colon resection

[aarnold]

I am a 50 y/o man.In 11/04 I had a colonoscopy.It "said" I had carinoma(colon cancer) of the signoid colon,a 2 cm hard mass tumor.I had 8 inches of my signoid colon removed near my rectum.Pathology could not find evidence of a tumor in the section that was removed.In 03/05 I had another colonoscopy.The 03/05 colonoscopy said I had 2cm hard mass tumor in my distal transverse colon.Tests proved the distal transverse was the only tumor I ever had.I NEVER HAD a tumor in my signoid colon.Next I went to a different dr and hospital and got a subtotal colectomy .The dr removed all of my remaining colon ,appendix, and I think part of my ileum. Now I deficate 10 to 15 times per day.If the dr would have not removed the 8 inches of signoid,how much distal transverse colon would have to be removed ? How many bowel movements a day would I have if they would have left my signoid area alone?How much better off would I have been with only one operation instead of two?
  Also,at hospital #1,  I had had a small piece of the tumor biopsied from the 11/04 colonoscopy and put on slides.Pathology said there was cancer in it. I took the same exact slides to hospital #2.Pahtology said no cancer.Whats up with that?Help!

[Kevin Pho, MD]

Certainly a difficult situation.  Normally pathology is the most definitive test, but there are some cases where the opinion can differ.  That is why any questionable pathology results needs to be read by another opinion.  

I cannot speculate on how much transverse colon would have to be removed had the sigmoid not been previously operated on.  It is also difficult to comment on the number of bowel movements you may have.  It would vary from patient to patient.  

These are questions that you may want to discuss with your personal physician.

Followup with your personal physician is essential.

This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.

Kevin, M.D.
http://www.straightfromthedoc.com

[aarnold]

ok

[Morecambe]

Maybe you can draw some reassurance from my experience - about 16 months I underwent a total colectomy (in one operation) following widespread diverticular bleeding/disease.  In the first 1-2 months after the operation, I had approximately 8-10 motions per day ("muddy/sludgy" consistency) but over the following months the number dropped to 6 and then down to 2-4 per 24 hour period (usually one during the night).

While you are experiencing a high number of motions (especially if they are "loose") I suggest that in order to avoid anal soreness, after using toilet paper in the normal way, you "clean up" with toilet paper soaked in a soapy solution followed by toilet paper dampened with water.

There are maybe some "positives" - yes the high number of daily motions is a nuisance, but you have avoided a colostomy bag and hopefully the surgery has removed all the growths - and the number of daily motions should reduce as your system settles down.

[aarnold]

I am sore,so I will try your clean up suggestions.

Its been 4 months since my last operation ,so hopefully I can still improve.I will see a G.I. doctor this week.

I plan to see if I can get a third opinion about my biopsey slides,because I am not sure that I ever had cancer.

Thanks morecambe

[bing2s]

I had a colectomy September 2004 (a third of my colon removed) because of a growth in my cecum. It turned out I didn't have cancer but it was TB of the colon. Eversince I had the surgery, I had diarrhea (literally it's like water coming out of me), eating would immediately send me running to the bathroom.

I have recently seen a gastro-enterologist and he wanted me to try this medication which he prescribes to other patients and seem to work for them. What I was prescribed was named pms-CHOLESTYRAMINE, which is in powder form and has to be mixed with water or juice, or a highly fluid juice such as soup, pudding.

I'm into the second week of taking this and I observed it to be working for me. The urgency to go to the bathroom was minimized. My stool has become semi-formed. Although, I still have the problem of bloating, gas, and constant stomach discomfort, I was sort of relieved that my diarrhea ceased. I still go to the bathroom several times a day (maybe 3-4) but like I mentioned it is no longer runny.

Investigate and ask your own doctor if this would be appropriate for yourself. I just wanted to share this info because I know the pain and discomfort as I am going through it as well.

[success]

My husband has just had a laproscopic colon resection, it was a benign growth. He was out of the hospital in 4 days.  He has been home since Friday evening.  The doctor told him the bowel movements would be "different" for a while. They are VERY frequent, considering he is not really eating that much low residue food. Sludgy..and often. He continually bloats and it is very painful...
We see the doctor in two weeks, but at this point he really feels well but the constant bowel movements and feeling of flatuance keeps him close to the bathroom. When did this stop for any of you who have had this type of surgery.  They removed 6 inches, and otherwise he is doing great!

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