Problems months after colon resection surgery: What Helps?

I had surgery Nov 1 st and still am not back to where I was before. I’m 75 !
I’m not nauseous or in pain, but I evidently have incomplete emptying. I started Pelvic Floor Therapy and if no improvement I will have another test to see if I have a stricture. I’ve already had an ultrasound and a scan. My belly is always bloated. Very frustrating!

Open surgery, so not laparoscopic? I am 79 and had robotic laparoscopic surgery in 2/21 and it took a lot longer than 2 months to be back to normal. I also did not have a severe infection like you before the surgery. I had pain and sudden propulsive bowel movements which prevented me from going out much at all. . It took several months for me to feel better and now after a year and 4 months my most worrisome symptom is frequent bowel movements, 3 to 5 in a 24 hour period, which I am told might be my new normal. However, I feel well otherwise and no longer fear a diverticulitis attack from my giant diverticula.

@makatak47, why not contact Mayo Clinic in Arizona or MD Anderson in Houston, Texas directly? You did not mention having chemo at this time. Annatto tocotrienol may offer an intervention until you receive responses to your inquiries. If you are using a supplement containing tocopherol separate taking annatto tocotrienol for four hours as tocopherol will diminish annatto tocotrienol's absorption. Always consult with your health care provider before using any supplement.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6386883/
https://www.dougcookrd.com/annatto/

I had surgery April 6, 2022. I had my sigmoid colon removed due to diverticulitis and severe infection. I had been sick for about 6 weeks but kept thinking my body would fix itself. I’m 53yo healthy female….at least until then. I had open surgery and I’m still having pain at the incision site. I think I might have a hernia whicj might be causing some of the pain. I have a CT scan scheduled for 6/13. I am so frustrated! I am exhausted all the time. I am a massage therapist and am only able to do 2 or 3 massages a day now. Last night I was up most of the night and I had loose bowels and vomiting. I have felt nauseous all day. I was able to get through my work day and make it home to rest. I’m tired of feeling like this. I’m tired of complaining. I just want to feel normal again. My surgeon was wonderful but she just says I was very sick before surgery and had a major surgery and I’ll get there. I know my body and I know something isn’t right. I’m goin to start iron pills and magnesium citrate tm and D3. I don’t take any medications. When will I geel myself?

You had a colon resection? I'm living in the philippine islands and the gastroenterologist told me surgery is not possible because the tumor is right at the anus. Would you have any information about what the Mayo Clinic can do for me. My cancer is stage4 and has spread into some bones and a bit into my liver. I'm wondering if there is any hope to extend my life. I'm 74 years old.

And maybe hold off in a colonoscopy right now. Probably not good following such recent surgery. It takes a long time to heal, I have been told at least a year. Your Colon is very mad at you🤣.

My gastroenterologist advised me that my thin, ribbon-like stools following my resection meant lack of fiber. She told me to take Metamucil every day, gradually working up to two rounded teaspoons a day. It works. Still frequent bowel movements (3-6 times over 24 hours) but normal consistency and size. This 14 months after surgery.

Hi Colleen,

i had the surgery in mid of March 2022. for full thickness intussusception. as i had to sit around 10 to 30 mins to fully evacuate my bowel. part of sigmoid colon removed

however since surgery, things got worst i feel I cannot even evacuate 10% of what i used to do. only can pass stools if they are watery othersise cannot. and stools are thin like ribbon.

i feel there is some blockage at the point of surgery. had a CT scan yesterday and nothing was found. is it possible that CT scan do not detect anastomosis stricture. should i ask for colonoscopy.

My Surgeon says things will improve by time but it is getting bad, i am sure things are not moving as they should to Rectum.

Look forward to any helpful advice.

I was glad to read that you were in the bathroom 6 to 10 times day for the first year after resection. It has been over 14 months 2/4/21 since my surgery for diverticulitis and I am slowly decreasing my bathroom visits to about 3 to 6 times in a 24 hour period. I have not experienced any pain but just a slightly distended stomach and frequent bowel movements. It has helped me to take 2 teaspoons of Metamucil a day in water. My UCLA gastroenterologist told me my pencil thin stools indicated lack of fiber. I am starting to be able to eat most things but pasta seems to be a problem and rice.

@marsct, welcome. I'm sorry to hear that you're experiencing discomfort after colon surgery. May I ask how long ago you had surgery?