post op problems

alias · New User Joined: 13 Jan 2006 Posts: 1

I had a part of my intestins removed about 5 feet after beeing stabbed in my stomach. I had one surgery then i had an intestinal blockage and gangrene and my intestins had to be removed. I suffer from dierhea too since that time. i must say it has improved but its still not normal my quality of life is very low not to mention that i am still depressive. I am 29 years old now almost 30 no boyfriend no children and to be honest even though i would like to have some i dont know how. it also destroys my relationships or any cóntact with a man because i am embarressed.
i also have blood in stool from time to time now again and i am scared i dont want any more surgeries because now i can at least live half way but if they remove more i doubt i will ever get myself of the bathroom. I been told by my doctor the reason why i have dierhea is because of the gall bladder juice that gets into the large intestins it cant be resorbed and i do take colestyramin its a german medication. It is actually for high colesterol but it has a side effect of somehow resorbing the juice and it helps. Has any one had bleedings after the resection??? And what was the reason???

ElaineC · Regular Joined: 17 May 2005 Posts: 22 Location: UK

That sounds awful alias. I've found out recently that I've had a foot of my colon removed. I can understand the embarrassment around getting a boyfriend. I have a long term (24 years) partner & this constant going or feeling as if I need to go has affected our sex life. It would be very hard indeed if I were just starting out with someone.

Since I last posted I have had the liver resection & finished chemo. The burning seems to have (only recently) gone away but every month since May last I have had a bowel blockage most of which have required hospitalisation.

On a more positive note I have had a CT scan which has shown that at the moment I am free of cancer.

JSH · New User Joined: 05 Jun 2006 Posts: 2

I had colon surgery 6 weeks ago, at that time the doctor gave me an ostomy. I am now back from a reverse ostomy proceedure. It has been 5 days, I know this is early to ask but, the diarrhea is horrible. I can't get to the bathroom on time, what a mess. What has others done about this, and can I do anything at this early stage? Thank you for your reply. JSH Shocked

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Thanks, JSH

ElaineC · Regular Joined: 17 May 2005 Posts: 22 Location: UK

JSH I know just what you're talking about. It does get better but it can take ages. It's so draining and disabling. I found taking loperamide helped, however, in me that led to painful bowel blockages.

At the moment I am terribly worried. I seem to have fallen between the cracks of the 2 hospitals I've been attending. I haven't been seen as often as I should be & when I finally got to see a hospital doctor a fortnight ago for the first time since January on examination he said he could see an area of blood around the where I was rejoined. I have been for scans today and go for a colonoscopy tomorrow.

What really scares me is the fact that when I had the temporary ileostomy stoma it retracted and I couldn't keep a bag attached for more than a couple of hours even when qualified stoma nurses did the business. I had a very early reversal because of this.

If the cancer has returned it's almost certain I would need a permanent stoma and I feel terrified it will happen again. The thought of living like I did for the fortnight when I had the temporary bag that didn't work makes me feel suicidal to be quite honest with everyone. I am so shocked that it may have come back so soon. It could be something else but the consultant's face said it all a fortnight ago.

JSH · New User Joined: 05 Jun 2006 Posts: 2

Thanks Elaine,

I was fortunate in the fact that the large polyp they removed was not invasive, the cancer was in the polyp only. I did not need any cancer treatments. I will be talking to the doctor on Friday and also his nurse today. Will let you know what they say.
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Thanks, JSH

ElaineC · Regular Joined: 17 May 2005 Posts: 22 Location: UK

I am very pleased that your cancer was confined to the polyp JSH. If only I'd gone earlier, but that's another story... I think that all those of us who've had this type of cancer really need to spread the word with others about how curable it is if caught early and how in most cases it doesn't mean you end up with a permanent stoma. I didn't know that and it was the fear of it which prevented me from having myself investigated for 2 years after the symptoms first appeared.

I have been told that bowels hate to be handled or operated on and that's why they take so long to settle after operations on them. Some bowels also develop irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or colitis after such ops. I think that may be what happened to me with the acid poos I had.

Another useful thing for dealing with diahorrea is aloe vera juice which you can buy in concentrate. It's expensive but it's given me a lot of relief.

