post colectomy surgery

pattygrindle · Newbie Joined: 19 Sep 2006 Posts: 1

I JUST HAD MY WHOLE COLON REMOVED ABOUT 3 WEEKS AGO. I WAS IN THE HOSPITAL FOR 16 DAYS. I HAD SOME COMPLICATION. I AM HOME NOW AND MY DOCTOR SAYS MY BOWELS KEEP GOING BACK TO SLEEP. I AM TAKING MIRILAX ONE TIME A DAY TO HELP. IT DOES NOT SEEM TO HELP MUCH. MY ENTIRE COLON WAS REMOVED AND MY SMALL INTESTINE WAS CONNECTED TO MY RECTUM, SO I DO NOT HAVE A BAG. I WAS TOLD AFTER SURGERY THAT I MAY HAVE 15 TO 20 BOWEL MOVEMENTS AND THEN IT WOULD GRADUALLY GO DOWN TO ABOUT 4 OR 5. I AM WORRIED BECAUSE I AM HAVING NONE WITHOUT THE MIRALAX.
HAS THIS HAPPENED TO ANYONE ELSE, WILL MY BOWELS WAKE UP. DOES ANYONE KNOW????
I AM REALLY WORRIED AND WONDERING IF I WENT THROUGH ALL THIS FOR NOTHING. ALSO THE SWELLING IN MY STOMACH IS GOING DOWN SOME , BUT VERY SLOWLY.
IF ANYONE KNOWS ANYTHING ABOUT THIS, PLEASE HELP ME.
PATTY

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I AM PROBABLY FACING A TOTAL COLECTOMY BECAUSE OF SEVERE, CHRONIC CONSTIPATION.
IT WAS UPSETTING TO READ YOUR INFORMATION AND I WONDER IF I WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE CONSTIPATION AFTER GOING THROUGH SUCH INVASIVE SURGERY........................CINDY

podgy22a · Newbie Joined: 23 Sep 2007 Posts: 1

i understand the concerns every one has about surgury. i am a 43 yr old. my colon has been asleep as they say for most of my life. laxative abuse and myralax did little but remove the water from my bowels, leaving me with a very swollen stomach and lots of toxins that kept me feeling very ill for years. i was even hospitalized on occation, the first thing in the emergency room was for the nurses to say that i must be pregnant, dur to the size of my stomach, this would hurt my feelings, as i so much wanted another child, but knew that it was the waste inside of me, not that i was pregnant. just in pain from being very ill from not passing gass and not using the bathroom. eating fresh fruits and drinking lots of water did nothing to help me.
after a year of studies by gi doctors and fianally visits to a colon and rectal surgeon, i had my entire colon removed. i was frightened, as anyone would be. i was in the hospital for a week. now, a two months later, i only use the bathroom about thirty minutes to an hour after eating fresh fruit or drinking alot of water. i am very careful not to eat anything constipating, such as peanutbutter, that stuff is like glue to your system.... i am determined to never feel like a fish out of water again. i have my life back... i used to stay in bed all day,,, this went on for years... now i am up to get my son off to school and i dont go to bed until its really time. i have more energy, i have lost the tummy, i am down to under 125# from 150# in just over two months. i think before i put anything in my mouth, i dont eat sweets anymore, i make it a choice to be healthy. i had to wear the diapers for the first two weeks. that was better than feeling so bloated and sick though. the healing time was about four to six weeks. the long scar on my tummy is still tender, i am just thankful to have the changes that have taken place. god bless all of you who are having to go through this. it is hard and difficult for others to understand. i know it is discouraging. im sorry for your pain, hugs, paula

looploopx1 · Newbie Joined: 31 Jan 2008 Posts: 6

Hi, I had a sub-total colonectomy last February due to severe constipation. I thought all was well I have 6 movements at least a day. Which doesn't bother me as my bowel had shut down before so was just grateful. My tummy had gone down nearly completely. I got small pains in my tummy but nothing serious until the last few weeks. I have notice pains high in my tummy and when I empty my bowels I have a deeper pain. I have also noticed I am not digesting all my food. Going to doctors tomorrow. Has anyone had something simular.

post colectomy surgery

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