Hi, everyone! I just joined this forum and haven't had time to really research it yet. I found out that I am in need of open colon resection on 11/15 and would like to know from others whom have gone thru it what I might expect. Will I be plagued by severe diarrhea? They are removing my entire large colon.
I would be most grateful for anything you can tell me.
What to expect after colon resection
Re: What to expect after colon resection
hi, my name is norm.had a double colon resection oct 3rd this year.i'm age 72 with no medical problems except the cancer.my hospital stay was for 12 days with no complications oyer than a urinary tract infection which is common from the cathiter.the surgeon saved about half of my colon and my system is slowly ajusting to eating regular meals.i had many bowel movements the first 5-6 days, very loose and would come with out warning.the last 3 days are better(3 movements a day) and are looking more normal.several bowel movements a day will probably be the norm for me and i will have to ajust my life style to that fact.you state you are loosing your entire colon from surgery.from my experience i doubt you would ever have normal bowel movments with your entire colon removed. you may not know any thing for sure untill you are home after your surgery and see how your systems ajust. lots of luck on your up coming surgery.
norm.
Re: What to expect after colon resection
Thanks for your input, Norm, and I wish you much success for a speedy recovery!
I have decided to postpone my surgery and plan on meeting with nutrition/diet experts and a few other knowledgeable people to attempt to set up a regime to lessen the diarrhea attacks and maintain balanced electrolytes, etc. I cannot face a life time of diarrhea and since I don't have cancer, there is no urgency for my surgery. I am praying I am making the right decision ..... Keep me posted on how you are doing, please, Norm. Blessings, AJ
Re: What to expect after colon resection
hi, if you do not have colon cancer and you have had a recent colonoscopy with no signs of cancer,you are probably better off to wait and try other cures.a colon resection is major surgery with 2-3 months for a full recovery.lots of luck with any decision you make.
norm.
Re: What to expect after colon resection
The surgeon told me my colon was severely stretched (thus causing the abdominal distention) I have been totally miserable with that, but, I think that misery is much better handled than the results, risks and consequences of a total removal of my large colon. I THOUGHT he was just going to remove a part of it, but, he said "I am taking it all so we don't have to go back in in 5 yrs or so to remove the rest"!!! Of course, this is the same surgeon who wanted to take my gallbladder when I had stones on an ultra sound and I said no........then I did an all natural gallbladder cleanse and got rid of all the stones! He even had the guts to ask me the other day if I didn't want him to take my gallbladder when he was in there for the colon surgery! I think it is a case of a money-happy surgeon (VA, no less) who will get a hefty fee for surgery from the government.
Thanks so much for your input, Norm.....you have helped me justify my decision to seek other means of treatment first! God Bless! AJ
Re: What to expect after colon resection
I had laproscopic surgery to remove a foot of my colon through the VA in Pittsburgh PA. I saw doctor Eid. He was wonderful. I would get a second surgical opinion if I was you.
Brenda
Re: What to expect after colon resection
Bless you, Brenda! I had heard you could have it done by laparoscopy and had hoped I could hear from someone who did. I talked to my primary care physician this a.m. and she is in full agreement with me that I should postpone the surgery (which I did this a.m.) and call the VA surgeon in L.A. for a second opinion. When I went to see him in August, I told his assistant I wished HE (the LA surgeon) could do the surgery. At that time, she said, "We wouldn't be so quick to put you on an operating table"......that made me wonder back then.
How have you been coping since yours? Any significant diarrhea??? Thanks again, Brenda! AJ
Re: What to expect after colon resection
No. My bowel movements are normal. I had my surgery 4 weeks ago. Like someone else mentioned the first few weeks, you do not have the same feeling when you have to go but I am back to normal now. A few days after my surgery, I could not tell the different between a bowel movement feeling and a pass gas feeling so I would just go in the bathroom all the time to be safe :-)
Re: What to expect after colon resection
That is excellent news! May I ask why they removed that foot of colon?
Re: What to expect after colon resection
brenda, congratulations on your recovery. you appear to be the ideal person for a complete recovery
and return to normal bowel functions.in talking with other people who had a resection, their recovery was in direct relation the amount of colon that was removed. my surgeon removed about half during an open double resection. a close friend of mine had a resection 5 years ago (they removed 2 feet of colon)and he has at least 2 bowel movements a day.my surgery was 24 days ago and i'm feeling a little stronger each day.concidering the alternative, i can live with the inconvenience of going a little more often. best of luck to you, norm.
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