Large Intestine Removal

[iAmanda]

Has anyone ever had their entire large intestine removed? Doctors are planning to remove mine, and rehook the end of the small intestine to the rectum. I suffer from colonic inertia. Whats life like without a large intestine? Will I lose a lot of weight, will I have to change my diet around? Any details would be helpful. So far I know that I'll be going to the bathroom a lot.

And for curiosity, I'm 18 -- so I'm quite young.

[Capajuca]

Has anyone checked into what we should do differently diet wise? It seems like not having much or any large intestine would cause diet deficiency syndrome or loss of good gut bacteria.

[K_rock43]

When I had my large intestine removed I was told I could not eat vegetables, fruits, nuts, ruffage, and meat that had skin on it

[Capajuca]

I had this surgery done 35 years ago for the same reason, except they left    
1 1/2 feet to conect to my rectum. It was the best thing I've ever had done. No more constipation. I do have watery BM's but that is so preferable to the bound up stomach aches I used to get. Ask your doctor why you have to have the whole bowl removed. Wouldn't 3 1/2 feet be enough?
Good luck!

[Dvine]

terri49
I also have celiac and they did not tell me that I would balloon up from my normal 90 pounds. I feel so ut of control.  met with y surgeon all of about 10 minutes before I had my operation and never saw her after that. This was at the Mayo Clinic. I only saw her team after that and her nurse practitioner I had lots of coplicaions. one in which they over drugged me and I stopped breathing and they called  the emergency ICU response team and they had to give me 2 different shots to bring me out of the coma. Still did not see my surgeon, Now I have ballooned up from 90 to 100 pounds 10 months later so what's t to be 3 yrs from now. Never told about any chances of weight gain.

[Keek620]

I gained 30 lbs in less than 24hrs before my total colectomy, said it was because I wasn't absorbing/getting enough protein + nutrients. It's been 2 months and I'm down 20 lbs.. I feel your frustration though! :( hopefully things got better for you <3

[suecee711]

Can you share the doctors name that removed your large intestine?

I am in search of a doctor now, two have told me I need to have this done, but the specialist said he only see's one to two cases a year.

Thanks,
Sue

[Pleaze]

Hi. Have u had the surgery?  Where do you live?

[K_rock43]

I had my large intestine removed by Dr. Marc Brand at Rush University, Chicago Illinois

[bunny2817]

I had a subtotal colectomy 10 days ago and I'd like to know if this is normal. I feel like watery stools run down to my rectum every minute and cumulates slowly there until I go to the bathroom.
Just the fact it feels something is in the rectum makes me feel very uncomfortable. I believe this is because I don't have a sigmoid colon anymore so poop doesn't move to the rectum at once, but move every minute. Will this feeling go away as time passes? I don't want to sit in the toilet 24/7..

I almost cried reading all the comments here knowing so many people suffer from constipation like me. Thank you for all the comments here. I wish I was born more normally, but it is what it is and I just have to live on like this...

[Elliej83]

I had a bowel resection at 6 months old as I had necrotising enterocolitis at birth. My main problems are needing the toilet several times a day. If I'm out at a resteraunt I can easily go a few times, I always like to know where the bathrooms are.  I think anxiety makes it worse and makes me need the toilet when I probably do not need to. I do get some bloating and always lots of gurgling sounds!  Does anyone have similar. I have found fybogel to be particularly helpful once a day, twice a day seems to bung me up. Can anyone recommend any foods that are better and foods to avoid.