Colon Resection

[katj76]

I am 5 weeks post-op. I to had the loose stools with dark blood when you wipe. I was still in the hospital when this happened and they assured me it was normal. It quit several days after I got home. But I started bleeding again last week (almost 4 weeks post-op). I called the doc and only got to speak with his nurse who said " I prob ripped the site where they stapled me together again" and that I needed to get my BM's to the consistensey of pudding. After bleeding for 7 days I had a BM that showed no blood in it. I started to breathe easier . But too soon the next night and up until now I am feeling like I have lots of gas. When I think I am going to have a BM I only pass what seems to be fluff ( looks like blood) when I wipe that is what I see (blood). I have lots of pressure and pain. I am not sure what I can and can not eat. ( was never told that after surgery) Now everything I eat makes me feel sick, and makes me feel like I have heartburn and bad gas. It is a holiday weekend so of course I cant get the doc on the phone. If there is anyone out there with a similar story or some advice please share it with me. I am at my wits end and ready to throw in the towel. I feel like I will never get back to normal...

[RJB]

I HAD A COLON CANCER OF WHICH I AM A SURVIVOR IN 2002-2007 AND HAD A COLON RESECTION AND A LOT OF TROUBLE AS NOBODY GUIDES YOU IN THIS PROCESS. I DO NOT KNOW HOW OLD ARE YOU BUT I HAVE FOUND A WAY THAT REQUIRES SACRIFICE BUT RETURNS YOU BASICALLY TO THE BEFORE SURGERY STAGE AS I HAD AN OBSESSION WITH THE IDEA OF BEING ALWAYS WORRIED THAT I WILL NEED TO GO TO THE BATHROOM AT ANY GIVEN MOMENT AND SOILING THE BED ONCE OR TWICE A WEEK REGRADLESS OF MY DIET. IF BY CHANCE YOU ARE INTERESTED WRITE BACK AS I KNOW BY TALKING TO MY DOCTORS THAT NOBODY THEY KNOW DOES WHAT I DO AS IT INVOLVES MUCH DISCIPLINE BUT YOU WILL NOT GO TO THE BATHROOM FROM 6AM TO MIDNIGHT IF YOU FOLLOW THIS ROUTE.AS I TOLD YOU IT INVOLVES A LOT OF SACRIFICE BUT FOR ME PAYING THE PRICE HAS BEEN BETTER THAN ANY OTHER CHOICE.

[SandraD]

I had a colon resection, 10" removed on 4/25. Funny, no one gives us advice! I was told I would be good as new in 2 weeks! Yea, right. I am better but through experimentation and talking to others I am much better and actually have a good window of opportunity in the afternoons and some evenings now. I used to go all day long too and was scared to go anywhere. (By the way, my husband did buy me a small camping potty that I keep in the back of my car for emergencies. I could put in on the floor of the back seat and with tinted windows...). Now we can travel and we have!

I am taking a med to slow down the intestines, but but had to cut the dose in half or I was too gassy. I also need to take Metamucil or something similar 1-3 times a day without fail. This adds bulk so when you do go, you are not taking so long with the small toothpaste like stools. It also absorbs water so it isn't so loose, so it helps both ways. It really makes a huge difference, but you may be a bit gassy the first few days. I also only eat breakfast and dinner only, just fiber in the afternoons. It's not hard if you have breakfast late and dinner early, but drink a lot of fluids. What goes in must come out!

I have "episodes" whenever I eat anything fatty or too starchy. It happens every time. So eating lots of fruit, veggies, some fish but no meat and whole grains is the way to go. Hey, it's healthier and I do suffer whenever I try to eat alfredo sauce or french fries, etc. Yogurt is a good addition to your diet too.

For gas, keep any of those gas relief capsules on hand, they are a life saver. My doctor finally recommended giving myself an enema in the mornings if I am going too often to help empty the colon. I just used a Fleet enema and then kept the bottle and only use warm water. It sounds worse than it actually is. I only do that when I have to get going and need to hurry things along. It really makes a difference, but it does get old, I admit. Better than taking all morning sometimes though.

Ok, I still can't figure out how to have enough "free" hours to get back to a job, but I have afternoons free from about noon to 6 pm, sometimes more which is a huge improvememt! Why some evenings are ok and some are spent in the John is still a puzzle to me.

Oh, for getting sore down there, A&D Ointment is a life saver and warm baths are comforting.

I don't know why doctors act like this surgery is no big deal because it is! I feel just fine now, it's the bathroom thing that is so annoying! I notice I can hold things a few minutes now, so I am not actually running to the bathroom, so that is nice too. My God, the things we are discussing, huh?

