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Problems months after colon resection surgery: What Helps?

Posted by joyce1 @joyce1, Feb 25, 2017

Three months after colon resection I had a severe stomach cramp this morning and have not had a bowel movement yet. This is the first time this has happened. So far things have been good.

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robinmacdonald | @robinmacdonald | Apr 25, 2022
In reply to @marsct "Hi Colleen, i had the surgery in mid of March 2022. for full thickness intussusception. as..." + (show)
Profile picture for marsct @marsct

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.

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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🤣.

REPLY
Profile picture for robinmacdonald
robinmacdonald | @robinmacdonald | Apr 25, 2022
In reply to @marsct "Hi Colleen, i had the surgery in mid of March 2022. for full thickness intussusception. as..." + (show)
Profile picture for marsct @marsct

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.

Jump to this post

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.

REPLY
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marsct | @marsct | Apr 25, 2022

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.

REPLY
3 replies
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robinmacdonald | @robinmacdonald | Apr 24, 2022
In reply to @snowboardinc "I too had surgery in 2020(August) and still have pain around the repaired site when digesting..." + (show)
Profile picture for snowboardinc @snowboardinc

I too had surgery in 2020(August) and still have pain around the repaired site when digesting most meals. I am finally spending less time in the bathroom. The first year i was in there 6-10 times a day. Luckily I work from home. Hopefully, you will gain some regularity with time and learn to balance when to eat and to venture out. Hang in there!

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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.

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Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Apr 24, 2022
In reply to @marsct "I got similar surgery and having same issue. look like stools do not move to rectum...." + (show)
Profile picture for marsct @marsct

I got similar surgery and having same issue. look like stools do not move to rectum.
just hope it get better by time. but very worried.

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

REPLY
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marsct | @marsct | Apr 23, 2022
In reply to @shelfitz "I'm so sorry that you're still having issues. My wife had a sigmoid resection due to..." + (show)
Profile picture for shelfitz @shelfitz

I'm so sorry that you're still having issues. My wife had a sigmoid resection due to diverticulitis 13 months ago and is in worse shape than before. We've been to all the major hospitals in the Philadelphia area until one doctor cared enough. It turns out that she has a stricture at the anastomosis which is preventing stool from traveling normally to the rectum. She is also very low on B12. Next month, she will undergo a procedure to dialate the stricture. I can tell you then if its been successful. But at least she finally has some hope. Unfortunately, its getting worse worse over time. She can't even sit normally or drive anymore. A day out for her is to go to the doctor.
I hope you feel better soon.

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I got similar surgery and having same issue. look like stools do not move to rectum.
just hope it get better by time. but very worried.

REPLY
1 reply
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kathyoung | @kathyoung | Apr 18, 2022
In reply to @monicaeve "It’s tough to answer. I had the surgery 1 1/2 yrs ago. I still have pain,..." + (show)
Profile picture for monicaeve @monicaeve

It’s tough to answer. I had the surgery 1 1/2 yrs ago. I still have pain, food issues, bowel issues, gas - I’m always shocked when I realize the day has gone by with no pain. with that being said - the pain isn’t as severe as diverticulitis and I haven’t had an infection in the last year. I do wish I had tried other options before it got so bad but once antibiotics stop working - you don’t really have a choice. I’m 46 as an fyi.

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Thank you for your reply. As a mom it’s difficult to see your son have the same issues and have to go through the surgery. He has the same surgeon which gives me
confidence. I just hope he has the same outcome as I did.
Thanks again for taking the time to reply.

REPLY
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snowboardinc | @snowboardinc | Apr 16, 2022
In reply to @brian77 "Hello, I had this surgery on my sigmoid colon on July 21st 2020. After, that, and..." + (show)
Profile picture for brian77 @brian77

Hello, I had this surgery on my sigmoid colon on July 21st 2020. After, that, and 6 months of chemo I am coming upon a year. I have just about given up feeling normal again with all the bloating, gas, constipation, diarrhea, etc. Some of your testimonies have made me at least feel like I'm not alone. I know one of you said after two years you now feel normal. I don't know if I have another 13 months left in me. I'm 44, still out of work, off chemo just about 3 months. I don't know how to adjust to this with unpredictable embarrassing bowel issues that will certainly interfere with my work. I will say this is the first place where I have found others like me talking about this. Thank you.

Jump to this post

I too had surgery in 2020(August) and still have pain around the repaired site when digesting most meals. I am finally spending less time in the bathroom. The first year i was in there 6-10 times a day. Luckily I work from home. Hopefully, you will gain some regularity with time and learn to balance when to eat and to venture out. Hang in there!

REPLY
1 reply
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gsh | @gsh | Apr 16, 2022

Thanks for your feedback. Always appreciated. I did learn from a GI doctor that helping the colon from being distended may help with pain and gas issues. She advised me to alternate MiroLax with Metamucil should help keep soft movement of the bowels. All the best

REPLY
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monicaeve | @monicaeve | Apr 15, 2022
In reply to @kathyoung "I’m sorry you are experiencing so many side effects. I had a sigmoid colon resection 18..." + (show)
Profile picture for kathyoung @kathyoung

I’m sorry you are experiencing so many side effects. I had a sigmoid colon resection 18 months ago. I experience more flatulence than before the surgery and still get minor pain in the lower left quadrant. Other than that it has improved my quality of life.
I am 74 and just retired prior to the surgery. Being at home a lot makes things so much easier. My hat goes off to those of you who are in the work force and raising your family through all this.

I do have a question: my son is 50 and considering have the same surgery. He has had many bouts of diverticulitis. My question is, would anyone reading this that has had the surgery do it again? I have difficulty answering that for him as I had it relatively easy whereas I know many of you have had difficulties.

So any input would be appreciated. I will pass your wisdom on to him.

Thank you! I really hope everyone is feeling a bit better!

Jump to this post

It’s tough to answer. I had the surgery 1 1/2 yrs ago. I still have pain, food issues, bowel issues, gas - I’m always shocked when I realize the day has gone by with no pain. with that being said - the pain isn’t as severe as diverticulitis and I haven’t had an infection in the last year. I do wish I had tried other options before it got so bad but once antibiotics stop working - you don’t really have a choice. I’m 46 as an fyi.

REPLY
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