1. < Colorectal Cancer

Problems months after colon resection surgery: What Helps?

Posted by joyce1 @joyce1, Feb 25, 2017

Three months after colon resection I had a severe stomach cramp this morning and have not had a bowel movement yet. This is the first time this has happened. So far things have been good.

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robinmacdonald | @robinmacdonald | May 24, 2021
In reply to @lorijbq "You poor thing!" + (show)
@lorijbq

You poor thing!

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Thank you! I am trying to be upbeat and it seems I am slowly getting better and maybe won’t keep regressing. I have reservations at a B&B in late June that requires a 3 hour drive. I might be visiting a couple of gas station restrooms along the way.🤣

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robinmacdonald | @robinmacdonald | May 24, 2021
In reply to @lorijbq "Yes I will! Has anyone else had bladder issues after colon surgery? I was planning on..." + (show)
@lorijbq

Yes I will! Has anyone else had bladder issues after colon surgery? I was planning on returning to work June 14th but I don’t see that happening. My job is physical. This site with others that understand is really a God send🙏🏻

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I did have the symptoms of a UTI after my colon resection but they only lasted the 7 days I was in the hospital and I tested negative for an actual infection. I was assigned a urologist while at Cedars Sinai and he kept track of me. Seems bladder issues are common and I think I was told this is because the bladder is so near the colon and pressure can be put on it during surgery. Maybe bruised? Just a thought.

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1 reply
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Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | May 25, 2021
In reply to @robinmacdonald "I did have the symptoms of a UTI after my colon resection but they only lasted..." + (show)
@robinmacdonald

I did have the symptoms of a UTI after my colon resection but they only lasted the 7 days I was in the hospital and I tested negative for an actual infection. I was assigned a urologist while at Cedars Sinai and he kept track of me. Seems bladder issues are common and I think I was told this is because the bladder is so near the colon and pressure can be put on it during surgery. Maybe bruised? Just a thought.

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Hi @robinmacdonald

I appreciate the information you provided @lorijbq about the after-effects of your surgery on the bladder. Knowing that someone else experienced the same thing will offer her some hope.

You are probably right about the location of the colon and bladder causing related problems.

I'm glad you are doing better now.

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mdavids | @mdavids | May 25, 2021

It’s been 6 months since my surgery. I feel like it never healed. Diet still extremely restricted. Drs have no answers. Anyone else take this long to heal after bowel resection?

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1 reply
lorijbq | @lorijbq | May 26, 2021
In reply to @mdavids "It’s been 6 months since my surgery. I feel like it never healed. Diet still extremely..." + (show)
@mdavids

It’s been 6 months since my surgery. I feel like it never healed. Diet still extremely restricted. Drs have no answers. Anyone else take this long to heal after bowel resection?

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Doc told me 3 weeks after mine” you can eat whatever you want”. Yeh, wrong!!!!!! I ate eggplant last night and had a severe stomach ache! It’s been 5 weeks post op. I get pains and spasms every day. What makes you feel hasn’t healed???

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2 replies
mdavids | @mdavids | May 26, 2021
In reply to @lorijbq "Doc told me 3 weeks after mine” you can eat whatever you want”. Yeh, wrong!!!!!! I..." + (show)
@lorijbq

Doc told me 3 weeks after mine” you can eat whatever you want”. Yeh, wrong!!!!!! I ate eggplant last night and had a severe stomach ache! It’s been 5 weeks post op. I get pains and spasms every day. What makes you feel hasn’t healed???

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Pain at incision site after eating something with fiber, too salty, too sweet etc.

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lorijbq | @lorijbq | May 26, 2021
In reply to @hopeful33250 "@lorijbq Hi Lori, I really do understand what you mean when you say that this site..." + (show)
@hopeful33250

@lorijbq Hi Lori, I really do understand what you mean when you say that this site is a God-send. I felt the same way after my first post over 5 years ago. I'm not sure that I've read about anyone having bladder issues after colon surgery.

Connect does have a discussion group on Bladder/Kidney issues. You might try to post about this problem on that discussion group. Perhaps you will find someone who has had a similar problem. Here is the link to those discussions, https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/kidney-conditions/

If you are comfortable sharing more, could you describe what type of bladder issues you are having? Is it incontinence, frequency, burning, or pain when you urinate?

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No burning but I have pressure and frequency

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robinmacdonald | @robinmacdonald | May 30, 2021
In reply to @mkgdesigner "Hi, it took me a good 4-6 months to feel 95% better. I had a sharp..." + (show)
@mkgdesigner

Hi, it took me a good 4-6 months to feel 95% better. I had a sharp pain at one of my incisions. It seemed to be nerve pain and took gabapentin at night for a week or so and that seemed to help.I don’t take it anymore. I’m at 9 months post—op and still have bouts of diarrhea if I do not take my Metamucil and loperamide. It’s difficult to get through but you will. Keep connecting with your surgeon with any questions and or issues come up. It’s been very helpful for me to have zoom appointments every other month for these past 9 months. Good luck and I hope things calm down for you.

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Four months post robotic, laparoscopic colon resection and still have frequent (although decreasing to about 5 a day) bowel movements and i have to push to evacuate even though the stool is very soft. Surgeon referred me to rectal physical therapy (pelvic floor, especially Kegel exercises). That and the passing of time has helped but I still must be careful what I eat. Also, I mix Benefiber with applesauce an hour before drinking liquids and that helps with constipation. I take IB Gard, Culturelle probiotics and Digestive enzymes. Not sure what helps. Have some sharp pain at resection infrequently (gas, I believe) and achy soreness at incision sites but manageable. .

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1 reply
lorijbq | @lorijbq | Jun 1, 2021
In reply to @idkaren "Tracy I am starting to regret my surgery also. I know I needed it but I..." + (show)
@idkaren

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

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Same here!

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lorijbq | @lorijbq | Jun 4, 2021
In reply to @robinmacdonald "Four months post robotic, laparoscopic colon resection and still have frequent (although decreasing to about 5..." + (show)
@robinmacdonald

Four months post robotic, laparoscopic colon resection and still have frequent (although decreasing to about 5 a day) bowel movements and i have to push to evacuate even though the stool is very soft. Surgeon referred me to rectal physical therapy (pelvic floor, especially Kegel exercises). That and the passing of time has helped but I still must be careful what I eat. Also, I mix Benefiber with applesauce an hour before drinking liquids and that helps with constipation. I take IB Gard, Culturelle probiotics and Digestive enzymes. Not sure what helps. Have some sharp pain at resection infrequently (gas, I believe) and achy soreness at incision sites but manageable. .

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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

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