Thank you for your quick reply. Quality of life is important for sure. I have been very athletic all my life and work as a professor of community health. I'm 65 and otherwise healthy, not thin but healthy otherwise. I'd be happy to make lifestyle change - I'm gluten and dairy free now, but would do almost anything to get rid of this weird belly. It gets hard as a rock and so uncomfortable, but no one can seem to get a handle on it. I'll certainly keep you posted if I find anything. Best wishes!
I am in the same situation. 2 months after colon resection and my stomach super bloated and painful. I had two previous abdominal surgeries and i am 31 years old. Surgeon and doctors have done ct scans and says "everything is fine" with me.
Thank you for your quick reply. Quality of life is important for sure. I have been very athletic all my life and work as a professor of community health. I'm 65 and otherwise healthy, not thin but healthy otherwise. I'd be happy to make lifestyle change - I'm gluten and dairy free now, but would do almost anything to get rid of this weird belly. It gets hard as a rock and so uncomfortable, but no one can seem to get a handle on it. I'll certainly keep you posted if I find anything. Best wishes!
Hi Colleen, I’ve been reading about other problems with abdominal swelling and although it is reassuring, I wish that someone would figure out why this was happening. My surgeon keeps telling me everything is fine, my oncologist tells me that the chronic diarrhea and swelling is “normal”, but no one can suggest why. I had stage 2A colon ca at the transverse colon near my liver. I had 22 lymph nodes removed and all were fine. Since then, I have had chronic problems. That was 4 years ago now. My gastro doc found that I had SIBO, which happens frequently with this surgery according to her. But even so, I have had to buy new clothes to fit around my belly, I can’t wear a bra or anything tight around my waist. I’m lucky, I know, believe me. But there MUST be a reason for this. Thank you so much!
Hi @osafo, welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I can understand your frustration. So often there is a disconnect between the surgeon or physician's assessment of "everything's A-okay" and the patients' reality of living with a condition or after effects of treatment. More and more medical professionals are looking at survivorship and the impact of treatment on quality of life, and studying these long-term effects more closely. Through quality of life studies more solutions are being found. Wanting the best possible quality of life is compatible with being grateful to be alive. Right?
Welcome to Connect, @alamicday. I'm afraid there doesn't appear to be a definitive answer to this question. Have you spoken to you surgeon about your concerns? If something doesn't seem right, I encourage you to ask questions.
Hi Colleen, I’ve been reading about other problems with abdominal swelling and although it is reassuring, I wish that someone would figure out why this was happening. My surgeon keeps telling me everything is fine, my oncologist tells me that the chronic diarrhea and swelling is “normal”, but no one can suggest why. I had stage 2A colon ca at the transverse colon near my liver. I had 22 lymph nodes removed and all were fine. Since then, I have had chronic problems. That was 4 years ago now. My gastro doc found that I had SIBO, which happens frequently with this surgery according to her. But even so, I have had to buy new clothes to fit around my belly, I can’t wear a bra or anything tight around my waist. I’m lucky, I know, believe me. But there MUST be a reason for this. Thank you so much!
I never had such a big belly until i had my surgery. I have talked to my Dr. about it and he does`nt seem concernerd.There is no discomfort but I would like to know what caused it to get this big.Silly question but were my intestines put back in a bunch? Should they have been arranged in a certain way There has to be a reason. nannytart
I never had such a big belly until i had my surgery. I have talked to my Dr. about it and he does`nt seem concernerd.There is no discomfort but I would like to know what caused it to get this big.Silly question but were my intestines put back in a bunch? Should they have been arranged in a certain way There has to be a reason. nannytart
I have the same problem. My surgery was 2 years ago. Suddenly about 4 months ago my stomach has become quite the "beer belly". I casually asked the dr about it and he wasn't concerned. Said it was scar tissue and weight. I haven't gained weight but he said weight can shift. I hope it doesn't get any bigger.
@chicagolinda@colleenyoung Hi ladies sorry for the delayed response. I been moving and still am. Just decided to take a break and catch up on connect.
@chicagolinda My right side feels a bit larger than before too. I seriously think it is cause i babied my stomach too much. I do have that round tummy now. I used to hike the beach but stopped doing that cause of red tide. Ya wonder how of this is age? Plus my stomach muscles are so weak now, from having 3 surgeries in that over the last 14 years. @colleenyoung we just purchased a house with a pool so I will let you know if swimming makes a difference? It is even hard since the surgery to do sit ups like I used too. A combination of age and surgeries plays a number on our bodies.
Being in my mid 50's, it is not as easy to loose weight like I once did. Plus I think we tend to sit more than we did in our 40's. At least I do.. It starts to catch up with you that sluggish metabolism.
Long walks is another good exercise to work the core.. Or using an exercise ball. There are many core exercises on that. Planks may help too...
Linda I am also originally from the suburbs of Chicago..
I also had colon surgery to remove a tumor and here 8 months later I find that I have that beer belly going on and a right sided bump. Have you done anything other than swimming, I would love to hear about it because I need to get rid of this. Im happy to hear you are doing so well.
Hi @chicagolinda, welcome to Connect. I believe that you were directing your question about exercise after colon surgery was directed at @travelgirl. I've tagged her on this message to make sure she sees your question.
