Has anyone else had their entire large colon removed?

Posted by sunshine29 @sunshine29, Jul 27 7:02pm

I had complications with my internal pouch, or BCiR & had to have 2 colon surgeries back-to-back due to an abscess from first surgery@University Hospital in Cleveland. Large colon totally removed. Have to empty bag 20x/day.

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catherine1290 | @catherine1290 | Jul 28 6:56am

I am so sorry to hear what has happened to you! I too woke up from surgery with an ileostomy! There is an ostomy support group on this chat and they are a wealth of information in how to manage this. You will get thru this and learn to live with it!

hardingv | @hardingv | Jul 29 10:51am

Do you have access to an ostomy nurse? I also have an end ileostomy and acknowledge I have to empty the bag 6-8 times a day.

But 20x far exceeds what I have experienced or heard from others and I would guess is unhealthy since you are flushing so much out of your body. I expect a WOCN could give you some suggestions (diet, etc) about how to get things more under control so that you can have a much improved quality of life.

Best wishes for finding answers.

cspain123 | @cspain123 | Jul 30 9:45am

I use to eat marshmallows and it thickened it so I didn't have as many.

janspons | @janspons | Jul 30 11:43am

This doesn't really have much to do with having an ostomy, but I had my large removed in 1996 due to UC, but was given the option of a jpouch that was reattached to my rectal cuff, so I don't have a bag. I have been having very loose stools & night incontinence. I have heard people eating marshmallows to thicken, but does the sugar affect the output? I take loperamide (up to 8/day), metamucil powder, gummies or wafers and am on Imuran & an antibiotic rotation. Just looking for options or things to try at this point. Thanks for any recommendations.