1. < Colorectal Cancer

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.

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apinzonc0627 | @apinzonc0627 | Oct 25, 2022
In reply to @hopeful33250 "That is great, @apinzonc0627. I hope that all your follow-ups continue to go well. Will you..." + (show)
@hopeful33250

That is great, @apinzonc0627. I hope that all your follow-ups continue to go well. Will you post again and keep in touch?

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Es correcto @hopeful33250, Seguiré publicando, ya me interesa saber todo sobre este tema y saber las experiencias de otros, en esto que afecta a muchos en el mundo.

Saludos

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Mentor
Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Oct 25, 2022
In reply to @apinzonc0627 "Si es correcto mi medico Oncólogo, le está dando seguimiento ya me hizo uno después de..." + (show)
@apinzonc0627

Si es correcto mi medico Oncólogo, le está dando seguimiento ya me hizo uno después de los 6 meses de la operación y todo salió bien, ahora me toca otro para febrero del 2023.

Saludos
Antonio

Jump to this post

That is great, @apinzonc0627. I hope that all your follow-ups continue to go well. Will you post again and keep in touch?

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1 reply
apinzonc0627 | @apinzonc0627 | Oct 24, 2022
In reply to @hopeful33250 "Hello @apinzonc0627 and welcome to Mayo Connect. I am sorry that I did not see your..." + (show)
@hopeful33250

Hello @apinzonc0627 and welcome to Mayo Connect. I am sorry that
I did not see your posts earlier. I am glad that your surgery and recovery were so successful.

Generally, after finding a polyp there are follow-up exams. Has your doctor given you a schedule for follow-ups?

Jump to this post

Si es correcto mi medico Oncólogo, le está dando seguimiento ya me hizo uno después de los 6 meses de la operación y todo salió bien, ahora me toca otro para febrero del 2023.

Saludos
Antonio

REPLY
1 reply
ppat4pr | @ppat4pr | Oct 24, 2022
In reply to @jodiepage "I had similar reactions, and it is frustrating. At 2 1/2 months life and my confidence..." + (show)
@jodiepage

I had similar reactions, and it is frustrating. At 2 1/2 months life and my confidence to go out and be more independent (with reservation and knowing the location of the bathroom) helped me started to return to normal. By then I seemed to have a better grasp on scheduling and the foods tolerated. Four months and suddenly everything seemed to get much better rapidly.

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My doctor was not concerned about my bowel movements as long as there was no pain. Aside from gas pain once, I do not usually have pain but I do have IBS. Glad my post was helpful. Best of luck to you.

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jodiepage | @jodiepage | Oct 24, 2022
In reply to @ppat4pr "Thank you for this post. I am very concerned that I only have very small bowel..." + (show)
@ppat4pr

Thank you for this post. I am very concerned that I only have very small bowel movements. Will try fiber (Metamucil) & at least 64 oz. Hydration daily. My surgery was 4 months ago; going for MRI.

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I have smaller movements, often, after nearly 9 months. Talk to your doctor so he/she can determine if this is part of the new normal for you. My schedule is still not like before, but I feel so much better and have adjusted. Four months after the surgery things started to get so much better.

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jodiepage | @jodiepage | Oct 24, 2022
In reply to @leslieroberta "Hi, I’m 66 and had a reversal 11 days ago. Overall, I’m doing well but I’m..." + (show)
@leslieroberta

Hi,
I’m 66 and had a reversal 11 days ago. Overall, I’m doing well but I’m having several bowl movements a day which is inconvenient and rectally painful. I’m still eating soft foods as I haven’t even had my 8 week post-op visit yet. My sigmoid colon was completely removed as well as part of my colon so I’m wondering if the much shorter colon will cause permanent BM’s on a daily basis. Has anyone experienced this?

Jump to this post

I had similar reactions, and it is frustrating. At 2 1/2 months life and my confidence to go out and be more independent (with reservation and knowing the location of the bathroom) helped me started to return to normal. By then I seemed to have a better grasp on scheduling and the foods tolerated. Four months and suddenly everything seemed to get much better rapidly.

