Problems long time after colon resection

Posted by kets @kets, Dec 12, 2021

My husband has Severe pain 1 year after 4 inches of colon removed because of diverticulitis. He Feels fine sleeping but when upright and going throughout the day, pain returns. When he eats, pain. When he goes to the restroom, pain. Nothing helps. He has had multiple CT scans with and without contrast. Nothing reported. Blood work shows elevation in neutrophils but everything else is normal. What could this be? He is becoming more and more discouraged.

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Profile picture for shelly6862 @shelly6862

Hi @llcc8800, thank you so very much for your response, it is very informative! I will give this information to my doctors and hear what they say.

I don't want to go through life with constant pain from surgery adhesions. But, I also don't want to have another laparoscopic surgery to remove them if the end result will be more adhesions forming. Therefore, since your symptoms sound similar to mine, can you please share how you are coping or managing the pain?

Thank you much!

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I’ll be honest, I’m having a really hard time right now. I’m not working and I deal with 24/7 pain. Medical cannabis seems to helps the best, honestly. I use CBD too in combination and it helps a bit. My pain is generally between 7-8/10 on the pain scale.

I’ve tried multiple medications, I’m currently taking Lyrica 225mg twice per day (for fibromyalgia but my GI says it’s been shown to help with pain from adhesions). She might trial Amitriptyline and see if that helps. I’ve been on that before and didn’t see it helping. I also have an Alpha Stim, which is a machine that uses alpha waves to help break up the scar tissue (sort of like a TENS unit). I’ve used it and it doesn’t seem to do much for me. I looked into it and it seems like the scar tissue that it helps is more for extremities, like ankles and wrists. I might schedule an appt with the pain clinic and see if they can trial Ketamine but I’m not sure what they will say or even if they do it (I go through the VA). I use medical cannabis and that helps a lot and I also use Kratom, which helps a lot too. If not for both of those, I would be living in the ER.

You might end up having a much better quality of life if you decide to go ahead with surgery to remove the adhesions. They tend to do the surgery if they think that it will help. On the other hand, There’s no guarantee that it will help and it also might make your pain a lot worse. There’s just no guarantee, unfortunately.

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Profile picture for shelly6862 @shelly6862

I had colon resection for diverticulitis in December 2022. Four weeks after the surgery, I started having pain the very same area where the surgeon removed the diverticulitis. The pain has not stopped, and is getting worse. It hurts night and day, regardless if I'm laying down, sitting, or standing. It's now almost 7 months since I had the colon resection, and yet this pain has not stopped. CT scans, MRI, and Ultrasound all showed absolutely nothing. I do not know what to do, this pain is very REAL. Is anyone else going through this?

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My husband had a part of his colon removed 3 yrs ago and the doctors cannot find why he is in constant pain everyday. He is now disable cause if pain. I feel like these doctors just gave up. We are still gonna try to find some doctor who is willing to go the extra mile to help him.

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Profile picture for llcc8800 @llcc8800

I’ll be honest, I’m having a really hard time right now. I’m not working and I deal with 24/7 pain. Medical cannabis seems to helps the best, honestly. I use CBD too in combination and it helps a bit. My pain is generally between 7-8/10 on the pain scale.

I’ve tried multiple medications, I’m currently taking Lyrica 225mg twice per day (for fibromyalgia but my GI says it’s been shown to help with pain from adhesions). She might trial Amitriptyline and see if that helps. I’ve been on that before and didn’t see it helping. I also have an Alpha Stim, which is a machine that uses alpha waves to help break up the scar tissue (sort of like a TENS unit). I’ve used it and it doesn’t seem to do much for me. I looked into it and it seems like the scar tissue that it helps is more for extremities, like ankles and wrists. I might schedule an appt with the pain clinic and see if they can trial Ketamine but I’m not sure what they will say or even if they do it (I go through the VA). I use medical cannabis and that helps a lot and I also use Kratom, which helps a lot too. If not for both of those, I would be living in the ER.

You might end up having a much better quality of life if you decide to go ahead with surgery to remove the adhesions. They tend to do the surgery if they think that it will help. On the other hand, There’s no guarantee that it will help and it also might make your pain a lot worse. There’s just no guarantee, unfortunately.

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WOW! You've really been through a lot. I'm glad the medical cannabis is giving you some relief with the pain.

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Profile picture for annette6760 @annette6760

My husband had a part of his colon removed 3 yrs ago and the doctors cannot find why he is in constant pain everyday. He is now disable cause if pain. I feel like these doctors just gave up. We are still gonna try to find some doctor who is willing to go the extra mile to help him.

