Problems months after colon resection surgery: What Helps?

Had sigmoid removed 4 months ago with open surgery. I have diver throughout entire colon. 2 months in I got that old familiar pain on lower left side. Had a scan No infection found however I know for a fact my surgeon did not even look at colonoscopy to see how much he could remove to give me a better quality of life.He told me he didn't need to see it! What do I do now? He is finished with me! Do I need to have more removed? I am a very active 69yr old woman run an estate sale company which requires physical work! 4 month!!! I can't believe it!! The pain never goes away! But it is only a level 2! Fiber makes it worse. I watch everything I eat..diabetic and lactose intolerant. I need help!!!

First, you should not develop chronic pain after surgery. If pain persists after six weeks, check with your doctor concerning causation of pain. Antidepressants do not treat pain (at best, they make you a bit numb and distance you emotionally from psychic pain), and it becomes very hard to withdraw from the SSRIs and SNRIs, so better never to start them. The older tricyclic antidepressants in very low doses cause you to be sleepy and thus help with sleep. (Other sleep meds are often addictive, so this is a good choice if pain is making it hard to sleep.) Of course, all medications should be discussed with your doctors. Remember that they are often quick to prescribe and slow to deprescribe.

I had nine inches of my sigmoid removed along with the repair to the bladder. Came home with catheter for nine days. Maybe that it way all of this is taking so long to heal. I try to stay busy and walk everyday just to take my mind off the discomfort. Some days are better than others. I guess it is the healing process.

That you for the words of encouragement. That is all we can do is take it one day at a time. If only they informed of us of all the possible side effects maybe this would be easier to deal with.

My husband uses a similar strategy, but it takes 3 immodium pills before meals and a benefiber tab after meals to successfully slow things down and bulk up. He has experimented with dosages a lot and this seems to be the regimen that works for him after his right colon resection nearly a year ago. Different for everyone so you have to experiment with this on your own.... Docs can't tell you for sure what will work. He was close to having a colostomy but colorectal surgeon at Mayo indicated one can take a much bigger immodium dose than we were initially told so he tried more and it worked to curb the constant diarrhea - surgery averted!

Talk to your doctor to see if you should try: Metamucil 1 Tbs with 1/2-1 cup of water along with 1 prescription Imodium pill before meals. The Metamucil will bulk up your stool and the Imodium sliws transit to stop diarrhea. I still sometimes get diarrhea but not as much so using this combo.

I believe it is nerve pain and I’ve had that too. Hurts more when gassy as it’s pressing in the nerves that didn’t heal properly.I’m taking a verve pain pill called gabapentin ( not sure if I spelled it right) I take it before bed and it seems to help so far but the last 2 nights I’ve woken with intense backaches. Hope you find an answer.

I was having that type of nerve pain right above my main incision. Doctor prescribed gabapentin (sp). Taken it for 2 nights now seems to fill th pain during the day but both nights I’ve woken exactly at 3:00 am with back aches so bad that I had to get up and take a big dose of ibuprofen. Not sure if it’s a symptom or coincidence. I hope you find something to help. I’ve been pretty consistent with bowel movements by taking Metamucil 2-3x with meals and prescribed Imodium pills 3-4x per day. With the Metamucil I only take one table spoon with a half to 1 cup of water. Keeps blasting and gas down but still seems to work well so far ... 4th month without my colon.

Absolutely. One day at a time

I think it is hard to find someone with similar situations because all of our situations are unique. I get sad and depressed but I keep thinking I am lucky to be alive. We all strive for the day of no pain and discomfort. Keep moving forward. We are all in this together.......