I had a colon interposition 7 years ago

Posted by Pamelasue @pamelasa, Sep 25, 2014

I had a colon interposition 7 years ago after a doctor punctured my esophagus during an endoscopy. Had he not ignored my complaints of severe discomfort following the procedure and then sent me home it might have been an easy fix...but the timeframe between the puncture and my husband finally getting me to the hospital was such that my esophagus disintegrated entirely. By then I had developed sepsis and was dying. Very long story, including being unconscious for ten days, two-plus weeks in intensive care and 30 days total in hospital. Another 5 months sans esophagus, food and medicine via tubes, with bag for saliva on neck....etc., etc., finally ending with the colon interposition.

Following the colon interposition, I was told that the severe pain that wrapped around my back, over my ribs and beneath my breasts would last anywhere from three to five years, maybe longer, maybe not so long.

The pain on the right side subsided after five-plus years, the left side continues approximately seventy-eighty per cent of the time, especially at night, or when I've done something 'wrong', or a bra hits the wrong spot. I use Lidoderm, Vicodin and Lyrica to address this pain. Lidoderm when I need relief very quickly, along with Vicodin (hydrocodone since Vicodin is impossible to find in the United States outside of hospitals). I take the Lyrica (3) at night and (1) in the morning. I also take Ambien and Trazadone for sleep. The Ambien and Trazadone were prescribed before the surgeries for longstanding sleep issues. It is more critical since the surgeries because if the pain is unbearable I can at least go to sleep to escape the pain and usually wake up free of pain in the am.

The primary and very distressing side-effects of the colon interposition surgery are digestive. I have gas more often than I can begin to describe, but the worst is the diarrhea at night. I regularly wake up in a 'bed full' of excrement. I don't wake up when it's about to occur, nor when it's occurring but, rather, when I wake up in the morning. Of course, it can be worse if I eat later, which I mostly avoid doing, though dinners out can present problems. Red wine may or may not be a causative factor. Certain foods are givens for creating problems and I always avoid them: spinach, cream-based dishes/sauces, mashed potatoes (butter, milk), some cheeses, not all, tomato sauces, lattes too late, potato chips before bed (grease?), but not earlier in the day, and others I'm not thinking of at the moment.

Meats are better tolerated than vegetables and fruits. Even with red wine. Sugar in candy, ie, jelly beans before bed, are a no no. Black licorice - late, but not during day.

So. Primarily I need help with addressing the diarrhea issue. The pain in the ribs and around my back has been somewhat alleviated by exercises that stretch and expand my chest and strengthen my back and core. Exercise also strengthens me psychologically and emotionally. Periodically, the pain comes back with a vengeance and is 'breath-stopping'. And even tear-producing.

But nothing can compare with getting up day after day to clean up myself and my bed (sometimes my preparations just cannot anticipate the mess that can occur). It can take an hour or more and that doesn't include doing laundry. I may have to shower two-three times or use the bidet several times, change my clothes twice or more. Thank goodness I insisted on a bidet when we renovated our house eleven years ago. It is a lifesaver.

The emotional, psychological and physical tolls this issue takes on me are huge, huge. My marriage has suffered overall, but in particular as a result of the diarrhea problem. Sex and intimacy are long gone. I can't deal with either. My husband complains mightily. It doesn't matter. I'm a hermit, play-acting with friends and his family when necessary, and just plain anxious and depressed otherwise.

I've always been anxious and depressed, but ....... Life now is so 'sub-optimal' that the old days would be welcome as an alternative.

Anybody out there have any thoughts you would like to share that might be helpful? Anyone else with these issues resulting from a colon interposition?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Digestive Health Support Group.

Hi @pamelasa. Here are some lifestyle and home remedies to prevent diarrhea that may be helpful for you http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diarrhea/basics/lifestyle-home-remedies/con-20014025.

