Sigmoid colon resection: What to expect for recovery?

I just had my resection done about 4 weeks ago and now I’m feeling tightness on one side of the stomach. Is this normal? Otherwise I feel fine…..please share thx

Hi Beth, four weeks is not a long time post-op. I've moved your message so that you can connect with others talking about their recovery after colon resection, like @monicaeve @kathyoung @troyhenn22 @vjs @lisag03 and many others.

Beth, if you are concerned about your symptoms, don't hesitate to contact your surgeon. Is this tightness a new feeling? Sudden? Does it feel like it is internal? Might it be part of the deep healing?

Thank you for getting back to me!

So in hindsight, the pain I was feeling around my belly button was actually a ventral hernia and diastasis recti. I’ve had it surgically repaired in 2021

I had a Colectomy in November and have never returned to normal. I have belly distention, urgency and incomplete emptying. I am trying everything recommended. I’m in Pelvic Floor Therapy, eating low fodmAp diet etc. Hoping something will kick in soon.
I’ve had every test in the book and there seems to be no other reason except the surgery.

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.

View Translation

Hi Virgo. This is the first time I have replied to a post. I had 12 inches of my large colon removed due to ischemic colitis I had for years 2/28/2022. I had your same problem with worrying about an accident. When I was in the hospital they have me
Pads they use for new moms. I found them on Amazon. I still wear one in the morning as I’m back to work. After surgery I was so worried about keeping hydrated and drank a lot of liquids. My diarrhea got worse. My Gastro doc told me to cut back because the large colon is what used to absorb the fluid now it just goes straight out so I cut back and it helped. But now I’m having issues
with constipation. Can’t win. It’s been a battle. I still have pain in my side and hip area. I went back to work at the hospital I’ve been at for 41 years at 8 weeks after surgery. It was not easy. I would have nausea after a bowel movement still do but not as bad. Our poor bodies have been through a hell of a battle. Reading all the posts has helped me so much. The old saying misery loves company.
Hang in there. I am.

Hi. Texasdeb. As you can see that was pretty much my introduction to the connection group. Resection Surgery in 2019. I’ve been able to strike a balance with my digestion/elimination processes over this 3year period. I’m regimented, so I can enjoy activities and not worry about “accidents”. The first year was challenging and frustrating at times. There’s no playbook and it can be scary not knowing what to do. I guess I can only say to you it will get better. It takes time to put all the pieces together. I’m not the same as I was before my surgery. But, I’m definitely better than when I first came home and started to figure it out. Reading your entry, I remembered those feelings, so I can understand your struggle. Just keep at it. Virgo52

It has been almost 1 year since my emergency colon resection when they removed 18 inches. For most of the 1st 9 months I was constipated unless I was on a steady diet of Dulcolax and miralax, which created other issues. My system is finally working better than it has in years. I am still taking the miralax. I do have weird twinges in my incision area, which I haven't figured out.

The gas continued for several months and is less frequent now (6 months after surgery) but not easily controlled. It is a gradual process. The first month or two is the most difficult, four months was when I realized the symptoms were subsiding and returning to normal, again. However, my digestive schedule was crazy, like on night vs. day hours. As far as the urgency...first indication and head for the bathroom for a few months. Everybody heals at a different pace. Returning to most pre-operative activities as soon as possible really helped. I used warmed prune juice with a teaspoon of butter for the constipation days (yuck), the diarrhea days you just stay close to a bathroom. My surgeon was no help post-op, either.