Colon Resection

[Fiacre]

Hello! My name is Molly. I am 30 and live in Vermont. I am so happy to see this forum! People like to talk about their childbirth or joint replacement experiences, but nobody ever wants to talk about bowel surgery. I guess it's too embarrassing. Anyway, even if nobody responds to this post I will still feel less lonely and alienated having read through these threads.

I had an abdominal resection rectopexy (laparoscopic) February 12, 2008. My rectum was starting to prolapse and large bowel had detached from my sacral wall because of over a decade of constipating lupus medications. About 6 inches was removed, the surgery was 100% successful and recovery has gone very smoothly for the most part.

My problem now is that it's been many weeks since the surgery and I'm still having episodes of cramping, stomach pain, and/or nausea - often following eating. For example, today I was having Easter lunch with my family and after having eaten only a small portion of food (nothing spicy or greasy) I had to excuse myself to lay down because I was having such severe lower abdominal cramping. I missed part of the meal and dessert! There have many days and nights when I've been afraid to leave the apartment because I'll suddenly be stricken with urgent, loose stool and have to dash into the bathroom with very little warning. But I cannot take Immodium, even in small doses, because I am also prone to severe constipation due to motility (not fluid) problems. I was in the ER a few weeks ago due to constipation - anti-diarrheal meds are not an option.

I can't get any help from my surgeon's office. I keep calling and speaking with this same nurse who says there's nothing she can do for me, and also seems to think that I'm just making stuff up to con her into giving me more short-term disability time. I am poor! I can't afford to be out of work any longer... aside from which, I'm bored. I want to go back to work. But I can't while I'm still being taken down with these randomly debilitating GI symptoms. I went to see a gastroenterologist but he just referred me back to my surgeon

I am losing weight and losing hope. Does anyone have any advice?

Thank you!

[Jenn H]

Hi Molly,

I am Jennifer, and am 32 years old. I just had surgery last Wednesday and left the hospital on Friday with many questions unanswered. I can understand your frustration. I was told that up to three months it can take to return to normal. Like you, I had laproscopic surgery but they removed over 2 feet of my colon. Now I look like a very strange pregnant woman. My abdomen is huge (like a 5 month pregnant woman) I am not sure if the numbness I feel and the pressure on my right side is normal or not. The nurse said that they will not give me any more pain medicine but I am still in pain. They told me today to take a laxative since I asked why I can't go to the bathroom and take Tylenol. They said that my stomach is big because they pumped me full of air. Did any of this happen to you? How long will it take for my stomach to return to normal size? DId they cut through the muscle is that why I am numb? The doctor told me that I will be able to wear a bikini, I think I wore one once when I was 13 so that really is not at the top of my list of questions I need answered. Did you have any pain in your back right side? When you have to run to the bathroom is it because you have sudden pressure and then if you don't go it would be too late? Are you back at work now and have things resumed to normal for you?