Hi, I don't know if you still come on this site, but I had the same diagnosis, except that I only had to have 5 inches removed. I am 34 yo and do not have history of polyps...passed blood in stool one morning and 3 colonoscopies later, I had a bowel resection of my lower anterior colon. I completely understand how you feel...I had mine done Aug. 14 and I figured I would start feeling back to normal by now. I go thru extremes...sometimes constipated and sometimes up all night with nonstop bowel movements. It is very frustrating and I feel very depressed about it. I'm told I will regulate and that it will take time, but the interim is very difficult. I never know what my day will be like and it seems like either extreme isn't triggered by anything I'm eating...just seems like a vicious cycle that happens no matter what I do or eat. How are you feeling now? Has anything gotten better since you first posted?
Guest wrote:
Hi
I had emergency open resection colon surgery May 18. I had a colonoscopy and they made a perforation in the colon and so I had to have emergency surgery right away. I was under anesthesia so they had to wait a while to put me under again for the surgery. It was terrible but thank god its over. Was in the hospital 8 days on fluids. At first I my bowels didnt work and everything backed up and they had to put a tube in my stomach. After a day or two it started working. I had two internal stiches come thru and it was draining and now its almost done. I had three more weeks at home and went back to work on June 14 this week. Just experiencing some pain sometimes in the abdomen, and it goes and comes. I have some pressure below the abdomen. I have to go back to my doctor next week so we'll see. Do not lift anything heavy except my handbag now. Hopefully thats okay, I try to keep it light. Other than that I think Im doing good and hope to be 100% normal soon.
I couldn't agree more! Luckly. I had heard only good things. I had my entire colon removed laprascopocaclly. I feel amazing! hope everyone deciding to have this surgery have the same experiences!!!
New to this forum, hopefully I am posting the correct way. I had open colon resection on June 3, 2011. It will be four weeks tomorrow night. I must be a wimp, because this has been one of the roughest surgeries I have ever experienced, bar none. I was in hospital for eight days and the pain and bloating was/is horrible. I feel like the good year blimp and it has gotten a bit better over the past two weeks but I am still so swollen. I had to have emergency surgery, perforated colon, and don't know if that has made the recovery worse or what. My surgeon told me it would be three to six months before I begin to feel normal again. Just wondering if anyone else is experiencing this kind of pain, bloating and swelling. Also, I am going to the bathroom anywhere from three to sixteen times daily. Just recently began welchol, six daily and seems to be helping a bit, thank God. My hair is falling out by the hand full and I have lost a massive amount of weight and can eat basically nothing but eggs, toast, mashed potatoes and popscicles. Any help is so appreciated. Please excuse the spelling, tonight I really don't care. Thanks in advance for any help anyone may offer!
I just had colon surgery to they took out all my colon , have healed so good, but I can not get rid of the diarrhea had it since the surgery on march 4th 2013 he Dr is giving me a shot once a month ,diarrhea pills seems not helping that much ,have lost a lot of weight but not to many fods i can eat. Hope some one can help me maybe something you are taken different .i had cancer
ive been dealing with diverticulitis for 12 years and i until recent i had a clogged colon intestine i needed laxatives in order to poop so i had resection done removed all my diverticilitis and the clogged part of my colon..i had the worst cramping and gasses for a week now two weeks later the cramping went away i have bowel movements now
i still feel pain where the surgery was done but i just need time to heal.alot has to do with ur diet...ive lost ten pounds in two weeks
Thank you for your post. I am facing the possibility of open surgery instead of laproscopic and I have been very scared. Your post helped calm me down.
I was blessed (not) with a congenital band extending from the descending colon And winding its way to my ascending Colin, where it strangled my bowel for a few years, causing nasty pain and a lot of weight loss before causing total bowel obstruction. After an emergency right hemicolectomy I went home with few complications 9 days later.
For me it had been a major lesson in taking it easy and not trying to be a super hero. What looks healed on the outside is still quite raw inside.
My recommendations: sleep when you need to. Don't eat too much all at once - eat little and often. Wear a little pad out and about for the first couple of weeks. Be kind to yourself - it's major surgery whatever the reason for it, half your guts are missing, and you are lucky to be alive!
thank you for your post - i just had mine done and was hoping for a success story - i am taking it easy and listening to the doctor and his orders. How was your diet after?
I had bowel resection for diverticulitis on August 9. I was doing remarkably well and by the end of day one they took me from clear liquids to full liquids, cream soups and pudding. On day three they gave me full low residue diet and my hospital dinner was shepherds pie and I could've had a roll with butter but passed on that, for breakfast before releasing me they serve two scrambled eggs and home fries, again I passed on home fries and toast. They released me on day three. I went home and had mashed potatoes and carrots for dinner, Day 4 I had yogurt and then I had mashed potatoes carrots and a small very small slice of chicken. That night apparently where they had connected my colon let go. I had fever all night called the doctor the next day and he sent me to the lab for blood work and my CBC was 22,000. Normal is around 5000. He called me On day six with these results and said he wanted me to go for a CAT scan and to come in through the emergency room because they would give me an IV of fluids to help with the fever. It took most of the day before they finally did the CAT scan and then all hell broke loose. As my friend who was with me said, it was like being on a TV show. My stomach cavity was full of feces. And they had to do emergency surgery. He said I would likely have a temporary colostomy but when they got in there he couldn't even do that because of all the inflammation. The seal is still leaking and I am two weeks out from that surgery they give me TPN at night for nutrition and I sip on clear liquids during the day. Today was a good day and I didn't see any leaking in my JP Drains but I'm afraid to tell them because they will immediately want to move me to the next level of food. I truly believe moving me onto a low residue diet on day two is what caused this. I don't know how much weight I've lost but everything scares me. everyone that I've talked to who has had the surgery was on clear liquids for days and then full liquids, cream soups etc., for a couple weeks before reaching low residue diet. It's a tough road. I am right now in a nursing home because they want me to continue to have some medical supervision but certainly insurance won't pay for me to stay I'm a HOSPITAL.
I would insist on the lap if you can. I just had lap 4days ago with 12 inches removed. Was out of the hospital in 3 days. There is always a chance they might have to switch to an open surgery, but lap will cut down the recovery time dramatically, I had open surgery 3 years ago with perforated abcess and I can tell you first hand that I am recovering way faster with this one. I was very happy when I woke up and my wife said they were able to do everything lap.
Don't be afraid of the surgery. I read all kinds of stuff and stayed away from it for 3yrs. I got tired of diver controlling my life and decided to do a planned surgery. I am still sore, but I have had zero diver symptoms since post op.
Good luck and God Bless!
Don't be afraid of the surgery. I read all kinds of stuff and stayed away from it for 3yrs. I got tired of diver controlling my life and decided to do a planned surgery. I am still sore, but I have had zero diver symptoms since post op.
Good luck and God Bless!
Can you locate a doctor in LA for me that is skilled in colon laparoscopic surgery?