I have had some blood but it has stopped and my doctor wasn't concerned. If it gets too bad, make an appt. and see the doc personally. Don't throw in the towel, it's VERY slow going, but you will improve somewhat. Pay attention to what helps and what makes you worse. I kept a food diary for a while so I could see what sparked an "episode". You have to become diciplined and watch the fiber and what you eat. Eat healthy, I promise it will help and give it time. I used to cry about it. Now, like I said, if I were only well enough to work, but am thinking about maybe a part time job for now. I have to do something!

Good luck, don't give up!

[RJB]

SANDRA D:
THE FIRST THING YOU HAVE TO GET IN YOUR MIND IS THAT THINGS WILL NEVER BE THE SAME AS BEFORE AND AS YOU WELL SAY DOCTORS WILL NEVER TELL YOU THE TRUTH ASTHEIR CONCERN IS DIFFERENT THAN YOURS.UNFORTUNATELY I HAVE EXPERIENCED THE BEST YOU CAN GET WILL BE TO EAT MORE FIBER SO YOU CAN DETECT WHEN YOU WILL GO TO THE JOHN. ANYWAY,AT THIS MOMENT YOU ARE JUST OUT OF THE SURGERY AND BASICALLY YOU WILL FIND THAT YOU MAY BE IN TWO SITUATIONS WHEN THIS STABILIZES: OR YOU HAVE TO GO MANY TIMES(5 TO 10) OR IF YOU ARE FORTUNATE (3 TO 5).IN BOTH CASES UNFORUNATELY YOU WILL SOIL THE BED A COUPLE OF TIMES A WEEK. NOW,IT IS MOST IMPORTANT THAT YOU UNDERSTAND YOURSELF ANS SEE WITH HOW MUCH LEVEL OF FRUSTRATION YOU WANT TO LIVE AS I HAVE FOUND THERE IS A BIG LEVEL OF SACRIFICE IN A METHOD I FOUND ACCIDENTALLY AND I HAVE BEEN DOING IT FOR TWO YEARS AND IT WORKS BUT IT DEMANDS MANY TIMES TOO MUCH. I THINK AT THIS MOMENT YOU HAVE TO STICK FOR A WHILE WITH A VERY STRICT DIET CONSISTING OF FISH,VEGETABLES THAT DO NOT GAS YOU UP MUCH AND COOK THEM IF THEY DO,WILD RICE OR WHOLEGRAIN BREADS,NO MILK DERIVATIVES AT ALL AND TRY TO CONCENTRATE AND STUDY FOOD THAT SLOWS YOUR DIGESTION LIKE BANANA OR POTATO AND MY ADVICE IS FORGET ANY KIND OF OILS IN YOUR FOOD.NOW,WHEN YOU ARE READY TO EAT FIBER YOU WILL HAVE TO EAT A LOT OF IT BUT I DO NOT THINK IS PROPER TIME.THE MORE YOU CAN CONTROL YOUR DIET,EAT THE SAME AND AT THE SAME TIME IN DAY,THE MORE YOU WILL BE ABLE TO STANDARIZE YOUR IDEA OF WHEN AND HOW THIS WILL WORK.
I DO NOT KNOW HOW OLD ARE YOU BUT EXERCISE WILL BE A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF THIS GAME AND OF COURSE NO DRINKING OR SMOKING. IN MY CASE I AM ALREADY 56 YEARS OLD BUT I AM STILL AN ATHLETE AND DO A LOT OF CYCLING AND SWIMMING.IF YOU ARE READY TO DISCIPLINE YOURSELF THIS MUCH IT WILL BE A FIRST STEP AND YOU WILL START HAVING A BETTER IDEA OF WHERE THIS WILL TAKE YOU AND IT WILL BE A FIRST STEP TO START HAVING AN IDEA OF HOW THIS WILL WORK IN YOUR LIFE. TRY THIS FOR A WHILE AND IF YOU CAN DISCIPLINE YOURSELF THIS IS A FIRST STEP TO START. PLEASE WRITE IF YOU ARE UNDERSTANDING ME IN DETAIL AS THIS WILL PREPARE YOU EITHER TO GO TO ANY OF THESE TWO SECOND STAGES: OR YOU WILL CONTROL YOUR BOWEL MOVEMENTS IN A MUCH BETTER FASHION AND BE READY TO PREDICT WITH ENOUGH TIME WHEN YOU GO OR ENETR INTO A STRANGE AND SPARTAN METHOD WHERE YOU CAN LAXATE TOTALLY AT NIGHT AND WITH CERTAIN MEDICINE THEN CLOSE IT AND HAVE A 6AM TO MIDNIGHT DAY WITHOUT GOING TO THE BATHROOM.ONE IS ACCEPTABLE AND THE OTHER IS PERFECT BUT THE LEVEL OF SACRIFICE IS MUCH DIFFERENT.BOTH DEMAND FROM YOU ENORMOUS DISCIPLINE. WRITE BACK WITH COMMENTS AND I WILL HELP YOU GLADLY.