Have you talked to your surgeon about your concerns of the extended stomach? Swimming or aquatic exercises are a gentle way to get back into physical activity. Do you like getting into a pool? Or are you looking for different options?
I also had a foot of my colon removed in January due to having stage 1 cecum cancer. I wonder if some of that is scare tissue? I noticed my right ride is tad bigger than my left side. I was always super thin. But since my surgergy I gained about 10 pounds. My stomach is no longer flat .. I think some of that has to do with my body adjusting to the new and improved plumbing systems. It has been 8 months since my surgery, for four of those months I couldn't do a thing. So I gained weight.
Then I started very slowly to exercise again. And I feel a great deal of pulling on my right side. My surgeon says that is scar tissue. Plus I been babying my stomach. Which doesn't help it at all. I noticed I seem to retain extra water too. Exercising seems to help. I started swimming and doing exercises in a pool. That seems to help a great deal. Not sure if you have access to a pool? But try exercising in a pool. It has helped a lot to getting over babying of that area.
I also had colon surgery to remove a tumor and here 8 months later I find that I have that beer belly going on and a right sided bump. Have you done anything other than swimming, I would love to hear about it because I need to get rid of this. Im happy to hear you are doing so well.
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I am in the same situation. 2 months after colon resection and my stomach super bloated and painful. I had two previous abdominal surgeries and i am 31 years old. Surgeon and doctors have done ct scans and says "everything is fine" with me.
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1 ReactionThank you for your quick reply. Quality of life is important for sure. I have been very athletic all my life and work as a professor of community health. I'm 65 and otherwise healthy, not thin but healthy otherwise. I'd be happy to make lifestyle change - I'm gluten and dairy free now, but would do almost anything to get rid of this weird belly. It gets hard as a rock and so uncomfortable, but no one can seem to get a handle on it. I'll certainly keep you posted if I find anything. Best wishes!
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Hug
2 ReactionsHi @osafo, welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I can understand your frustration. So often there is a disconnect between the surgeon or physician's assessment of "everything's A-okay" and the patients' reality of living with a condition or after effects of treatment. More and more medical professionals are looking at survivorship and the impact of treatment on quality of life, and studying these long-term effects more closely. Through quality of life studies more solutions are being found. Wanting the best possible quality of life is compatible with being grateful to be alive. Right?
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Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionHi Colleen, I’ve been reading about other problems with abdominal swelling and although it is reassuring, I wish that someone would figure out why this was happening. My surgeon keeps telling me everything is fine, my oncologist tells me that the chronic diarrhea and swelling is “normal”, but no one can suggest why. I had stage 2A colon ca at the transverse colon near my liver. I had 22 lymph nodes removed and all were fine. Since then, I have had chronic problems. That was 4 years ago now. My gastro doc found that I had SIBO, which happens frequently with this surgery according to her. But even so, I have had to buy new clothes to fit around my belly, I can’t wear a bra or anything tight around my waist. I’m lucky, I know, believe me. But there MUST be a reason for this. Thank you so much!
I had colon resection 3 months ago and my stomach still doesn’t look right too !
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1 ReactionMy stomach looks like I’m 6 months pregnant. Did your stomach ever get back to normal looking?
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1 ReactionI have the same problem. My surgery was 2 years ago. Suddenly about 4 months ago my stomach has become quite the "beer belly". I casually asked the dr about it and he wasn't concerned. Said it was scar tissue and weight. I haven't gained weight but he said weight can shift. I hope it doesn't get any bigger.
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1 Reaction@chicagolinda @colleenyoung Hi ladies sorry for the delayed response. I been moving and still am. Just decided to take a break and catch up on connect.
@chicagolinda My right side feels a bit larger than before too. I seriously think it is cause i babied my stomach too much. I do have that round tummy now. I used to hike the beach but stopped doing that cause of red tide. Ya wonder how of this is age? Plus my stomach muscles are so weak now, from having 3 surgeries in that over the last 14 years. @colleenyoung we just purchased a house with a pool so I will let you know if swimming makes a difference? It is even hard since the surgery to do sit ups like I used too. A combination of age and surgeries plays a number on our bodies.
Being in my mid 50's, it is not as easy to loose weight like I once did. Plus I think we tend to sit more than we did in our 40's. At least I do.. It starts to catch up with you that sluggish metabolism.
Long walks is another good exercise to work the core.. Or using an exercise ball. There are many core exercises on that. Planks may help too...
Linda I am also originally from the suburbs of Chicago..
I wish you the best
Jackie
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4 ReactionsHi @chicagolinda, welcome to Connect. I believe that you were directing your question about exercise after colon surgery was directed at @travelgirl. I've tagged her on this message to make sure she sees your question.
Have you talked to your surgeon about your concerns of the extended stomach? Swimming or aquatic exercises are a gentle way to get back into physical activity. Do you like getting into a pool? Or are you looking for different options?
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Helpful -
Hug
2 ReactionsI also had colon surgery to remove a tumor and here 8 months later I find that I have that beer belly going on and a right sided bump. Have you done anything other than swimming, I would love to hear about it because I need to get rid of this. Im happy to hear you are doing so well.
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3 Reactions