REPLY
1 reply
Mentor
Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Oct 24, 2022
In reply to @apinzonc0627 "Yo fui operado con una resección del Colon Sigmoide, en Enero de este año, me encontraron..." + (show)
@apinzonc0627

Yo fui operado con una resección del Colon Sigmoide, en Enero de este año, me encontraron un pólipo que se me reventó canceroso, gracias a Dios ,he tenido un excelente recuperación y tengo una vida normal , no tuve la necesidad de ningún tratamiento hasta hora solo control y todo marcha excelente.

Jump to this post

Hello @apinzonc0627 and welcome to Mayo Connect. I am sorry that
I did not see your posts earlier. I am glad that your surgery and recovery were so successful.

Generally, after finding a polyp there are follow-up exams. Has your doctor given you a schedule for follow-ups?

REPLY
1 reply
bernedoodlebailey | @bernedoodlebailey | Oct 19, 2022

Hi. I’m so glad I found this site. I’m seeing a surgeon next week for sigmoid removal and re/section. My colonoscopy today was aborted due to edema. In my report it stated “ middle of stricture with blanched mucosa” along with pics. I have no idea what that means! I was a assuming this surgery would relieve my symptoms. After reading these posts I’m doubtful it will…ugh.

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2 replies
shelamac65 | @shelamac65 | Oct 18, 2022
In reply to @mweisslasvegas "Hello everyone. I had my 1st colonoscopy 3 weeks ago (57yrs) and they found a non..." + (show)
@mweisslasvegas

Hello everyone. I had my 1st colonoscopy 3 weeks ago (57yrs) and they found a non obstructing mass not too far in is the best I can describe it. the pathology came back as pre cancerous so I had a robotic assisted colon resection. This took place 3 days ago. The surgeon I feel was very informative regarding what he was going to do, I actually had a crowd of people talking to me while getting prepped for the procedure, it was very impressive. So the surgery took place at 10am. I was admitted afterwards then at 6am the next morning the surgeon arrived and told me that I had extremely defined stomach muscles that he had never experienced before and that it was a little difficult to get past them. I apologize for taking so long. My concern is this, I was released to go home that afternoon as long as I could function completely, urinate, pass gas, bowel movement and able to walk unassisted. I was all good. Now that I have been home I experienced an extreme burning type pain in my right side groin area when I am trying to sit or stand up. Pain meds dont even knock the edge off of it. It does stop a soon as Im either sitting or standing. Is it because of the muscles being cut or ? I feel sore in the rest of my stomach near the inscissions but it's nothing compared the sharp burning in the groin!! I keep reading everyone is having a long recovery process and I hope everyone gets better. I think I everything is good but that sharp pain scares the hell out of me. I apologize again, I really need to get this out. Thanks anyone that has read this far! As I said I received a lot of info going in but not much of what to expect afterwards about recovery. Has anyone had a moderate to short recovery period with this kind of surgery?

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I certainly thought your situation needed a longer explanation so I didn’t mind reading it through at all. I had my sigmoid colon removed , a resection ( basically 25% of my colon. No cancer, thankfully. Yes I left 2 days after surgery as well. Surprised by that but the medical staff believes you heal faster at home.
My pain is near or below my incision especially when I sneeze, cough., lift heavy objects. Frustrating but a CT Scan showed nothing alarming. I thought I had a hernia, not sure that I don’t. I’m tolerating a regular diet well, but small meals are best, my surgery was 5 months ago, not 100% yet but I’m walking more, trying to exercise. Hang in there! It’s a journey!

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music5052 | @music5052 | Sep 25, 2022
In reply to @kathyoung "I’ve been getting better every day. I spoke with my surgeon late last week, he told..." + (show)
@kathyoung

I’ve been getting better every day. I spoke with my surgeon late last week, he told me my pathology came back and there was no cancer or anything nasty. I’ve been taking Fibre One every night and I am now on a “regular” diet. I also take a stool softener every day.
I occasionally get pains that remind me of how it felt when I was having a bout of diverticulitis. That scares me! So far they haven’t to amounted to anything.
Thank you for asking. I hope everyone is staying safe and healing well.

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I too have bouts of pain at times that feel like my bouts of diverticulitis felt. I am two months and one week following my surgery. Hoping mine don't amount to anything either.

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