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.

Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Mar 11 6:23am

In reply to @stanley23 "Apologies not cancer related" + (show)

Hi @stanley23,

No apology is needed! If you would like to read posts about sigmoid surgery in the Digestive Health support group, here is a link to those conversations,
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/digestive-gastrointestinal-problems/?search=sigmoid#discussion-listview
Some of these posts might be related to a cancer diagnosis, but many are not cancer-related. How are you feeling now?

charlie1958 | @charlie1958 | Mar 11 10:15am

In reply to @colleenyoung "@charlie1958, good to hear that the burning sensation stopped for you. How are you doing now?..." + (show)

Hi Colleen,
I have just realized that my response was in a cancer-retlated group. I had done a search for "colon resection", and saw @saintangered post about the burning, and thought I could offer my own experience with this burning sensation. Apologies.
I guess a GI group is where I should be?

Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Mar 11 10:56am

In reply to @charlie1958 "Hi Colleen, I have just realized that my response was in a cancer-retlated group. I had..." + (show)

Hi @charlie1958,

I just posted a link to other discussions about sigmoid surgery from the Digestive Health support group. I think you will find others there who can share with you.

sdwoman | @sdwoman | Mar 21 7:38am

I had removal of my sigmoid colon in early January. I never felt that I had recovered. Was still having pain and severe pressure making me feel as if my insides were falling out. In late April I had an attack of severe pain and I started having severe internal bleeding which was none stop. I ended up passing out in a pool of blood. My husband rushed me to the ER at the hospital where my surgery was performed. The blood continued to pour out of me. After 3 colonoscopies 3 Ct scans and 2 nuclear medicine full body scans there was still no definitive answer as to what was the cause of the bleeding. I received 9 blood transfusions but as the doctors told me, I was losing blood quicker then they could even replace with transfusion. The decision was made to take me back to the OR to see if they could find the source. They ended up removing the entire right side of my colon. Since this surgery in early May I continue to have intense pain and pressure every single day. I am barely able to function. I have been told many different responses from my surgeon, gastroenterologist and my family doctor with the most common response was healing from these surgeries could take “a year or two”. I struggle with severe constpation and even after using a prescription med, stool softener, suppositories, and at least 15 other supplements the results don’t change. I wonder if this is just a lifelong problem. That will never go away. All I know is that I cannot go on for the rest of my life in constant pain. Has anyone had similar problems after colon removal and if so have you found a solution. I can’t take this pain anymore. I’d like to hear from anyone who has a similar condition I am now 10 months post surgery. Thanks for taking the time to read this long question. I appreciate it

angelaandres1991 | @angelaandres1991 | Mar 28 9:13pm

Hi, I had my entire colon out, they were able to attach so now bag. I was told very honestly that I would not feel the same old self for 2 years! I would feel better of course in 6 to 8 weeks, but I would not be myself for 2 years. At the 2 yr mark, I woke up one day and realized I felt good, really good. They were right. 2 years

sdwoman | @sdwoman | Mar 31 5:51pm

In reply to @angelaandres1991 "Hi, I had my entire colon out, they were able to attach so now bag. I..." + (show)

Thank you so much for your response. I am so glad to hear that there was truth in what they have been telling me regarding the time it takes to completely heal.
Thanks for giving me hope!
Hugs

angelaandres1991 | @angelaandres1991 | Mar 31 9:23pm

In reply to @sdwoman "Thank you so much for your response. I am so glad to hear that there was..." + (show)

Oh I am so happy that helped! I wish I had been able to talk to someone when I had my surgery in 2017. I will be very honest with you on my journey. I live pretty normal, but my life is different. My family is wonderful & so supportive so that helps. 3 yrs after my surgery I had to do it again because they removed my large intestine, 3 yrs ltr the small intestine tangled up in knots, so I did the whole thing again!! Lucky me

angelaandres1991 | @angelaandres1991 | Mar 31 9:32pm

In reply to @sdwoman "I had removal of my sigmoid colon in early January. I never felt that I had..." + (show)

I have no idea if this is the same thing as what happened to me or not, but I had my large intestine removed in 2017. I was told in would take 2 yrs to feel back to normal. I never felt back to normal until the 2 yr mark, I kept saying something was “off” from day 1, but just lived with it. 3 yrs after the surgery, I ended up back in surgery, the small intestine had completely closed off, was in knots, so they had to take it out, unknot it and stretch it out, and put it back in.
I feel great now!!
I wish you the success in finding out what is wrong, but trust yourself, you know something is not right. Xoxoxo