Crohn's and chronic diarrhea

[spof7]

Hi all,

I was diagnosed with Crohn's when i was 15, when i was 18 i relapsed and had to have a right hemi-colectomy. Since then i have suffered with chronic diarrhea, which can be urgent and many times a day. I suppose i just learned to live with it and tried not to let it ruin my day to day life, which it hasn't done until recently. It is now so bad, that i fear leaving my house for long periods of time. Eating meals at someone else's house or in a restaurant is simply impossible, as i will immediately need the toilet afterwards, (which can be embarrassing). I am a dancer, in full time training, so you can imagine how much this gets in the way of my life, although i must say frequent exercise seems to allow everything to move and digest as best as it possibly can.

Does anybody have any advice, or is there anyone going through a similar thing post-bowel surgery? It's been 3 years since i started suffering, and although i am free from abdominal pain, weight loss and am generally very healthy, i am at my wits end with this constant, seemingly increasing, diarrhea.

I should also mention i am not intolerant to any food that i know of except oats, but chocolate and alcohol seems to make it worse (god damn it).

Please help!
Sophie.  
21, England.

[spof7]

Yes they did remove the ileocecal valve. I haven't read any of Morecame's posts yet, i will do now though, thank you.

[CalGal]

Sophie, did they also remove the ileocecal valve - the little muscular closure between the small and the large intestine?

Part of the function of the large intestine is to reabsorb about 90% of the fluid that reaches it, so any loss of length will allow more fluids to pass through. Have you read any of Morecambe's posts on dealing with the loss of the whole of the large intestine? That operation can result in very, very 'fluid-rich' fecal material which can cause problems. He lists some tips on diet for firming things up that may be very helpful to you.