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!
ok dear .. i am 18months after bowel resection , and yes same as You osafo , .. swelling tummy , cant were jeans any more or anything tight on tummy,,, same had to but leggings as nothing fits over my swelling tummy ,,
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.
Hi Gustavo,
There are some things that I’ve noticed as I started a journal. One is that if I have difficulty sleeping (which happens to me at least once or twice a week), then the abdominal swelling, bloating and diarrhea is much worse. The second thing is that I increased my prebiotic and probiotics each day. That also helps. Recently I got a membership to a company that delivers organic frozen fruit and veggies and I started making smoothies every day. I have not been able to eat fresh veggies for the last several years and I miss salads terribly. For me, this has helped me with feeling so “broken” if that makes sense. I’ve found that there is no help from my doctors, so I will take charge and not depend on them for help with this issue. I have one more check up next July for my 5 years meeting. My goal for next year is to have a plan that works so I can live and continue to get better.
Colleen, your welcome to me meant the world and it gave me an emotional “push” to take the bull by the horns.
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..
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ok dear .. i am 18months after bowel resection , and yes same as You osafo , .. swelling tummy , cant were jeans any more or anything tight on tummy,,, same had to but leggings as nothing fits over my swelling tummy ,,
Hi Gustavo,
There are some things that I’ve noticed as I started a journal. One is that if I have difficulty sleeping (which happens to me at least once or twice a week), then the abdominal swelling, bloating and diarrhea is much worse. The second thing is that I increased my prebiotic and probiotics each day. That also helps. Recently I got a membership to a company that delivers organic frozen fruit and veggies and I started making smoothies every day. I have not been able to eat fresh veggies for the last several years and I miss salads terribly. For me, this has helped me with feeling so “broken” if that makes sense. I’ve found that there is no help from my doctors, so I will take charge and not depend on them for help with this issue. I have one more check up next July for my 5 years meeting. My goal for next year is to have a plan that works so I can live and continue to get better.
Colleen, your welcome to me meant the world and it gave me an emotional “push” to take the bull by the horns.
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2 ReactionsI 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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Helpful -
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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