[SandraD]

RJB, I think I understand. Diet won't be too hard for me, as I am a vegetarian already. Can you please explain what you mean by the perfect solution? I am interested.

Thank you!

SandraD

[RJB]

SANDRA D: WHEN I TALK ABOUT A PERFECT SOLUTION THIS IS NOT FOR YOU TO DO TODAY. IT MAY BE A YEAR FROM NOW WHEN YOU ARE STRONG AGAIN AND ALREADY HIGHLY DISCIPLINED IN YOUR FOOD INTAKE AND YOU CAN RECOGNIZE EACH FOOD BECAUSE WHAT YOU WILL WANT TO PROVOKE IS THE FASTEST DIGESTION POSSIBLE ALTHOUGH SLOWING DIGESTION FOODS AS BANANA,WHOLEGRAIN BREAD AND POTATOES WILL WORK PERFECTLY IN THE MORNING AND MIDAY. ANYWAY I WILL TELL YOU MY EXPERIENCE AND HOW I CAME TO IT AS DOCTORS SAY I AM THE FIRST PERSON THEY SEE DOING THIS AND THEY THINK I AM A BIT CRAZY ALTHOUGH THEY HAD COOPERATED FULLY WITH ME.
AFTER I LEFT CLEVELAND CLINIC WHERE I STAYED FIGHTING WITH THE CANCER FOR 3 YEARS I ACME BACK TO SPORTS AND WHILE TRAINING CYCLING A FEW MONTHS LATER I WAS RUN OVER BY A BUS THAT DESTROYED MY FEMUR AND HIP. IT WAS PERFECTLY RECONSTRUCTYED AGAIN IN FLORIDA BUT IT TOOK A LONG RECOVERY PERIOD AND PAIN MEDS.I DISCOVERED ACCIDENTALLY AS I HAD A BIG DIARRHEA ONE DAY THAT THE PAIN PILL(HYDROMORPHONE) I HAD TO HAVE FOR MY LEG WAS A STRONG CONSTIPATOR AND IT CONTROLLED MY DIARRHEA AND FROM THERE,ALREDAY HAVING THE PILLS,I STARTED EXPERIMENTING WHAT HAPPENED IF I LAXATED MYSELF AT NIGHT WITH LOTS OF LIQUID(WATER PLUS ELECTROLYTES)USING A MIXTURE OF SENNOKOT S,LACTULOSE AND COLACE ( WITH LOTS OF BACILLUM TO STOP IRRITATION) AND AS I HAVE NO COLON AND SIGMOID I CAME TO EMPTY MYSELF IN 3/4 HOURS AND STOP THE DIARRHEA BY USING 1 4MG PILL OF HYDROMORPHONE WHEN IT WAS OVER I CAME TO SEE THAT IF I EMPTIED MYSELF AND AFTER THE PILL THAT CONSTIPATED ME COMPLETELY AND ENDED WITH THE DIARRHEIC MECHANISM I COULD HAVE APERFECT DAY WITH NO GOING TO THE JOHN AT ALL TILL NEXT NIGHT WHEN I LAXATED MYSELF AGAIN AND IT STARTED WORKING WITH A 95/98% PRECISION WHICH FOR ME WAS PERFECT ALTHOUGH I HAD TO RECOVER SOME SLEEP DURING DAYTIME BUT IT WS A FAIR PRICE TO PAY IN MY CASE. MY DOCTOR AGREED IN GIVING ME A 4MG HYDROMORPHONE PILL FOR EACH DAY AND I HAVE KEPT DOING THIS NOW FOR AT LEAST 3 YEARS NOW AND IT HAS BEEN FOR ME THE PERFECT SOLUTION AS I FINISH IN THE RESTROOM MAYBE AT 3/4 AM AND I WILL NOT GO AGAIN FROM THAT TIME TILL MIDNIGHT NEXT DAY. FOR THIS YOU WILL HAVE TO BE MODERATE IN YOUR FOOD INTAKE AND SACRIFICE WITH THE DETAILS BUT BELIEVE ME IT WORKS PERFECTLY ALTHOUGH FOR SOME DOCTORS IT SOUNDS STRANGE ALTHOUGH THEY ARE NEVER IN YOUR BODY AND FOR THEM EVERYTHING IS EASY AS YOU MIGHT WELL KNOW BY NOW.
IF YOU HAVE ADOCTOR THAT YOU TRUST AND IS NOT A STUBBORN MULE AND OPEN TO THIS TRY IT AS IT MAY BE THE SOLUTION FOR A BIG PROBLEM THAT IS HELL WITHOUT CONTROL FOR SOME OF US.
PLEASE FEEL FREE TO ASK ME WHATEVER YOU WANT IF THISA SOUNDS FEASIBLE FOR YOU AS I WOULD HAVE BENEFITED SO MUCH IF I HAD BEFORE SOME OR ANY GUIDELINES OF WHAT OTHERS DO AND IT MAY FUNCTION FOR THEM. GOOD LUCK SANDRA DEE AND CALL ANYTIME.

