Problems months after colon resection surgery: What Helps?

I would recommend that you keep in touch with your doctor if you continue to have problems, @brenda57.

I had robotic surgery on a Tuesday and had to have the big surgery on Friday.Seven weeks later and still having stomach cramps and diarrhea everyday😢I am afraid something is not right

I was diagnosed with colo-rectal cancer in 2007 when I was 50. Had the cancer removed and my brilliant surgeon was able to re-section so that I could avoid having a permanent colostomy. I had to be on the bag for 6 months while healing. Had intensive chemo via a port in my chest. Also radiology. I have been cancer free since. Once the colon had been resectioned, I have had progressive constipation the last 5 years, I am now 66. I feel as if I need to go to bathroom for a BM many times a day, but nothing comes out. I will go 3 days without a BM, and then my whole system will empty! I’m taking either Miralax, Exlax, or anything else that might help. I feel very discouraged and the constant urge to have a BM is so frustrating because nothing happens. Anyone else experience this?

I had one in May 2022. Had cramping once before a bowel movement; otherwise, no pain. My movements however, consist of nuggets rather than a normal bowel movement. I wish you good luck and hope the cramping and pain subsides.

I have opposite from you.Since my colon resection I have never had a normal bowel movement,just watered diarrhea and I am on the 8 week.I get horrible stomach cramps and then I better find a bathroom asap!!

Are you drinking enough water? I was told to drink 64 ounces daily. It has made a big difference in my ability to have bowel movements. They are not pre-surgery normal however. More like nuggets and I might “go” 4 or even 5 times a day. If I take Metamucil, they re more normal-like.

yo no he tenido este tipo de problemas que mencionas, y nunca lo tuve ni antes de la operación y tampoco después. pero el medico me recomendó, si me llegara a pasar que tomara LINAZA en polvo, una cucharada con el café o cualquier bebida.
Puede que esto lo ayude.

I am not even sure what normal is anymore. The new normal went through different stages and was and still is not predictable. It has been 8 months since my surgery and timing is not like it was before. I feel much better than I did four months, ago. Life has returned to my previous activities, and I can tolerate more food groups each week. The first 4 months were the most difficult.

So,maybe things will get better for me in the months to come.I can’t make plans to do things cause never know when the cramping turns in the painful cramps and never know if the food I eat will just go right thru me or will it wait till I at least get to a bathroom😔May God give strength to you,myself and everyone who is trying to adjust this different lifestyle🙏

Things will improve, I know it might not seem like that right now. One day you will realize that your down days and cramps are further apart, and your life has been having more days between flair ups. I know for me asparagus was a big mistake and any gassy vegetables had consequences for a few months. Mostly, I ate protein foods and drank protein shakes [which I tolerated better] for about 3 to 4 months.