1. < Digestive Health

I have had Key hole laparoscopic bowel surgery 3 weeks ago

Posted by andoman @andoman, Nov 24, 2023

I had Key hole laparoscopic bowel surgery on my big bowel 3 weeks ago due to severe diverticulitis.
After being released from hospital everything looked good, started to poop and thought this is great. Then 2 days later I got severe diarrhoea and 2 days later I felt ill so I went to my doctor who gave me antibiotics as she thought I may have eaten something that caused upset stomach.
After another day my diarrhoea went away and I felt like I was returning to normal.
Then I started getting a bit bloated as my bowels had now stopped and after 3 days I really started to feel oh no what’s going on now. Then I felt like a poop but when I go, it’s very small amount.
Today I wake up tired, no energy and have pain in my left side (where my the surgeon removed 35cm of bowel 3 weeks ago) then later in the morning I felt pains in my stomach all over. I managed to poop a little . . . then all day long I’ve had to poop a very small amount probably 7 times now . .
Are you suppose to feel like this after 3 weeks recovery from Bowel surgery ?
I’m scared I have an issue so I’d like to hear from other people who have had this surgery to how they went. Should I be worried as to what’s happening or is it normal ? I feel bloated still and feel things going on in my stomach. Any advice would be very welcome.
Thank you

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catherine1290 | @catherine1290 | Nov 27, 2023
In reply to @pb50 "Good to know - so all yogurts contain live cultures now?" + (show)
@pb50

Good to know - so all yogurts contain live cultures now?

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As I said, read the labels before choosing. Most of them do.

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andoman | @andoman | Nov 27, 2023
In reply to @hopeful33250 "Hello @andoman, I noticed in your first post that your surgery was just 3 weeks ago...." + (show)
@hopeful33250

Hello @andoman,

I noticed in your first post that your surgery was just 3 weeks ago. Your body does need time to adjust and recover to this "new normal."

Frequent, light meals will undoubtedly help. Probiotics are also good. I used Kefir for a morning smoothie. It is high in probiotics (but yogurt is also good). Kefir tastes quite sour, so you need to put it in a blender with some fruits. I usually use half of a banana, some frozen fruit to make it frothy and then blend it. Sometimes I add some peanut butter powder to give me some additional protein.

If you want to take an additional probiotic, lots of GI doctors recommend Align, but I've tried other good brands that seem to help as well. You can always talk to your doctor of pharmacist regarding a good brand of probiotics.

Keep positive, this does tend to get better, but it requires developing new eating habits and of course, patience with the process.

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Thank you for the probiotics you use, will look into this. Will start eating yogurt as well.
I’m still going to the loo so much it drives me nuts. So far I’m up to 9 times. I hope this gets to a more reasonable level. I’m trying to eat smaller so it may help but definitely lost a lot of weight.

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1 reply
andoman | @andoman | Nov 27, 2023
In reply to @pb50 "Bless your heart. People who have never had a colon/bowel disorder that means you not only..." + (show)
@pb50

Bless your heart. People who have never had a colon/bowel disorder that means you not only can’t leave your home, you sometimes can’t go further than the threshold to the Loo, will never understand the mental pain that comes with it. I am currently in control of my microscopic Colitis, but 7 months of sheer hell preceded that state.

I would ask my doc about adding anything this week - even probiotics.

Hang in .. and keep us posted.

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I feel ok but this going to the toilet every 2 hours is crazy . . , it’s driving me nuts as I can go very far from the loo. How do people survive like this ? it’s quite depressing to be honest.
I know my surgery wasn’t long ago so I’m in hope, that it will settle and I go less frequently so I can live life.

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2 replies
andoman | @andoman | Nov 27, 2023
In reply to @catherine1290 "I sincerely sympathize with your issues. It sounds like the metamucil is slowing things down. The..." + (show)
@catherine1290

I sincerely sympathize with your issues. It sounds like the metamucil is slowing things down. The jelly like consistency is due to taking it. Any yogurt on the market is a good source for probiotics. Read the labels for the best one!

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Yes it slowed things down a little but still going so many times . . As for the jelly consistency, I had that also before I took Metamucil so something isn’t working properly. I advised my surgeon and I’ve just had another CT Scan with dye to see if it shows anything.

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1 reply
pb50 | @pb50 | Nov 28, 2023
In reply to @andoman "I feel ok but this going to the toilet every 2 hours is crazy . ...." + (show)
@andoman

I feel ok but this going to the toilet every 2 hours is crazy . . , it’s driving me nuts as I can go very far from the loo. How do people survive like this ? it’s quite depressing to be honest.
I know my surgery wasn’t long ago so I’m in hope, that it will settle and I go less frequently so I can live life.

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Trust me, I know. It’s very depressing. Keep trying to eat - have you tried bananas ?

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1 reply
catherine1290 | @catherine1290 | Nov 28, 2023
In reply to @andoman "Yes it slowed things down a little but still going so many times . . As..." + (show)
@andoman

Yes it slowed things down a little but still going so many times . . As for the jelly consistency, I had that also before I took Metamucil so something isn’t working properly. I advised my surgeon and I’ve just had another CT Scan with dye to see if it shows anything.

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Let's hope the CT scan will show what is going on. Please keep in touch.

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1 reply
anniegk | @anniegk | Nov 28, 2023
In reply to @andoman "Thank you for your reply. I did see my GP and also had a call from..." + (show)
@andoman

Thank you for your reply. I did see my GP and also had a call from my surgeon from the hospital. He thinks my body hasn’t adjusted to the new plumbing so to speak and try taking Metamucil to slow things down and firm things up - it’s slowed me going to the bathroom a bit but I’m still needing to go every 3-4 hours. It’s so annoying as I feel I can’t go anywhere or do anything.
My surgeon wants me to update him in a week. One thing that I’ve never seen ever, I have jelly like stool, never heard of that before.
Reading other stories from people on here makes me feel at least I’m not a lone with this problem. I may try taking probiotics but have no idea of good ones to take, any ideas ?

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Florestor.

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1 reply
pb50 | @pb50 | Nov 28, 2023

110,000 buyers on Amazon health believe this one is the best. I haven’t taken it but it has the cultures I would look for.

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2 replies
pb50 | @pb50 | Nov 28, 2023
In reply to @anniegk "Florestor." + (show)
@anniegk

Florestor.

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When do you expect to see results of your CT Scan?

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