[SandraD]

Thanks for sharing. You have had a rough time. I guess I am lucky I still have a colon at all!

The meds I take now, Lomotil, has a narcotic in it, so perhaps it is similar to what you suggest. I take 2 in the morning and 2 in the afternoon only take 1 at night because even with fiber, mornings take too long and I have the opposite problem if I take more. Mostly mornings are chronic, not so much the runs, just often. The fiber helps keep it from being small and pastey.

Oh, the things we talk about!

I am hesitant to consider a daily pill like that. I am not an addict, but my 19 year old son died of an od of opiates and I have another adullt child in recovery, so you see why the thought kind of freaks me out.

I am learning what and when to eat. Right now I am trying out a job from 2-8 pm. It works if I do not eat during that time. I do better with fiber added to my diet of whole grains, fruit, vegetables and soy food, maybe a bit of fish sometimes. Milk seems to cause gas lately. Always experimenting and learning.

My husband is a cyclist too! I hope you continue to have the best health possible. Again, thanks for your interest. You gave me much to think about.

[RJB]

SANDRA D:
THERE ARE NO WORDS I COULD EXPRESS TO TELL YOU HOW SORRY I AM ABOUT YOUR LOSS.
WITH TIME YOU WILL SEE THAT LOMOTIL FORMULA IS BASED ON OPIOD MOLECULES AND IT WILL GENERATE AT A MOMENT AN IMPOSSIBILITY TO USE IT FOR MORE THAN A FEW DAYS(AS THE INSTRUCTIVE INDICATES VERY PROBABLY) BECAUSE IT WILL IMPEDE YOU COMPLETELY TO GO.
THAT WILL BE THE TIME TO EVALUATE THE USE OF HYDROMORPHONE OR A SIMILAR COMPUND. YOU ARE JUST BEGINNING THIS PROCESS AND I ENCOURAGE YOU TO KEEP FIGHTING AS THERE IS A WAY WHEN YOU A HAVE A WILL ALWAYS.
I WILL BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO BE OF ANY HELP AT ANYTIME WHEN YOU NEED IT AND GOOD LUCK.

[SandraD]

Thanks! I saw my general practioner today for another opinion since I had to go for something else anyway. He feels like I will continue to improve, says the body adapts, though slowly. He gave me. Bentyl to try. I can compare it to the Lomotil then discuss it with my surgeon on 8/19. He didn't seem to think there would be a problem talking it long term.

He said that the things I can't eat are things I shouldn't be eating anyway. You know, fatty and processed foods. Duh! I knew that!

I hope to be able work 8 hour again and be able to commute again, or find something do do in the afternoons that paid enough. Like I said, mornings are spent "going" or I am up late "going" but it is slightly better than it was.

It is great people can come here and read what others are going through because doctors really don't have a clue.

Thank you so much for being there. By the way, I am 55 and a grandma now. I hope you are doing well. Any chance of improving without your procedure every night? Do you dare try it without your intervention? Good luck to you and many blessings.

[donnarae]

Sandra, you replied to a message I wrote in the story section. I was Donna day 8 of colon resection. Now I am starting my 6th week and am doing well. I feel fine but still have the potty problems like yours. Food doesn't seem to make a difference for me. My stools are small and frequent (like 10-15 ) times a day. I do not have urgency so much as just a feeling that I need to go. Never had an accident. My surgeon said that it may take a year before my bm becomes normal. He suggested immodium but I am so against taking meds of any kind I haven't tried it yet. I haven't tried metamucil yet either. I am a grandmother and retired so I am not in need of an urgent recovery like you are since you really want to work again. My husband and I like to travel and we have an rv so a bathroom is at my easiest convenience. I take one day at a time. Some days I find that I am really tired and I try to take it easy on those days. I walk and lift weights with my arms to keep up my strength. I also had a broken leg going into surgery so I found myself very weak afterwards. My legs were shakey and my arms also so that is why the weights. I am doing much better and if it weren't for the frequent, small bm's I would consider myself recoverd 100%. YOu are right though, no one tells us what to expect after a colon resection. I had no idea what I was getting myself into when the Dr. said I needed to have a resection. Well I hope you are doing well and can find part time work or a boss that lets you go to the potty whenever you need to close to home so you don't have to commute. Thanks for all the responses to everyone. I am sure you helped them in some way. Donna