Sigmoid colon resection: What to expect for recovery?

Hello Virgo.
I understand your frustration with lack of follow up after a resection. I’m 13 weeks out. Hang in there it does get better.
I’m pain free now (don’t want to jinx it though:). However bowel movements are certainly not back to normal. Frequency is still a problem and feeling like there isn it a total elimination. I suffer from hemorrhoids as well which just adds to the problem.
I found that the 4th or 5th week I really turned a corner with regard to pain.

I’m looking forward to getting back to normal. I take FibreOne every night. I’ve been doing this since the surgery (mine was from diverticulitis) so not sure what it would be like without it, the doctor was pretty strict about that.

Not sure if any of this helps. Sometimes it’s just helpful to know someone is in the same boat. I’m going to add a probiotic to the mix and see if that helps.

I hope things continue to heal nicely for you!
A fellow Virgo

Hi Kathy. Thanks for the shout out. Yeah, like you, some changes have occurred with the colon resection. I finally had a conversation with a doctor that made sense. Each am, I have a dose of powdered ducolax and later in the day, a glass of Metamucil. It might seem like over kill, but has made a huge difference (thank you Dr Shepard!). Back to living my life and focusing on activities and relationships. Best to you virgo

sad .. as we sometimes dont know what is going on .and i feel then we are treated like fools
i know doctors x surgent know what they are doing . but it would be proper to learn bed side manner also
in there training ,it makes healing a little more faster when you kinda know what is going on in your body ....Sad god bless

I had a laparoscopic colon resection with removal of 12" of my sigmoid colon 4 weeks ago today for recurrent diverticulits, and I'm having lots of burning and stinging pain in the 6 areas where the colon was resected. The pain seems to be more severe when I'm constipated, so I've been trying a variety of measures to promote BMs, including Miralax, magnesium, colace, Linzess, and Metamucil. For some reason, the pain seems to be exacerbated when I take Metamucil, so I'm avoiding that now.

My bowels seem to be finding the new normal and I'm just glad everything seems to be working, albeit erratically at this point. Although my pain is less than it was several weeks ago, it hasn't really improved much since then. I'm taking Gabapentin, ibuprofen, and tylenol, none of which seems to help much. I was very active before the diverticulits started 3 months ago and had hoped to be back to my previous activity level, but the pain is preventing me from doing my usual exercise (biking, hiking, long walks, elliptical, etc.)

Does anyone have any idea how long can I expect this pain to continue?

Hi Glasslhalfull! Love your name. A year ago October (2019) I also had a colon resection (cancerous polyps). Lost 12-15” and 45 lymph nodes. In the sigmoid area also. I remember thinking “it’s been 4-6 weeks Shouldn’t I back to normal???” Colleen wrote in a chat that it was early days and it would be longer before I would be healed up. And it was. At times a roller coaster ride of trying different meds and diet, exercise, etc. Changing when it didn’t work or no longer worked. I was healing but it was slow going. I am an active person too. We are better off having been active prior. Fast forward one year later. October (2020), a clean colonoscopy and I’m feeling much more comfortable with how my life is moving forward. That pain, maybe it’s the scar tissue (from cutting and reattaching) inflamed w/healing. Along with the constipation there’s tendency to bear down. It can cause that while area to be achy and sting. Definitely, passing softer stool will help. That’s about drinking 8+ glasses of water each day and eating fibrous foods. A stool softener may help. In time, you might find the Metamucil more doable. I exercise daily. I walk for 1-2 hours. It’s enjoyable, so I don’t mind doing it. You can do whatever floats your boat. Just the movement helps your body move the digested food through your system. I don’t know if you ever find the “perfect” plan. It’s a process and i have found that my “new” normal is not my “old” normal, but very doable. Keep at it and keep asking. If that area is very painful, your best bet is to reach out to your doctor or surgeon. You are still in your post-op timeframe, so your surgeon is a good resource.. I drink ducolax every am, exercise, then drink metamucil in rhe afternoon before my main meal. This seems to be working for me. With the lose of colon length, I found it is very important to “poop” daily. Not as much storage as there was before my resection, Getting backed up can snow ball and then I have a problem. I hope this info will help. You’ll put all the pieces together and figure out works for you. I’m confident in that 😊virgo

Seems like me Glasshalful, xxxx Jan 2020 now jan 2021, polyp on fold ON bowel ,,, Took a year . But never be the normal again ,, still bit stinging. and sore ,But getting there , i was very out going and normal before no pains or system before hand . but on the new NORMALx

I am 4 months out. I still have quite a bit of soreness and burning/throbbing. I do find that ice packs help with the burning and bowels. I typically do ice packs when I go to bed or on days I feel particularly inflamed. I also take a stool softner and drink tons of water. I feel like I’m constantly trying new things with diet and exercise in order to figure out what works. Hang in there!!!!

Yes , do hang in ,I t gets better , But for me it took 8 months for that sorness and throbbing /tingle. now 12 monts , still tingle or little sorness when i lie on side after meal , But defo 95% better thank god ,,, x

I think that you should talk to your Surgeon. I had exactly the same surgery you had & I never had any pain afterwards. Good luck!

oceannone .. were you sore and throbbing? or tingle or stinging after , , how long did it take for you to get back to normal? x thank you