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@pamelasue I'm so very sorry you have been through so much. My dad is going to need that surgery but for cancer. Where did you have your colonic interposition? Have you been assessed for repair? I read about a surgeon that fixes postoperative complications. I will search my bookmarks and post it to you, if I find it. My family will be praying for you! God be with you!

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@pamelasue I found the link about revision surgery for colon interposition complications. It looks like they were done at Massachusetts General hospital in Boston. Praying for you! This site won't let me post a link but you can Google it. It's a research article in the Oxford Journals.

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@pamelasue I had a colonic intersposition in 2006. I too had a bag on my neck, a feeding tube for months and a bad case of MRSA. i had over 78 operations and a new reconstruction last fall. my pain is constant on my left side and made worse since I had some ribs removed that were killed by MRSA.
I still have diarrhea all the time and at night. i am able to make it to the bathroom. have you looked at fecal transplant to help or taking something to slow down your bowel like immodium?
i have bad reflux at night and sometimes wake up in vomit on my pillow. any suggestions?

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Welcome to Connect @rsinger22.
I can't imagine having 78 operations! Do you sleep propped up?

@twinblessings06 How is your dad doing?

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i do sleep propped up. sorry, i meant 7 to 8 operations (mostly 4 thoracotomies, esophajectomy, colin interposition , removal of ribs)

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@rsinger22

@pamelasue I had a colonic intersposition in 2006. I too had a bag on my neck, a feeding tube for months and a bad case of MRSA. i had over 78 operations and a new reconstruction last fall. my pain is constant on my left side and made worse since I had some ribs removed that were killed by MRSA.
I still have diarrhea all the time and at night. i am able to make it to the bathroom. have you looked at fecal transplant to help or taking something to slow down your bowel like immodium?
i have bad reflux at night and sometimes wake up in vomit on my pillow. any suggestions?

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does diarrhea lessen with time and how much imodium do you take.

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@rsinger22

@pamelasue I had a colonic intersposition in 2006. I too had a bag on my neck, a feeding tube for months and a bad case of MRSA. i had over 78 operations and a new reconstruction last fall. my pain is constant on my left side and made worse since I had some ribs removed that were killed by MRSA.
I still have diarrhea all the time and at night. i am able to make it to the bathroom. have you looked at fecal transplant to help or taking something to slow down your bowel like immodium?
i have bad reflux at night and sometimes wake up in vomit on my pillow. any suggestions?

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Unfortunately the diarrhea does not lessen with time. Also I still suffer from dumping syndrome

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@rsinger22

@pamelasue I had a colonic intersposition in 2006. I too had a bag on my neck, a feeding tube for months and a bad case of MRSA. i had over 78 operations and a new reconstruction last fall. my pain is constant on my left side and made worse since I had some ribs removed that were killed by MRSA.
I still have diarrhea all the time and at night. i am able to make it to the bathroom. have you looked at fecal transplant to help or taking something to slow down your bowel like immodium?
i have bad reflux at night and sometimes wake up in vomit on my pillow. any suggestions?

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Hello @franknick,

Welcome to Connect.

Diarrhea and fatigue seem to be he most frequent symptoms after colon interposition. We would love to know a bit more about you; have you undergone this procedure?

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@rsinger22

@pamelasue I had a colonic intersposition in 2006. I too had a bag on my neck, a feeding tube for months and a bad case of MRSA. i had over 78 operations and a new reconstruction last fall. my pain is constant on my left side and made worse since I had some ribs removed that were killed by MRSA.
I still have diarrhea all the time and at night. i am able to make it to the bathroom. have you looked at fecal transplant to help or taking something to slow down your bowel like immodium?
i have bad reflux at night and sometimes wake up in vomit on my pillow. any suggestions?

Jump to this post

Yes I have had the colon interposition after an esophajectomy. Last year I had an operation to resect some of the interposed colon. The doctor removed 7 inches since it stretched over time. This reconstruction involved separating my chest and opening me past my belly button. It was extremely painful but helped. I needed the procedure because my colon interposition became redundant and I was getting food blockages that required producers to remove.

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