Large intestine removal

I am 34 yrs old and have been suffering from chronic constipation and colonic interia.  I am going to have surgery to remove the large intestines and have my small intestines connected to the rectum.  I would appreciate any information on this.  It would also be helpful to know what food that should be avoided and does this cause alot of bloating.  Also, does it make you abs look concave or least be able to be flat.  Does it take long to recover, the surgery is laserscopic.  Thank you for any information!
Kira

[marymagdeline]

Hi, I'm a nutritionist.  I'm having a simular surgery but my rectum is going to be taken out also.  You should ask your colon/rectal surgeon all of these questions.  They can do the surgery 2 ways.  One is where they cut you down the middle, the other is laporoscopic.  Ask your doctor which one he's doing for you and why.  Also, ask him the name of the surgery.  And then google it for more information.  I can't remember but I think it's ileo rectal anastomosis.  Find out for sure.  Good luck!

[marymagdeline]

I have a question for you....How long did you suffer from chronic constipation before you decided on getting the surgery?  I take it you had a defacting proctagram test and it showed that your rectum is working just fine, but the colonic transit study showed that none of the markers moved over a period of a week, right?  

[marymagdeline]

The surgery your getting is difinitely called, "ileo recal anastomosis."  Google this and you will find tons of information.  If you can, you should definitely be having this surgery done laporoscopically.  If your surgeon isn't trained to do it this way, find one that is.

[CalGal]

Kira, look up posts by Morecambe on this board. Morecambe went through a colectomy and has posted some very good infomation on the topic.

[CalGal]

Sorry........meant Cira.

[Cira443]

Thank you for responding.  I did have the defacting protogram which is fine and the colon transit showed all the markers and the did not move very far.  I have suffered from the chronic constipation and colonic intertiea since 1994.  The surgery is going to be done laporiscopically.  Thank you again.
Cira

[Cira443]

Thank you for you information and responce.  Any information is appreciated!
Cira

[Morecambe]

Hi - as per Calgal's posting above, I am the patient who underwent a total colectomy - not for colonic inertia - but for torrential diverticular bleeding.  This operation (also called ileo rectal anastomosis) was performed by "surgeons hands inside the patient" rather than laparoscopically.

I have made many postings in reply to my experiences in response to Medhelp questions but I suggest that you log on to the most relevant one which is:-

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/show/523166

Do come back with any further questions.  Good luck

regards
Morecambe

[Cira443]

Thank you so much for your response.  I did find the other posts very helpful.  I had a question though is there alot of bloating and pain after the surgery.  I am suppossed to have the surgery in the beginning of April.  The information is so helpful but I am still fearful that this may not work.  Thank you agian for your information!

[Morecambe]

Hi - the incision (10-11 inches in the case of non-laparoscopic surgery) is sore for about 2-3 weeks and requires special nursing "antiseptic" procedures and dressings - but nothing drastic. As mentioned in the http://www..... reference you may require epidural pain relief for 3-4 days after the operation.  I never suffered from intolerable pain.  I don't recall any bloating - yes some minor bruising/swelling around the incision site.  My front-of-body proflie is unchanged (well slightly due to the ever-present "middle aged spread" that afflicts 60+ years old folk with a fondness for Swiss chocolate....!!!!)

I am sure that the surgery will work and result in pretty rapid throughput of eaten materials through the intestines.  

Do take note of my dietary suggestions following the surgery - and also the "anal care" regime that I suggested.

Do come back with any further questions.  

Good luck anyway
Morecambe

[Cira443]

Thank you so much for responding again.  The surgery is going to be done laparoscopicly.  I will definetly check out your dietary suggestions and "anal care".  You have been very helpful to me!
Cira