Hope it gets better. It's so awful to feel at the mercy of your bowels isn't it?

betty · New User Joined: 27 Jun 2006 Posts: 2

I go to see chinese doctor,they can treated the diarrhea,I was have cancer two years ,now i'm so well

charles · New User Joined: 24 Jul 2007 Posts: 1

[quote="russell"] Smile

Dear All.
My operation was Apr. 4, 2007. The polyp that was cancerous was caught in time. Very Happy

About a foot of colon was removed and a small part of the rectum as well. so the operation area was low. The recovery is ongoing. I have the same type of bowel movement problems others of you are having. Sometimes I wonder if I will ever have a sound sleep. One thing that seems to help is ibuprophen. If i don't use it the bowel issues worsen and a light fever begins. When I take it, things seem to improve. I take about 8 or 10 tabs per day. It also has helped with the leftover swelling which continues to go down. Like most of you I am easily tiring and lack most of my old energy. Hope this helps you out there reading this. Charles

sdiddy · New User Joined: 05 Aug 2007 Posts: 5

Hello all, I just had my illeostomy reversed about 4 weeks ago, on July 10th. I'm having similar potty symptoms as noted in the rest of the replys. I did find an interesting guide on retraining bowels and thought I would pass the link on to the folks in the forum.

http://www.mskcc.org/mskcc/shared/graphics/Living_Beyond_Cancer/Patient_Education/Bowel_Function_Changes/Bowel_Function.pdf

Hope this helps. Gotta go to the potty Very Happy

Sdiddy

pjmanley41 · New User Joined: 18 Aug 2009 Posts: 2

I had my last surgery in Feb. of 2006. I can't believe I am just finding this forum. It would have been so much comfort.

I have had several surgeries due to colorectal cancer and then a fistual that developed between my colon and vagina (I know that gross but that's the way it is) caused by the radiation and having the first surgery too soon after the radiation. (HOWEVER, I am officially CURED so while the rest of this message may seem like I am complaining, I try to always remember what could have been.)

I still have days and nights when I have NO control over my bowel movements. It is only in the past year that I had any control.

I take Colestid (as needed, as many as needed). I have been taking this for about a year now and find it gives me some control. I generally find that even with the medicine I will have a 24 hour period of constant watery stools followed by several DAYS of nothing and then begin to have stomach pain and discomfort (gas like symptoms) and then the 24 hour violent period. The medicine seems to add more substance to the movement so I have some control.

However, even with the meds I find I cannot go out and eat or leave the house for very long unless I have nothing to eat before or during the trip (even this doesn't always help).

For those I have really depressed -- it was a lot worse in the beginning and I have not bothered to see a gastro-whatever doctor since the last surgery.

The only doctor that has been any help at all is a rheumatologist that recommended the colestid.

I am so grateful to have found this forum.
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Peggy

Glenn · New User Joined: 13 Mar 2010 Posts: 2

Having had my Ileostomy reversed in December and having continued issues with the bowel movements, I was glad to find this Forum. Certainly not in the sense that others are having such issues, but knowing that I am obviously not experiencing things which are abnormal Post Op to this type surgery.

I had Colon Cancer first in January of 2008 and a minor Surgical Removal Procedure was done from the anal area with no Chemo or Rad. In July of 2009, it came back very aggressively and a significant Resection with an Ileostomy and subsequent Post Op Chemo and Radiation done. Three months after the Ileostomy was reversed, I too have days where I may go 20 times plus and then not go for a day or day and half. The burning sensation and the irritation of the anal area is acute on those days I go repeatedly.

Being a committed Christian (but certainly simply an unworthy sinner saved by His Grace) and being most thankful to the Lord for the doors He opened with the specific Surgeon, the Post Op Treatments and the seemingly very rapid recovery, my prayer is that He would heal this issue. I pray He would do so back to some level of normalcy (albeit maybe a new level of normalcy) that is much eaiser to deal with and handle. I also pray He would guide me to the right foods and/or solutions that might ease this issue and the information shared by others on this Forum may be one of those provisions. Regardless of the outcome, I pray that I may state as the Apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:9 & 10, "that His Grace is sufficient for me."

God bless you all and my prayer is that the Lord would heal and comfort you!
Glenn

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