TOTAL COLECTOMY SURGERY

PATTYPERYMAN · Newbie Joined: 20 Aug 2006 Posts: 1 Location: ALABAMA

I AM HAVING A TOTAL COLECTOMY IN 3 DAYS. I WAS WONDERING IF THEIR IS USUALLY ANY WEIGHT LOSS AFTER THE SURGERY AND AFTER THE RECOVERY. THE DOCTOR IS GOING TO TAKE OUT MY COLON AND RECONNECT THE SMALL INTESTINE TO MY RECTURM. SO NO BAGS. CAN ANYONE HELP ME. Question

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Lori · Veteran Joined: 23 Jul 2005 Posts: 510

Hello! I can’t say with certainty whether you will lose weight or not. You may lose some weight because you will have to make dietary changes after the surgery. You will be advised to eat smaller and more frequent meals which certainly contributes to weight loss.
Although there are no set rules about the types of food to avoid, you may still experience some problems and bowels may take time to recover. The thing is that you will have to experiment with foods and find what suits you best after the surgery. At first, you will be advised to eat foods high in fiber and fruits and to drink a lot of water. This too may lead to a weight loss-but gradually.

Guest · Guest

I HAD MY SURGERY ON AUG. 23. I HAD COMPLICATIONS AND WAS IN THE HOSPITAL FOR 16 DAYS. IT WAS HORRIBLE. I HAVE LOST 20 LBS. BUT I KNOW A LOT OF IT IS BECAUSE I WAS UNABLE TO EAT FOR THE FIRST 2 WEEKS AFTER I GOT HOME. MY DOCTOR TOLD ME TO EAT WHATERVER I WANTED , AS LONG AS IT DIDN'T BOTHER ME. IT IS TAKING MY BOWELS A LONG TIME TO REALLY WAKE UP. I AM GOING ABOUT ONCE A DAY NOW, WHICH IS MUCH BETTER THAN NEVER. LOL!!
THANK YOU FOR REPLYING TO ME.
PATTY PERRYMAN

Guest · Guest

I also had complications.... when I was in the hospital and i was at the hospital for 2 months.... But i have a BM right after i eat... So how are you feeling now....and how old are you? are you working out and things? Also what kind of things can you eat...pls email me at *****....i really need to talk to someone about this....thanks
Parisa

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Guest · Guest

Hi. I am considering total bowel removal due to my unrelenting medically induced constipation. After seeing some photos of people sewed up after the operation, the time out,diarrhea...I am scared. I'm beginning to consider having a colostomy bag inserted, however that makes me not only scared but grossed out too

ReluctantBagLady

whyNot · Newbie Joined: 02 Jan 2007 Posts: 1

I had a total colectomy about six - seven years ago. I had a total colectomy with iliostomy and a j-pouch. Basically, I had the colon removed and a colestomy bag in its place. The colestomy bag remained with me for about seven months and then was removed. Once the bag was removed I had normal bowel movements. I had one long six inch incision below my panty line - barely noticible now. And then rest of the surgery was done lyproscopicaly so I have no real noticible scars above my bikini line. My mother and sister had the same procedure done - it runs in the family. We have had very minor complications over the years (mostly scar tissue.) The important thing is to research your surgeon - make sure they are a colo-rectal specialist and make sure they are very familiar with lyproscoptic procedures. I also find that teaching hospitals are on the cutting edge of techonlogy and new processes - that might be a good place to start. Good Luck with your search - Hope this helps.

On a side note - post surgery I dropped to 96 lbs. I am now at about 140lbs - and can eat anything I want and normally do. Your body will normally adjust to not having a colon and you will go back to a normal weight with time.

gypsymom · Newbie Joined: 11 Jul 2008 Posts: 2

I had a colectomy a year ago in April for a cancerous tumor due to a hereditary gene. I was 54 but my mother, sister, and niece all had it in their 30's and 40's. I also went through chemo due to possible cells in two lymph nodes out of all that were removed.

I did lose weight; went from 115 to 103 partially due to the chemo and adjustment of my new digestive/elimination system. I did not have a bag and I had laproscopic surgery.

I weigh around 107 now so I am gradually picking up a little more weight. I eat almost anything but I avoid nuts and popcorn. I do have more BMs than the normal person and they are all different depending on what I had to eat.
I feel pretty much like my old self, I exercise, have a full time job which I only missed about 4-6 weeks of after the surgery and I do everything around the house as far as cleaning, cooking, errands, etc. So I am living a very full life and I feel very fortunate.

I had genetic testing to determine the exact gene and my children plan to be tested in the near future. My doctors recommend lots of screenings such as endoscopy, sigmoidoscope, as well as the usual gynecological screenings. My mother has also had cancer of the uterus and ureter but she has survived it all and is 82. She even smokes!

My worst condition throughout was hemmoroids but I finally went to a chiropractor recommended by a friend and he performed acupressure and put me on collisonia root and choline and they were pretty much gone in a week after having had them for a year since the surgery. I do have minor flairs but no real discomfort like before.

Hope this helps someone. A good attitude and trying to continue to live your life as normally as possible is very helpful.

hellokittygirl · Newbie Joined: 09 Aug 2008 Posts: 1

HI there. I had my total colectomy almost 3 years ago. Just like most of you, I had complications as well. I wasn't in the hospital for that long, but it did take a while for my small intestine to wake up. About a month after the surgery I developed a blot clot in my stomach and I needed Lovenox for 30 days. Im really young and I was honestly too scared to give myself a shot everyday, so my mom gave me the shot in my stomach. She also was the one who cared for my ostomy. She is my hero. I had the ostomy for 4 months and I still have a lot of bm's but not quite as many as I used to when I had UC. I'd say about 6 on a good day. I can eat almost anything I want. I stay away from greasy foods cause they really upset my intestine, iceberg lettuce cause of really bad bloating, and of course SPICY FOODS for obvious reasons. i.e. food travels through a lot faster, so you're gonna feel that. lol
Recently, I've developed CUPITIS, not POUCHITIS. Cupitis is in the last remaining piece of the rectum only and i have no bleeding or cramping, but it is extremely uncomfortable in the rectal area. It's actually been very debilitating for me. I just got these pains the beginning of this week. I've been really depressed because this is only reminding me of how horrible things used to be (though this is extremely minor, but the fact remains that pain is still pain and noone should have to go through this) and I can only take vicodin for the pain at night before I go to bed. Mt GI doctor prescribed me a steroid suppository (i forgot the name), but I don't know if it's gonna kick in. If anyone has gone through this as well please let me know. I'm really scared because if it doesn't work I worry that he will put me on prednisone and I hate that stuff with a passion. Most of you with the illness know all the terrible things it can do to a person. He told me that if by next week I'm still having pains to call him and he will need to prescribe me something else. He didn't say what, but I can only assume it would be the prednisone. Sad

If anyone has advice please let me know. Thanks!!!

TOTAL COLECTOMY SURGERY

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