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I'm so sorry that it's been three years and your husband is still suffering in pain.
@llcc8800 (in this thread) said that medical cannabis was very helpful in relieving their constant pain after colon surgery. Perhaps, you can inquire of the doctors whether it could help your husband.

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I had a sigmoid resection because of diverticulitis 15 months ago. I live in chronic lower abdominal pain everyday, chronic constipation. I’ve lost 20 lbs because when I eat the pain is worse, when and if ihave a bowel movement the pain gets worse. If I lie down all day it’s not too bad but never goes away. My surgeon has basically given up on me and keeps referring me to other doctors that don’t do anything because nothing shows up on the cat scans. I live on opioids that don’t do anything. I actually am getting to the point of not living anymore with this pain. I have had since I came home after my surgery so I think he might have done something wrong. I’m not here to blame anyone just to find an answer. Suggestions?

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Profile picture for shelly6862 @shelly6862

My doctor put me on Vancomycin for a month and a half because I had c-diff really bad. I was a full time graduate student at the time, and at my doctor's request, my school allowed me to complete the remaining of the semester as a fully remote student. Thank God!
There was no way I could attend classes having constant pain, diarrhea, and serious fatigue.

You will get better, it will take time, but you will definitely get better and regain your weight.

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I’m trying to stay positive but I’m so scared and I have another question I feel like i urine so much. I mean almost every hour

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Profile picture for shelly6862 @shelly6862

I had colon resection for diverticulitis in December 2022. Four weeks after the surgery, I started having pain the very same area where the surgeon removed the diverticulitis. The pain has not stopped, and is getting worse. It hurts night and day, regardless if I'm laying down, sitting, or standing. It's now almost 7 months since I had the colon resection, and yet this pain has not stopped. CT scans, MRI, and Ultrasound all showed absolutely nothing. I do not know what to do, this pain is very REAL. Is anyone else going through this?

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My stools were great following the surgery. Everything seemed better than before however in the last six months, stools have been flat and hard to pass. Not hard at all. My PC and specialist both think it’s constipation and fecal loading. Had X-rays, ultra sound. All ok. Anyone else with this problem? I do have ibs, sometimes I think it’s from that.

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Profile picture for vjs @vjs

My stools were great following the surgery. Everything seemed better than before however in the last six months, stools have been flat and hard to pass. Not hard at all. My PC and specialist both think it’s constipation and fecal loading. Had X-rays, ultra sound. All ok. Anyone else with this problem? I do have ibs, sometimes I think it’s from that.

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The journey continues for me as well. Surgery September 2021. And while all of 2022 had its challenges, mostly relating to scar tissue pain, bowel movements too are up and down in terms of 'normal'.

Be wary however of too much stimulation. Such as adding too much 'fiber' supplements and stool softeners. I found they may over stimulate the process causing spasms which I believed to be scar tissue at first.

Now on a reduced calorie diet for weight loss, I'm challenged again with bowel pains. And not sure why. BM are small and not daily during this course.

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Profile picture for tjm2112 @tjm2112

Hi, in 2007 I had the same surgery (8") and I felt pain in my stomach that went away after ~1 year or more. I recently (October 2020) had a bit more of my colon removed because of another problem. I still have pain from the second surgery in the same general area of my abdomen. I thought it was another hernia, but CT showed nothing. It hurts when I cough, sneeze, and get in and out of bed. Bottom line: I was told that it may be scar tissue. It went away the last time and I hope it will again (12.17.21).

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Literally me to a T.

11/22/22 partial colectomy 8" of the sigmoid colon.
Infection had to heal inside out.

02/27
Hernia repair

still have pain at hernia site with mesh, swelling up I was told scar tissue. IBD and UC

I have an appointment on the 11th to schedule my gallbladder removal and second colonoscopy first one post surgery because I'm having pain at the site and now flat poop and what seems a mechanical blockage.

07.05.23

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Profile picture for shelly6862 @shelly6862

I had colon resection for diverticulitis in December 2022. Four weeks after the surgery, I started having pain the very same area where the surgeon removed the diverticulitis. The pain has not stopped, and is getting worse. It hurts night and day, regardless if I'm laying down, sitting, or standing. It's now almost 7 months since I had the colon resection, and yet this pain has not stopped. CT scans, MRI, and Ultrasound all showed absolutely nothing. I do not know what to do, this pain is very REAL. Is anyone else going through this?

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Hey guys. Do u ever gain your weight back from cdiff

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