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Change in stool after partial colectomy

Posted by memehatter20 @memehatter20, Feb 5, 2024

Hi,
I had a partial colectomy in October, no issues with recovery. Started out with 4-7 bowel movements a day, by week #4/5 things had settled and I was going once, sometimes twice a day. Normal formed stools. However, I noticed last week that my stools are small, soft pieces and always float, smell horrible and I have an increased amount of gas, especially after eating any meal. I do not have any abdominal pain, minor bloating here and there which I assume is mainly from the gas, no nausea, no change in appetite. I have not changed anything about my diet, if anything, I have increased my water intake, also started drinking electrolyte water and just started going back to the gym (walking the track for 30 min each day).
Really not sure if this is because my bowels are still adjusting or if I am lacking something...any one experience this?

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rjjacobsen | @rjjacobsen | Jul 3, 2024
In reply to @geno77 "I just had the whole colon also removed, so now small intestine hooked to my rectum...." + (show)
@geno77

I just had the whole colon also removed, so now small intestine hooked to my rectum. I concur on the smell. Horrible and embarassing. I try and avoid public restrooms if I can. I feel like pulling a trailer with my own porta-potty! Stools are like looking at floating blackberries at times, small pencil-like at times and sometimes like coffee grounds. For the most part I handle most foods well, but depending on what that is, depends on whether it is a continuous trot to the toilet. I haven't figured out what those are yet, but I know if I eat cooked onions and some spicy I'll pay the price and beat a path to the toilet numerous times during the night. I need to get some stock in toilet paper! Besides colon cancer (which got my dad when he was 62) diagnosed in March with surgery in March, I also have/had prostate cancer in 2007. I was diagnosed with Lynch Syndrome, but I was also exposed to Agent Orange, so kind of a double whammy.

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I have found, as recommended by Mayo Clinic, that I need to take a heaping teaspoon of Metamucil (or equivalent that absorbs water) in as little water as required to make a barely drinkable slurry.

This will require some experimentation to determine how much Meta, how much water and how frequent you do it.

I do this 2 hours after breakfast (delay allows absorption of meds), a hour after lunch, 2 hours after supper (again to avoid issues with meds) and usually once overnight (3Am-4AM) when my sleep gets interrupted. If I'm on the go and can't use the power, I use Metamucil capsules.

Without the colon, water is not removed from your feces so it's like having continuous diarrhea. I was going 8-9 times a day.

The Metamucil absorbs the water and makes the stool semi-solid so the runnyness is reduced and one has less problems with control. I don't know if it helps with the odor... Thank God for restroom ventilation fans!

Hope this helps.

REPLY
2 replies
magsbrad | @magsbrad | Jul 5, 2024
In reply to @colleenyoung "@memehatter20, you've received several posts from fellow members that I hope shed some light for you...." + (show)
@colleenyoung

@memehatter20, you've received several posts from fellow members that I hope shed some light for you. Have you talked with your symptom management nurse about the change in stool? Is this your system finding your new normal?

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Yes it is getting back to normal- many thanks for the kind responses:)

REPLY
geno77 | @geno77 | Jul 5, 2024
In reply to @rjjacobsen "I have found, as recommended by Mayo Clinic, that I need to take a heaping teaspoon..." + (show)
@rjjacobsen

I have found, as recommended by Mayo Clinic, that I need to take a heaping teaspoon of Metamucil (or equivalent that absorbs water) in as little water as required to make a barely drinkable slurry.

This will require some experimentation to determine how much Meta, how much water and how frequent you do it.

I do this 2 hours after breakfast (delay allows absorption of meds), a hour after lunch, 2 hours after supper (again to avoid issues with meds) and usually once overnight (3Am-4AM) when my sleep gets interrupted. If I'm on the go and can't use the power, I use Metamucil capsules.

Without the colon, water is not removed from your feces so it's like having continuous diarrhea. I was going 8-9 times a day.

The Metamucil absorbs the water and makes the stool semi-solid so the runnyness is reduced and one has less problems with control. I don't know if it helps with the odor... Thank God for restroom ventilation fans!

Hope this helps.

Jump to this post

Thank you for responding! This is a whole new environment that I'm having to navigate and by reading the different stories and what is working for people gives me hope!

REPLY
caryn13 | @caryn13 | Mar 17 1:10pm
In reply to @rjjacobsen "I have found, as recommended by Mayo Clinic, that I need to take a heaping teaspoon..." + (show)
@rjjacobsen

I have found, as recommended by Mayo Clinic, that I need to take a heaping teaspoon of Metamucil (or equivalent that absorbs water) in as little water as required to make a barely drinkable slurry.

This will require some experimentation to determine how much Meta, how much water and how frequent you do it.

I do this 2 hours after breakfast (delay allows absorption of meds), a hour after lunch, 2 hours after supper (again to avoid issues with meds) and usually once overnight (3Am-4AM) when my sleep gets interrupted. If I'm on the go and can't use the power, I use Metamucil capsules.

Without the colon, water is not removed from your feces so it's like having continuous diarrhea. I was going 8-9 times a day.

The Metamucil absorbs the water and makes the stool semi-solid so the runnyness is reduced and one has less problems with control. I don't know if it helps with the odor... Thank God for restroom ventilation fans!

Hope this helps.

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Are you taking Metamucil four times a day?

REPLY
1 reply
caryn13 | @caryn13 | Mar 17 1:24pm

My surgeon said he removed two feet of my intestine and a portion of my rectum. I continue with similar issues as many of you have stated as well as having two balloon dilation procedures for anastomosis stricture. Has anyone had this problem?

REPLY
rjjacobsen | @rjjacobsen | Mar 17 4:10pm
In reply to @caryn13 "Are you taking Metamucil four times a day?" + (show)
@caryn13

Are you taking Metamucil four times a day?

Jump to this post

Not any more...

While it did a good job of tightening up the stool, sometimes too good, the noxious posterior gaseous emissions (flatulence) was awful... as in room clearing awful and difficult to control.

I tried reducing the amount but it still caused more problems than it was worth.

I now eat air-popped popcorn in the evening to help with the overnight period.

My sphincter is pretty effective, so I live with the looseness.

REPLY
caryn13 | @caryn13 | Mar 21 9:25am

Partial colectomy (removed two feet of large intestine) 18 months ago due to chronic Diverticulitis. Wondering what you all use for fiber--I've tried Benefiber, Metamucil, Miralax (my surgeon's recommendation) and Organic Psyllium. I believe Metamucil is responsible for some of the horrible smell in stool. Still having multiple bowel movements daily. I drink about 70 ounces of water daily (my doc's recommendation).

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