospital)

I am definitely an unusual case and had lots of set backs. But the only thing that I also good things that happened. I never had to have a colostomy and I am now doing really well. I haven’t had any LARS symptoms and I’m able to eat what I normally was (I eat a lot of fruits and vegetables and a somewhat high fiber diet). I feel like because I have ulcerative colitis, my colon probably was already inflamed. At the time, I felt overwhelmed with everything that went on, but I do feel like it all happened the way it had to. I do still have bloating and I don’t think that will ever go away but compared to a lot of people, my struggle is minimal

Jump to this post

May I ask what are the high fiber diets you eat. Along with my resection I have diabetes and gastroparesis so my diet is totally messed up.
Thanks,
Karina

REPLY
1 reply
lisag03 | @lisag03 | Jul 31, 2022
In reply to @karina1954 "May I ask what are the high fiber diets you eat. Along with my resection I..." + (show)
@karina1954

May I ask what are the high fiber diets you eat. Along with my resection I have diabetes and gastroparesis so my diet is totally messed up.
Thanks,
Karina

Jump to this post

I eat a diet pretty much identical to what I ate prior. I have been gluten and wheat free for a long time, so I don’t eat any bread or cereal products with much fiber because the GF varieties are pretty stripped. But I eat salads every night, cucumbers (with skin), brocolli and brussel sproits, green beans (both cooked and raw) apples and berries. I also have a shake daily that does have a lot to superfoods and fiber in it, and protein bars with fiber. I eat all types of protein and the only foods I really avoid or limit are popcorn.

REPLY
1 reply
karina1954 | @karina1954 | Jul 31, 2022

Thank you and appreciate it. I am just starting to eat some high fiber.

REPLY
jodiepage | @jodiepage | Aug 1, 2022
In reply to @lisag03 "I eat a diet pretty much identical to what I ate prior. I have been gluten..." + (show)
@lisag03

I eat a diet pretty much identical to what I ate prior. I have been gluten and wheat free for a long time, so I don’t eat any bread or cereal products with much fiber because the GF varieties are pretty stripped. But I eat salads every night, cucumbers (with skin), brocolli and brussel sproits, green beans (both cooked and raw) apples and berries. I also have a shake daily that does have a lot to superfoods and fiber in it, and protein bars with fiber. I eat all types of protein and the only foods I really avoid or limit are popcorn.

Jump to this post

Certainly, you are eating healthy foods to achieve optimal results. I agree about popcorn. I tried eating a small amount only once and my body let me know right away it was rebelling and declaring war on my digestive system.

REPLY
karina1954 | @karina1954 | Aug 3, 2022
In reply to @idkaren "I had colon resection..laparoscopic AND open due to adhesions on Jan 4. I thought I was..." + (show)
@idkaren

I had colon resection..laparoscopic AND open due to adhesions on Jan 4. I thought I was healing great. But now it has been 8 weeks and I have hot pains all across lower abdomen and stabbing pain where surgery was. I just had a THIRD cat scan and they say EVERYTHING looks fine...but I HURT and I BURN. I am SO frustrated!

Jump to this post

I'm having the exact same symptoms. On the 11 weeks into surgery. I'm really nervous. Get to see my oncologist hopefully he may shed some light on this. Good Luck...if not I may go to emg.

REPLY
1 reply
bbarbiee | @bbarbiee | Aug 3, 2022

I am eight weeks out from having a sigmoidectomy. No cancer. It was due to having a smoldering area of diverticulitis.
I am trying to venture out and eat more fibrous meals. I don’t think the doctors really understand how it feels to be restricted in your diet and then have to get back into eating normal again.
It’s definitely a one thing at a time and one day at a time thing.
Things taste so good when you’re eating them but sometimes your G.I. tract and colon doesn’t always agree afterwards. So this is where I am. Just trial and error. Looking forward to getting back to eating whatever normal is. After not having nuts or seeds are popcorn for the last 12 years even with my Sigmoid: removed I don’t believe I will ever try to go back to eating any of those. I have been conditioned.
I have been trying to eat salads and dad has been nice. Very nice in fact. A little nervous trying broccoli for the first time. Don’t feel like being gassy. Might put that off for a few more weeks. Hugs to all on here. I’m sure you wouldn’t be on here unless you were seeking answers.

REPLY
1 reply
Valerie | @lacy2 | Sep 3, 2022

May I ask a question about having a stool test done. Over many years and maybe due to radiation of pelvis (cervix) a long time ago I have frequent diarrhea; my souse also does now after about 6 yrs ago radiation, anal cancer; we eat a reasonably plain diet and have diarrhea many times thru the week and take IMODIUM/loperamide. Anyway lately it has been so often and 2018 I had C.diff from too many antibiotics for bladder infections, it was awful. Now with us both going so much and I see mucous in my stool and wondering if we should both have fecal test for bugs, c.diff, Giardia???
QUESTION is though i have read not to take anti-dirrhea meds for TEN DAYS before stool test which is almost impossible.... what can we do??? I already have had 7 bms with only one IMODIUM ... if we stop taking imodium for ten days I dont know how to stop the diarrhea etc. Any suggestions please??

REPLY
1 reply
golumpki | @golumpki | Sep 10, 2022
In reply to @lorijbq "Doc told me 3 weeks after mine” you can eat whatever you want”. Yeh, wrong!!!!!! I..." + (show)
@lorijbq

Doc told me 3 weeks after mine” you can eat whatever you want”. Yeh, wrong!!!!!! I ate eggplant last night and had a severe stomach ache! It’s been 5 weeks post op. I get pains and spasms every day. What makes you feel hasn’t healed???

Jump to this post

I have no idea why these surgeons give this kind of disinformation to their post surgical patients when the nurses in the floor have a COMPLETELY DIFFERENT tale to tell. The surgeon told me I’d be up and at ‘em in THREE weeks post colectomy! It took four months for me to start my daily walks and it is six months now and I still have horrific bowel dysregulation - one day the runs, the next stuck, and now an”balloon” sensation in my lower left where the surgery was.

REPLY
1 reply
golumpki | @golumpki | Sep 10, 2022
In reply to @lacy2 "May I ask a question about having a stool test done. Over many years and maybe..." + (show)
@lacy2

May I ask a question about having a stool test done. Over many years and maybe due to radiation of pelvis (cervix) a long time ago I have frequent diarrhea; my souse also does now after about 6 yrs ago radiation, anal cancer; we eat a reasonably plain diet and have diarrhea many times thru the week and take IMODIUM/loperamide. Anyway lately it has been so often and 2018 I had C.diff from too many antibiotics for bladder infections, it was awful. Now with us both going so much and I see mucous in my stool and wondering if we should both have fecal test for bugs, c.diff, Giardia???
QUESTION is though i have read not to take anti-dirrhea meds for TEN DAYS before stool test which is almost impossible.... what can we do??? I already have had 7 bms with only one IMODIUM ... if we stop taking imodium for ten days I dont know how to stop the diarrhea etc. Any suggestions please??

Jump to this post

My surgeon recommended I tsp Metamucil with 8 oz water in am and 1 Tbsp with 8 oz water after dinner. Mix well. Must try for a few days before things start to solidify and bind up.

REPLY
View MoreView Less
Please sign in or register to post a reply.