Problems months after colon resection surgery: What Helps?

I have a large tumor in my lower colon, and the biopsy showed cancer. I have to fly back to America to activate my medical insurance. I'm wondering if Medicare part A&B, along with my Blue Shield will cover chemotherapy? Has anybody had experience with how to pay for chemo?

I am better and life is returning to normal. I am not going to let this define me or control the activities that I have always done. I have a lot more good days,
now. Hope, you are feeling stronger, too. Let's stay in touch.

Actually, after a while it just becomes part of your life, and you manage it. I did recover much better than I thought, decided that I was in control, and it was not ever going to define me.

@jodiepage Thank you for the great advice. It has been three years since my colon re-section. I have referred to this as my “colon adventure” and my “new normal”. (I have read articles and it is now a term used by others). I also have periods of time where I am doing ok and then I will have a problem. Seems to be the way it is. I don’t panic like I did in the beginning when I was trying to figure it all out. Now, I have a plan of action that works for me. Be it medication, food choices and exercise. Of course, helpful advice from other members has been life savers. Knowing I am not alone.

Check with your doctor, first. I use prune juice. It is yucky, but if you add a spoon of butter and warm it in the microwave, it will work a lot faster for occasional constipation. It has been about four + months since my e resection. Things go along fine/normal, for a while, and then it seems there a reversal. Everything starts to get better after about four months. But, if you feel the call to go to the bathroom, things can happen a lot quicker even when there is no diarrhea.

How are you doing now @idkaren ? Hope you're ok

I had/have the same issues, still. I drank small amounts of prune juice, warmed in the microwave with a teaspoon of butter. Start out slow and see how much your body will tolerate if your doctor says it is okay. Something the surgeon seems to skip over is how painful and debilitating the surgery is for months. I am strong and it wobbled me for four months...still does but much less. The fatigue is really horrible. It does get better, and I know how frustrated you feel.
Good luck!

I know exactly what you are feeling as I also had my sigmoid colon removed/resection. I had the robotic surgery. Maybe, it will make you feel better that I also felt like I had a hernia and after four months, digestion and pain have finally subsided, substantially. Don't over-do, don't lift anything over 5 lbs. and pamper yourself. Seems it vacillates from constipation to diarrhea. Ask your doctor if you can drink prune juice, sparingly. It is a take you down surgery, but you will start to feel much better about four months afterwards. It still takes a year after major surgery to heal. Good luck and stay in touch.

The doctors decided because of my “giant” diverticula that kept getting infected, I had to have the surgery during a time when I was not severely infected. Otherwise, they were worried I would have to have emergency surgery like I believe you did. I sure did resist the surgery for over a year but I guess it was needed.
My mom had the open resection surgery in her 90s and did not seem to have many of the problems I have had. But besides more frequent bowel movements, after 14 months I am pretty much back to normal with no sudden diverticulitis attacks.
It will take you time but you will get better and be glad for the surgery. It sounds like you were in danger.

Yes, i had to be cut open….they were not able to do perform surgery laparoscopically because I was so sick and infected.