I had a colon interposition 7 years ago

Thank yo for your reply. My husband had the colon interposition due to gangrene of stomach and esophagus caused by problem with hiatal hernia repair.. lost 2/3 stomach and most esophagus. He was operated on sept12. He is off feed tube eating reg. diet but bouts of diarrhea and weight loss is terrible. Also dev Atrial Fib b/c of stress from gangrene 2 surgeries to save him from an life threatening infection process. We are wondering if any meds help with diarrhea or change lifestyle to cope. He never can judge when it will happen, so he is homebound for the most part. A terrible way to live.

I take regular before meals sometimes to prevent nausea and it helps with dumping.

Does he get the sweets too before the diarrhea

I am wring for my husband at this time. He had the procedure due to a problem with a hiatal hernia repair. Dr. did not respond to our complaints and by the time we were at the ER , test showed a problem he was sent back to surgeon 2 hrs away and had emergent surgery that night . Developed sepsis and mediastinitis and was in ICU for over a month. He needed 2 operations to combat the further gangrene losing 2/3 stomach and almost entire esophagus. Was with spit fistula( esophagus brought to outside chest .) for 7 months to regain strength for this surgery which was on sept. 12/ colon interposition( different Dr. different hospital). At this time he is depressed and discouraged. Most patients had the stomach brought up to esophagus so no one he knows from the hospital group had this type of surgery...We don't know which is worse but this is certainly more involved. He had loss a lot of weight , not being heavy before so he is very thin and therefore weak, and gets so discouraged due to the diarrhea which occurs without any warning or reason that we can figure out. Wondering if any medication, probiotics, foods or anything may help. He also developed atrial fibrillation from the stress to his body from the initial infection and 2 operations required to treat him. Massive antibiotics for months with massive cardiac meds of Heart rates of 175-200....It was a living hell and we were told this procedure would put him back( he was on feeding tube 7 months, with spit fistula)...and he would live normal life, but it does not seem true....The original surgeon lied to us about the extent of his condition and i guess lied to us about that to. The surgeon who did the interposition was wonderful, open and honest but just says it takes time....but we wonder if it ever will get better.....Our life has been turned upside down.....and we seem to be at a standstill, as we were in the process of moving and retiring to a warmer climate to enjoy our life. Now we are constant focus on his condition, and worrying about every occurrence.

Is that meditation raglan? No he used to get sweats drenching at night requiring complete change of clothes and bedding but we thought due to meds. He is no longer experiencing that now. No sign at all of diarrhea coming. Sometimes he gets use and nothing , then other times he doesn't make it to the toilet. A terrible way to exist. prevents us from going out...

i can totally relate to your husband. I lost 50 to 60 pounds. I too had a spit bag attached to a fistula on my neck. It was totally gross. I also had a hole in my neck after the colon interposition and liquid would drip down. It took a few months to close.

I can say that I was back to my actual weight after about a year. It took my body a long time to adjust. I tried many foods and supplement (ensure) at first but eventually I began to eat more. Yogurt and Jello were helpful as well as pudding to gain weight. Now, I do better with proteins like turkey or meat. Soda is not great for me and all bubbly drinks are really a no no. I always get sick afterwards and many times vomit. When I eat many small meals I am much better. If I eat a big meal, I am more likely to have dumping syndrome.

In terms of mental issues, I have had my fill. I have had depression and feeling of loneliness that no one can understand what I am going through. I was diagnosed with PTSD and still suffer. It makes me upset that I can not do things that I used to do. I have been back in therapy and it helps. I am constantly searching the internet for information in order to improve my daily life. Unfortunately, there are not many people with this anatomy so it is hard. I find this message board helpful.
If you have any questions please ask

Thanks for your reply, It is so frustrating to live this way, especially when due to a surgical error.....He also had a small drainage area from the neck incision and a dehissance ( opening)from the abdominal incision, result of hospital infection, that is clearing but he gets these" fat" blister like areas along the abdominal incision that burst and drain. He tried boost, ensure and carnation powder mix but he tolerates nothing. Used to tolerate v8 fusion but now that is problematic. so it's gatorade and lactiaid ......He doesn't like yogurt and pudding seems to be problems now also. so trying to make food is a challenge....especially when trying to get high calories in. It is the diarrhea that depresses him because he is trying to gain weight and feels he loses all his food in an instant. He takes imodium on occasion but ...he was cautioned by some that it may be binding, but most of he people who had that problem have had the surgery where the stomach is pulled up to meet the esophagus, and the may present differently although both use dumping and reflux. I think he needs the imodium to stop his fast peristalsis( bowel lining movement ), but who knows? He takes omeprazole twice a day but not any other antacid or bowel treatment ..He does have a powder med that would help but it contradicts with his coumadin for h Atrial Fib that he to from all of he stress on his body from the surgical mishap and 2 operations for sepsis , that was back in March, and he was in ICU for over a month then rehab for a month and home lat June, on feed tube waiting for this surgery in September...t has been a long haul and it appears it will continue for some time yet....Hoping for the best. will try and connect him to the message board, but when some people said they are 7 years out with still same diarrhea , i did not want him to get any more discouraged. There isa support group from the hospital and he talks with one person pretty regular by phone.....but all of the people in the group had the stomach pull up surgery so he is the only one with the interposition.......He doesn't sleep at night either but will not take any anxiety meds..or sleep meds.

I still drink a lot of Gatorade every day. How about eggs. I eat a lot of them and very easy to get down.
It did take me a while to get things to improve. I had MRSA infection and had a drain. Unfortunately it has been a constant battle for me but I try and have little things as goals.
Depression is a big thing. I suggest professional help. Also I sleep using a edge to keep my head up. I have terrible reflux some nights and wake up vomiting

how old is your husband..would u like my number to talk to him

Hi @franknick,

I would like to connect you with some other members who also suffer from severe diarrhea, although for different gastric and internal diseases; but first, @rsinger22, I would like to sincerely thank you for all the support and information you are providing.

Please meet @bobinthevillages, @haighsue, @fa7100, @mo1216, @gman007, @cherriann, @johnnyzee3, @falconfly, @safetyshield, @gingerlyn, @ilene1, @nancywhite, @ekoltun6; I hope that they will join this discussion with more insight to help you and your husband.

He is 72 but prior to the botched surgery he was very active, golfing , mowing 2.5 acres grass, walking the dog, and plowing snow in winter where we live. so he was a very young 72 years