1. < Digestive Health

2-years post bowel resection

Posted by sderose @sderose, Dec 30, 2021

Had bowel resection in 1/2022. 2 stricture areas removed and appendix and was benign, thankfully. Theory is comes from pelvic area radiation in 1987 for reproductive organ cancer. Also have stage 3 Chronic Kidney Disease which may or may not be an 1987after-effect. After two years I have continued to have diarrhea for past two years. Without Limodal I could not function or work but don't dare go anywhere without a bathroom. Boss is understanding. Had every test imaginable - labs, CT, internal ultrasound, etc. A low fiber diet suggested but despite fairly normal other cholesterol numbers, my tryiglycerides are 600. Taking meds to bring that down. In addition to the diarrhea, I have pain from about my navel to my pelvic area. It wipes out my energy. I tell my drs this but it feels like they never hear nor address that serious issue. I am at about 25.5 BMI (did lose weight), don't exercise (I know bad), and am 65.5 years old. Have an internal med dr and a gastroenterologist. Husband is in palliative care and I am the long distance caregiver for a family member with fairly severe mental health problems that also affect my "gut". Any suggestions welcome. I do plan to try to start walking, then building up to some low weights for building back muscle loss. (Tooks a couple years to diagnose what my problem was - prior to that I had bouts of 3 - 4 day nausea, vomiting, severe gut, pain and then explosive diarrhea every 4 - 8 weeks for 3.5 years.)

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wheeler2167 | @wheeler2167 | Jun 4, 2023
In reply to @gregv "Hello, I had 12" of my colon removed. My tumor was just past the scope they..." + (show)
@gregv

Hello, I had 12" of my colon removed. My tumor was just past the scope they use for a sigmoidoscopy. I am 20 years out and 64. I never got to a point where I didn't have trouble with bowel movements. My body just doesn't have much muscle down there anymore. If I don't take a stimulant, I just don't go. Unless I eat a lot of fruit and vegetables, then I get diarrhea and cannot move away from the toilet. I now have a system down that works for me. I take a medication called Linzess each morning. It took a long time to get it synced to my system, I used to have diarrhea for 6 hours every morning. Now I take it first thing, with my pain meds (another long story) and my bowels wake up anywhere between 1/2hr to 2 hours after. I go 2 to 6 times and then I'm good for the day. I feel SOOOO much better getting cleaned out like this and I've learned to adapt my life so I can maintain. No one told me anything and I was very angry. So, I hope this helps some.

Jump to this post

Thanks for sharing. I have the linzess prescribed to me, but been afraid to take it as I work full time. Are you having any other side effects and do you take one or two pills?

REPLY
Samson | @gregv | Jun 5, 2023

I take 145mcg per capsule, one a day. I take the 72mcg capsule when I'm eating a very green diet, otherwise the diarrhea is severe. If I have to leave the house early, I set an alarm and get up earlier to compensate. It's tricky, but... I wish you good luck. 🙂

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Samson | @gregv | Jun 5, 2023

That's quite the load you are carrying. My mom passed two years ago. I was caring for her before that for years. She had little money so, the home we placed her in was lacking. I went every day. I was eating comfort food through the stress, so I've gained weight I certainly didn't want. I'm 64, retired, and fighting Ankylosing Spondylitis, Fibro, and Degenerative Disc Disease. I still get controversy about my diagnoses. My tests always come back "normal". They say to me, "You are telling me symptoms you shouldn't have with the level of "whatever" you have. I always have symptoms "I shouldn't be having". I swear the doctors would argue if in the same room together! Next week I'm going back to my gynecologist to discuss doing surgery again. The doc's where I live say they would wait until it gets worse. At our age I don't wait for much of anything. Plus, I get much older and they will refuse to do it! Hang in there, I wish you easier days to enjoy. 🙂

REPLY
timnd75 | @timnd75 | Jun 5, 2023
In reply to @gregv "Hello, I had 12" of my colon removed. My tumor was just past the scope they..." + (show)
@gregv

Hello, I had 12" of my colon removed. My tumor was just past the scope they use for a sigmoidoscopy. I am 20 years out and 64. I never got to a point where I didn't have trouble with bowel movements. My body just doesn't have much muscle down there anymore. If I don't take a stimulant, I just don't go. Unless I eat a lot of fruit and vegetables, then I get diarrhea and cannot move away from the toilet. I now have a system down that works for me. I take a medication called Linzess each morning. It took a long time to get it synced to my system, I used to have diarrhea for 6 hours every morning. Now I take it first thing, with my pain meds (another long story) and my bowels wake up anywhere between 1/2hr to 2 hours after. I go 2 to 6 times and then I'm good for the day. I feel SOOOO much better getting cleaned out like this and I've learned to adapt my life so I can maintain. No one told me anything and I was very angry. So, I hope this helps some.

Jump to this post

Immodium works best with me. Costco sells it in their pharmacy for .89cents in a box for 24 sealed tablets. It puts the brakes on diarrhea quickly. Sometimes I use Meta Musel which cleans everything out when needed. The two are great cuz you only use them as needed, not every day. No more pooped pants 👖 or dropping multiple “torpedoes”
this could work for you too.

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