Problems months after colon resection surgery: What Helps?

Hi Hawkeye, and welcome. I'm glad you found the group and this discussion. You may also be interested in this related discussion:
- Sigmoid colon resection: What to expect for recovery? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/sigmoid-colon-resection-10282019/

Allow me to bring in a few more members to respond to you such as @travelgirl @starrlight who had cecum surgery, as well as @tbillz119 @maureen54 @virgo1952 @sundance6 @corn50 and others.

I think these wise words from @des46893 may be relevant to your situation:
"[My surgeon] used the analogy that the existing colon was like waistband on an old pair of underwear and the stapled section was like the waistband on a new pair. Not kidding. Like everyone says each individual is different the thing you don’t want to do is to go full throttle when you start to feel good. At Mayo I ran into several people who who figured they were near 100% and regretted their rush back to normalcy."

Give yourself time to heal. Have you been able to eat small portions these past few days? Are things getting better again?

Hi All, 45 year old male. Had part of my cecum removed on Nov. 27 because of complex polyp found during routine colonoscopy. Everything was going great. At the two week mark I was opening up what I was eating. Really was surprised how well I was healing. At the one month mark the only issue was sore abs, like I had done a bunch of sit ups. At week 6 I started doing my exercise bike and figured I was almost 100% although I still had the sore abs. Then at week 7, I came down with a really bad stomach ache. It has been with me for about 5 days now. I've barely eaten the past 5 days. I got in to see my surgeon and he says everything looks good. In addition to the stomach ache, I get pains in my sides and then yesterday I started having a really bad lower back ache.

Reading through the messages it sounds like some of this is normal? Not sure why I was doing so well and then it took a 180 on me. I'm curious for some of you that have posted about the stomach aches if they finally subsided? Thanks! Glad I found this site.

Sorry for the late reply, also thank you for asking something that no physician has asked. As it happens, I lifted something awkward and heavy that day. I don't remember if I did that before the past episodes. My diet is fairly regular so the idea that a muscle/hernia strain could be the cause is a welcome suggestion.
Thanks again Colleen

Welcome Caren. May I ask what led to your needing colon surgery? How long ago?

Thank you for your reply.

Yes, she was able to find a soft yoga pad to help when sitting on a hard chair or in the car. It helps tolerate the pain for short stints of time. And yes, we've tried going to the best hospitals in our region (Philadelphia) without any luck. We did go back to her regular GI last week who prescribed a Barium Enema. But she is hesitant to schedule because of the pain.

I take metamucil every morning mixed with cranberry juice and then a hot cup of coffee....No constipation. This is a long term solution, not a once n done fix. Hope this helps you.

Welcome, John. This must be so frustrating to have this recurring pain 5 times in the past year, more than 3 years after surgery and that an x-ray showed nothing obstructive. Have you been able to recall any food you ate or activity you did the day before the painful episode in the night? Is there a common thread?

I had emergency colostomy surgery in June 2017. Lost one foot of colon. Four moths later I had reattachment surgery that took about six inches more. A year later I needed five different hernias repaired, caused by previous surgeries. All recoveries were very straight forward, constipation being the recurring issue.
This past year, on four different occasions, I would get a pain (usually around 3am) in my lower left abdomen. This felt like gas or a blockage from constipation. The pain would radiate across the stomach throughout the day and by evening, nausea would come on and I vomit. This would be followed by diarrhea. The next day everything seemed normal except for residual aching.
Explained all this to my physician, who ordered xrays. Along with original surgeon, they found no blockage or adhesions.
So I'm writing today after fifth bout to see if anybody has experienced anything like this. Thanks for any help.

How horrible for both of you. Could it be diet-related? Maybe research healing foods and supplements. Advise going to a naturopath and other alternative healers. Also enrol in a pain management course probably provided by a hospital. It worked for my sister who thinks of something else when in pain. Good luck

Op was 28th June 21. I still get diarrhoea several times a day. I do drink coffee which could be the culprit! A naturopath recommended protein, collagen powder and Kefir which I take still but need to go to toilet straight after. Really greasy food sets me off. I eat Fodmap food but not all the time like rice, apple juice, toast and bananas. There are many more foods that that. I drink wine, tequila, coffee and meat. I get gas when going to the toilet so it's diarrhoea really. Sometimes I don't make it to the toilet as there is no time from the urge and have many times ran to a shopping centre toilet terrified I won't make it. I use the disabled toilet as there is room to wash yourself in case. Doctor says it's all good though. Thought I might have a bacteria but no. I think it is the way it is for the rest of my life. I need to be grateful to be alive! I had perforation and obstruction from a rose twig and was very ill the first week in hospital. Do not ask how I swallowed a 10cm twig and not notice!