Colon Resection for Diverticulitis and Chronic Constipation

Hello @nancysbauer and welcome to Mayo Connect.

Since you are posting in the discussion group for colon resection and diverticulitis, can I assume that you have had surgery for diverticulitis?

As you can see, other members have also posted about this problem. One of our members, @thull, has had a lot of experience in this area of diet, surgeries, etc. I hope that she can also respond to your post.

How long ago was your surgery, nancysbauer?

I had a bowel resection in Oct 2020 due to diverticulitis. I was told that they had to take a bit more of my rectum than expected. It has been one and a half years and I am having so much trouble with constipation. I take a stool softener everyday with no results. In my case, I believe it is more of a muscle issue. The stool hardens as I cannot feel the need to go until I feel the pressure. Once I feel the pressure, pushing is extremely difficult because of the lack of rectal muscles and the hardness of the stool. My stools are small and "marble-like" in size and it is still extremely difficult to expel them. I was told it could take up to a year to totally heal. Could scar tissue be my issue? Is that repairable? Any help or suggestions would be appreciated.

<p>Anyone have hard BMs and bleeding after sigmoid surgery?</p><p>I’m almost 5weeks post sigmoid removal surgery due to diverticulitis. For over a week I’ve had trouble with hard passing BMs with bright red blood. Also pain in my lower left side. I am taking Colace stool softener daily and drinking over 90 ounces of water daily. I’m scared I’ve done something to harm where the surgery connected my colon together. I did call my surgeon and received advice on what do to if things get worse. Anyone else have this?</p>

Hi Tammy, I moved your question about hard bowel movements and bleeding after sigmoid colon surgery for diverticulitis to this existing discussion:
- Colon Resection for Diverticulitis and Chronic Constipation
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/colon-resection-for-diverticulitis-and-chronic-constipation/
You may also wish to connect with members in this related discussion:
- Seeking support for recovery from diverticulitis surgery
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/seeking-support-for-recovery-from-diverticulitis-surgery/
May I ask what your surgeon suggested to do? How are you doing today?

I too have had a resection after reversal of an ileostomy. I find that Miralax or it's generic every other day plus Metamucil every night after dinner keeps everything moving smoothly.

I had the same surgery & for the same reason. My stool now comes out in small balls UNLESS I eat beans. I was also told to drink 64 oz. water daily, which I do. Since trying to eat beans daily (I even mix them in eggs) and eating more broccoli, spinach, my bowel movements are regular and not “stony”. I recently had kale (which I hated) with pineapple at a party so I made that—would be good with peaches also, and it also helped a lot. It is not as bitter as I had thought. I sincerely hope this helps you.

I found that eating beans really helped me. I put them in scrambled eggs, eat them as a snack with salad dressing and recently made kale with pineapple (peaches would be good too); again, really helped. Too, I drink 64 oz. water daily per surgeon’s instructions. Hope this helps. It did make my stool softer. Don’t know about my rectal muscles but now I feel slight urge “to go” and I try not to ignore that sign. I hope you feel better soon.

In discussions surrounding "stomach" problems ie; Constipation, etc, it shows that by comparison to other medical issues, current American Medical folks do not have curative-type answers. Looks like we are "on our own" to find solutions to Gastrological issues.

@tracy430 How are you doing now? I an seeing a surgeon next week and still on the fence about the surgery. Have a redundant colon plus DV attacks.

There is a link between DV and IBS, in your case (and mine), IBS-C. Have you tried looking at the advice for IBS-C. It is remarkable that beans help so many.

If I were you, I would try eating differently. For me, certain foods trigger a bowel that doesn't work well. Some drugs do it too. Mineral or olive oil at bed time is a lubricant for the colon and stool. Magnesium supplements can soften stools, as can prunes and figs and the like. Rhubarb is also great.

If I eat wrong, I get little pebbles or balls of poop -- from one bad/forgetful eating episode, that takes days if not a week to get over.

Look at your diet. For instance, I eat grain-free, sugar-free, lactose-free, meat-free, yolk-free, raw produce-free, low fat, and only zero or trace FODMAP foods. I do this out of need. I don't have a choice if I want a calm gut.