Sigmoid colon resection: What to expect for recovery?

Posted by virgo1952 @virgo1952, Dec 1, 2019

It’s been 4+weeks since my resection. Found a cancerous polyp during a routine screening. Some frustration over the lack of information given by the surgeon as to what to expect afterwards. Late 60’s so I know the healing will take time. Mostly, struggling with bowel urgency/frequency and experiencing stomach pain from gas (pretty sure) is three months s realistic time frame for returning to “normal”? I’ve seen some posts that talk about two years? No further treatment so I was lucky. If anyone has had this surgery and went through or is going through the healing process, I would love to hear from you. Just kind of out there.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Colorectal Cancer Support Group.

jamesbstarkman | @jamesbstarkman | Jan 17, 2022

15 years ago I had a so-called “Dukes B” colon resection for a cancerous polyp which protruded partially through the colon wall but did not reach the nearby lymph nodes.
Post surgery radiation following this and a subsequent radical prostate surgery were deliberately delayed 5 years so as not to inflame a previously long existing hemorrhoidal pain or irritation condition. Unfortunately, a 5 year delay only postponed that daily discomfort from which I still suffer daily. Earlier hemorrhoidal removal surgery might have been a good idea and long term fix, but I am now 86 and resist all and any elective surgery. Consult your doctor if this condition applies to you.

terrip | @terrip | Jan 9, 2022

That is great to hear you have recovered relatively well. I bet pickle ball helps you as well. We are looking into that as well.

msflimsy | @msflimsy | Jan 8, 2022

I had an emergency open colon resection early September 2021 due to a twisted colon. They removed 18". I had been experiencing on and off extreme pain for a while. I am 70. Spent 11 days in the hospital. I was back to playing pickleball 5 weeks after going home. Still taking ducolax and miralax daily, but otherwise doing very well. I too have about a 6" vertical scar.

lisag03 | @lisag03 | Sep 17, 2021

In reply to @pjebp "What caused the hernias?" + (show)

The hernias were from having so many open abdominal surgeries in a short time. It weakened the abdominal wall. My second surgery required a wound vac and therefore, the wound wasn’t sutured outside. My third surgery was laparoscopic but I developed a fistula. My fourth surgery was open as well and the umbilical hernia was most noticeable. I also ended up having diastasis recti as well as the umbilical hernia and two others. I just had surgery in June to repair them all and they repaired everything including the muscle separation. It is called component separation surgery. I had a few complications, including discovering I’m now allergic to contrast, but am back to running and barre classes

johnpug | @johnpug | Sep 17, 2021

Best of luck to you!!!

pjebp | @pjebp | Sep 17, 2021

In reply to @johnpug "Yes. I go back to the Urologist in 6 weeks and have a handful of questions..." + (show)

I'm having a LAR October 4 and there will be uro-gynecologist there to put stents in my ureters.

johnpug | @johnpug | Sep 17, 2021

In reply to @pjebp "How exactly did they find your tumor in your bladder? Was it when they went in..." + (show)

Yes. I go back to the Urologist in 6 weeks and have a handful of questions for him.

Was wondering if other folks who had a robotic sigmoidectomy had a Urologist put stents in bladder parts as a precaution?

pjebp | @pjebp | Sep 17, 2021

In reply to @lisag03 "I so agree. I know our doctors can’t tell us what we will end up like,..." + (show)

What caused the hernias?

pjebp | @pjebp | Sep 17, 2021

In reply to @johnpug "Good morning folks. My cancer journey started in May. Woke up one morning to bed soaked..." + (show)

@johnpug

Good morning folks. My cancer journey started in May. Woke up one morning to bed soaked in blood from rectal bleeding*. Saw my PCP the same morning who got me into a GI Doctor 2 days later. Colonoscopy done 2 days later. Results of the colonoscopy: 6 polyps found; 5 removed; the 6th was too large (6cm) to completely remove. Polyp biopsies were negative much to the surprise of the GI Doc and myself*.

Referred to a Surgeon to perform an endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) to remove the 6cm polyp; happened on 1 July. After the ESD I was informed there was a small amount dysplasia on the removed polyp and a week later the Surgeon confirmed that it was cancer and referred me to a Surgeon #2.

Surgeon #2 immediately scheduled bloodwork and CT scan and 4 days later I met him. Bloodwork (CEA levels normal) and CT scan (cancer did not spread outside of colon) were good; Surgeon #2 answered all my questions and scheduled a robotic sigmoidectomy for 9 August.

The morning of my sigmoidectomy a Urologist showed up to let me know Surgeon #2 was being cautious and wanted stint(s) in parts of my bladder so Surgeon #2 didn’t accidentally cut them – sounded like a good idea. Surgery was around 4 hours. Woke up in recovery; was in moderate/severe pain and couldn’t feel any of my fingers. Hung out there for 3 hours. Moved to a room. The first night I was in a severe pain (meds did nothing); walking helped. The Urologist stopped by day #2 informed he found a tumor in my bladder; bioposy results in a week (sigh). Got feeling back in my left hand. I insisted on pain meds every 4 hours to stay ahead of my pain. Made sure to walk as much as I could. Drank lots of water. Didn’t eat much. Didn't sleep much. Released day #3.

At home I continued to take pain meds every 4 hours for a couple of days. Feeling in my right hand returned. Continued to walk and drink lots of water. Tried to sleep in a bed. Big no no. Ended up sleeping in a recliner for 5 days (ugh sleep). Surgeon #2 called me and told the biopsies were negative and no chemo required; woohoo!!!! Urologist called me and told me the bladder tumor was negative, but was skeptical and wants to see me in November; believe I have a cystoscopy in my future. Had random swelling in my right foot and Surgeon #2 wanted me to see a Podiatrist. Podiatrist said the swelling was unrelated to the sigmoidectomy, although I’m not convinced the swelling in my body just didn’t find other joints to bother. Was off the pain meds 8 days later.

5 weeks later. BMs are fleeting, laxatives required. Eating is iffy; learned the hard way to stay away from fatty, greasy, spicy, and rich foods & very limited dairy. Back to work full time. Doing moderate cardio and light weight lifting until Surgeon #2 gives me the go ahead to do more.

That’s my cancer journey to date. If it wasn’t for the initial bleeding, who knows how bad the cancer may have gotten in my colon / other organs. I’m 48 and probably wouldn’t have gotten a colonoscopy for 2 years. If it wasn’t for Surgeon #2 being overly cautious and having a Urologist around for my sigmoidectomy, the bladder tumor never would have been found. To say I’m lucky is an understatement.

Good luck to everyone dealing with any cancer. It’s a giant pile of suck. Find good doctors to guide your care and great friends to support you!

* The bleeding was from the 6cm polyp.
* I did ask the GI Doc if it was possible if there could be cancer on what was remaining of the 6cm polyp despite the biopsy of the parts that he cut off during the colonoscopy being negative, he said yes.

Jump to this post

How exactly did they find your tumor in your bladder? Was it when they went in to put the stents in your ureters for the surgery?