Problems months after colon resection surgery: What Helps?

I’ve finally got a date for my surgery 7/14/21! In Texas! A precancer polyp in appendix (the appendeceal orifice , going up into colon. So if no cancer cells then I’m free to go home in a couple days! But if reeection then a long recovery.. I’m 83I’ve written in here before. Thank you and others for your experience! It’s very scary... at my age. But so many thanks!!!!

Hi! In early December, I underwent a laparoscopic partial colectomy for colonic inertia following failed trials of diet, Miralax, Linzess, Trulance, Amitiza and Motegrity. I had significant pain and basically no bowel movements unless I used magnesium citrate for 2 days which I would do after 2 weeks.
The surgery was complicated by an ileus which developed, although it seemed to resolve after 10 days in the hospital.
Since the surgery I have been experiencing daily abdominal pain in a band just below my navel with aching and cramping components, some gas. It tends to be less in the AM and worse in late afternoon and evening. My bowel movements tend to be small, soft and formed and occur in 2-4 very small amounts daily and require some straining. I have had repeat CT scans which appear normal except for some gall bladder "sludge". I have just had a gall bladder scan although the pain is not characteristically gall bladder like - awaiting results. My surgeon also did a "short" colonoscopy which appeared normal. I have been keeping a food diary but there is not a strong correlation with particular foods. I have been taking Colace twice daily. We retried Trulance two months after the surgery but it produced severe diarrhea for several hours so didn't continue it. Benefiber increased pain but I am thinking of trying an insoluble fiber like Citrucel. Also considering a retrial of Miralax but worried about gas or cramping as a side-effect. I have been drinking a lot of water, tried exercising but not a lot of help so far. I also use a heating pad which helps some. Trying to avoid use of pain medications or antispasmodics because of their constipating effects. Although I do not have diarrhea, nausea, vomiting or excessive amounts of gas, I did raise the possibility of SIBO with my gastroenterologist but he is not doing breath testing for SIBO right now because of COVID. Since it has now been over three months since the surgery, I feel worn down and discouraged by the daily pain. I would appreciate any thoughts anyone might have or shared experiences with this. Thank you!

Hello @brian77 and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I am so glad you have found this group to normalize your feelings and realize you are not alone in your journey post colon surgery. Reaching out for support when recovery doesn't go like you may have thought is actually a really big step so bravo on that note.

What are the main pain points of this process that you would like to connect with other members on to support you?

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.

Hello. Although I didnt have same surgery as you nor chemo I did have radiation internal and external in 1985 for cancer of cervix stage 2 and eventually started my journey of late stage radiation damage to pelvis.... radiation damage to bladder etc. and the dreaded awful diarrhea... its been around 20 years and then C.Diff 2018 and fecal incontinence since... unless someone goes through this unpredictable, yes embarrassing, smelly, messy, PAINFUL, almost daily issue its hard for them to understand how life-altering it is.
Yes, you are so right that its a bit of a relief to be able to come on this site and discuss this and often others will offer some of their ways to cope. I am now 77 and only thing that helps is Imodium..sometimes, and my diet is plain and I could go on .
But this is about you: I hope that your body heals more as time goes by, even to the point of hopefully going back to work (I hope you have alternate income on which to live in the meantime as $$ stress doesn't help on top of it) and that one day there will not only be a "cure" for cancer but treatments that, unfortunately, keep us alive but so affect our quality of life. Take care. (p.s. I always keep with me a bag with toiletries in it no matter where I go so at least when have accident can clean up and keep going - although travel is now out of the question). J.

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.

I’m with you. 3 months after colon resection, I still feel aweful. Pain in incisions, spasms in my bladder, and anything I eat I get bad gas pains. I’m also still swollen around c section cut and big hole above it. I’m not the same! So depressed