Problems months after colon resection surgery: What Helps?

Hi Colleen, thanks for responding. There is no explanation for the pain according to the ultrasound. I think it's a strained muscle. I will endeavour to not strain further and wait till it heals. Cheers,

Hi Doodily, welcome. I sorry to hear that you've had a new and sharp pain start recently after it seemed the surgical pain was on the mend. I hope you have heard about the results of your ultrasound in the meantime. Is there an explanation for the pain? What is your next step?

Hello, I had colon resection for bowel obstruction and perforation 9 weeks ago. It took several weeks for the pain to go but in the last 10 days I have a sharp pain on the left lower side. I am also getting tired again and can't cope with much. I take Panadeine Forte but doesn't relieve the pain. I had an ultrasound a week ago but due to being on the phone for 2 hours to get through to my clinic for an appointment (vaccinations) for the results I am on here. It can't be urgent otherwise they would have rung me. I think like everyone else with the same problems there is no answer except acceptance. I am going to speak to my Naturopath sister for supplements.

Thank you Colleen and Robin.

Thank you, Colleen. This site has been very helpful to me, too. Interestingly, I have found In the last couple of days that by increasing my intake to two times a day of Benefiber powder (1 tablespoon) mixed in applesauce has dramatically improved my bowel movements, both the frequency and consistency. I read somewhere that if bowel movements are too frequent or watery after surgery, it is better to mix the Benefiber (or Metamucil) with applesauce rather than a liquid.

Great information, Robin. I'm tagging @dcoakley to make sure she sees your very helpful response.

Colleen, I said two conflicting things in my previous response just now. My major ongoing pain at first was in my right abdomen where the robot arms entered but I had a couple of painful heart attack-like sharp pains in my left abdomen right under my rib cage where the colon makes a sharp turn.

I had that for several weeks, maybe a couple of months, with extreme pain on the right side where the robotic arms entered to go to the left to remove the diseased section.
And every time I had a bowel movement, I had burning urination also. Not sure why the bladder is affected but maybe it is just upset from being jostled around. I too had a CT Scan that showed no problem. I am now 6 months in following my 2/4/21 laparoscopic robotic colon resection. I have not had pain for months but the remaining issue is the frequency of bowel movements, sometimes as often as 8 times over a 24 hour period. And even though they are very soft, sometimes diarrhea, I have to strain a bit to go and the stool is sometimes pencil thin.. I am having an MRI Defecography to see what seems to be causing an obstruction but have to wait two months for that unusual test.
But bottom line, my special Rectal Therapist said all colorectal surgeons tell her it takes at least a year to fully recover from this major surgery. Try massaging your colon. It runs in an upside down U right under your rib cage and down each side to your hip bones. My pain was especially bad right under my left rib cage and that is where the colon turns to go down. Food can get backed up in those turns on each side so massaging there really helped me. My therapist trained me on this. The massage softens the scar tissue also so healing is faster.

hi colleen, thanks for responding. im not having issues with bowel movement . when i empty my bladder i get pains. makes me feel lke i have a bladder infection/uti. the pain radiates to my back and my legs and i feel like urinating alot

I tried to get appt w/Mayo 2X but they wouldn’t unless I had full blown cancer....diagnosis.