Problems months after colon resection surgery: What Helps?

Hi,

First thing I would say - in my experience - is that expectation is the biggest hurdle. I found recovery wasn't linear. When I have had an injury in the past, typically each day feels better than the last. For me at least, this surgery was v. different. It would seem ok and i would think that I was back to 'normal' then I would hit a bump which would seem to set me back a little. Expectations. From what I have read and now had confirmed from the doc's is that this is all normal.

I oozed for a long time post op as well btw.

Overall you WILL be healing, but will be having little setbacks, all completely normal. I am now 5 months after the op, feel night and day better than I did after 2 months post op, I feel much stronger, but still if I lift too much, I get pain - and I know I have overdone it.

Try to put the worries to the back of your mind. We are all different and you will be healing in a way that is completely unique to you. I would of course speak to your doctor if the pain is continuing for a while and it is preventing you from sleeping, you could just be one of those who has longer post op pain. I would experiment too, do some pain meds work more than others ? do you get the pain at certain times ? can you sleep in a different position ? when i was getting a lot of pain, i slept on the sofa, I found being sat up propped on my side helped me greatly to get to sleep. Interestingly trying to sleep on the opposite side was too painful. Like I say try experimenting. Also food. I found that if I ate certain foods it could leave me in agony.

The number one tip though, try not to worry. I did too, it's natural. But after 5 months I see that recovery just takes a while with this sort of surgery.

Hello to all, I had a total of my Sigmoid colon and 4 extra inches removed on Feb. 4th. My surgery went fantastic as well as recovery. Almost no pain and my recovery has gone well. Yesterday I began having twinges in the lower left quadrant where the Sigmoid was. Today it is still there, wondering if this is normal or should I be concerned?

I’m going through the same thing. I’ve been a little more active but not lifting anything. I’m almost 2 months out and I’ve been in quiet a bit of pain the last few days. Pretty swollen and incisions are still oozing. It’s very hard to sleep at night with the pain. And it’s still uncomfortable to sit and I swell/get sore from standing. I have some burning and sharp pains and also feel like I’m going backwards. My dr has basically said the same thing - all is normal and that it takes time. Basically - we are only concerned about a fever or obstruction. I’m starting to have regrets myself. Hang in there!!!! Any suggestions on how to sleep through the pain? I’m doing ice packs but still can’t sleep.

Thank you! I feel better already after reading that. Just a rough time!!!

I know this post is from March but I am almost 2 months out and dealing with similar pain and feeling quite depressed. How are you feeling now? Hoping you are back to your baseline as they say.

I’m going through the same thing. I’ve been a little more active but not lifting anything. I’m almost 2 months out and I’ve been in quiet a bit of pain the last few days. Pretty swollen and incisions are still oozing. It’s very hard to sleep at night with the pain. And it’s still uncomfortable to sit and I swell/get sore from standing. I have some burning and sharp pains and also feel like I’m going backwards. My dr has basically said the same thing - all is normal and that it takes time. Basically - we are only concerned about a fever or obstruction. I’m starting to have regrets myself. Hang in there!!!! Any suggestions on how to sleep through the pain? I’m doing ice packs but still can’t sleep.

I am 2 months post op . Was dong fairly good until I started waking up with the jitters every morning after a night of no sleep because of nerve pain gong down my legs. Never had that until after surgery. I am really regretting I ever had the surgery. I would rather deal with the Diverticulosis than this. Stinging, burning pain across lower abdomen and uneasy feeling in lower stomach. I go to bathroom constantly and have gone as much as 10 times a day! My urine just flows from me, not much control at all, I am getting really depressed because when you are hurting all the time , you don't want to do anything. I have prayed for the Lord to take this pain from me. Doctor says that everything inside and out is healed and there is nothing I can do to hurt my insides. THEN WHY AM I STILL HURTING ??? He says it is nerve pain and it will subside, but WHEN ? I just want my life back. I am 71 years old , but I have always liked to stay busy and now somedays I don't feel like doing anything but sit. Anybody out there going through this too ??

Reassured by others experiences. I had section 2 months ago. Things have gone pretty well, I am almost worried now that I have been too active and maybe have herniated myself or some such, but maybe not reading some of the posts here.

All was going well, started off obviously with pain and the like and it felt like I had to break in a new stomach. Transitioned from low fibre to my normal high fibre diet (I am vegan) and like I say all was going well. the external wound took a while to stop seeping and the external swelling was still taking it's time to go down, but I felt I was getting stronger and was lifting moving heavy stuff, but not really heavy stuff the sort I would do if I was fully back. I am 53 and pretty fit and I fellt ok. Now suddenly out of the blue, I seem to have a lot of stomach pain, not just the usual crampy stuff but really quite painful sharp pain. It almost feels like I have gone back to the beginning of my recovery ins some ways. Spoke to the doc, reading between the lines, until I start getting constipated or vomiting, indicating a blocked bowel, there's not a lot they can do as it could be 'many things'. All seems to be ok though in terms of function, regualr bowel movements, a little too regular perhaps, but good solid stools and no diaarohea. A small amount of nausea, but that's all. Just worried that I may have herniated myself through stupidity, but reading these posts maybe what I am feeling is not that unusual.

Tracy I am starting to regret my surgery also. I know I needed it but I am in more pain than before resection