Constipation - Morecambe

[irone]

Hi, how are you! Last December 2009 - Feb 2010, I was admitted in the hospital because of severe constipation, the doctor keep giving me 5 different strong laxative, but didn't work,(I beg the doctors to do surgery for me, four doctors insist that the surgery is too dangerous and have lot of bad conseuquence, even die, they refused to do surgery for me.(no pirvate clinic in canada, only public here) but in the end 2010 February I suddenly have 3 times of bowel movement/day without taking any medicine, then the doctor let me go home.Now, I am severe constipation again even the laxatiive doesn't work. I find one surgery doctor in Hong Kong Baptist Hospital (Private Hospital) He told me that If I have severe constipation(laxative doesn't work) do the surgery would be more dangerous - will easily have infected, and this only be last resources to do it, because 1/3 patients will have the small intestines stick together (eventually will die), and my family in Hong Kong insist me not to do it.  Whenever I want to come back, they absoulely say no. But I check the other doctor, he said yes, the small intestine have the chance can stick together which eventually can lead die. Every doctor say no. Only one doctor say it can do it. (she is the partner of the last time I mentioned that doctor only aim for money.  I don't know what to do, I am so fustrated. My passport was expired, I am waiting for the new passport, it really affect me my life.  Your advice is highly appreciated.

clara345

[irone]

All doctor in Hong Kong not suggesting me to do the surgery, even though I don't have poop inside, besides the severe diraherra, they say 1/3 patients the intestine can stick together and leads to die. It happens from one week to one year after the surgery.  Except the doctor he seems aim for the money, he didn't mention the risk factor and can do in next 2 days.

If I want to do it, I must clear all the poop, now the laxative seem not working, even though the laxative I used is for colonscopy test. I hope I can wait a little bit until the colon working (at least the laxative can work a little bit) I asked one surgery doctor through email, he said he have to clear all the poop before surgery, but more dangerous to do it. .

Only one doctor said I can do it even have poop inside, I don't know I can trust her or not.

In Canada, all doctor (from publicly) here are no private hospital, all patients through the government, they all not suggesting me to do surgery, even no poop inside, when I was in hospital, 3-4 surgery doctors refused to do for me, they said is too dangerous and the consequences I couldn't stand it.

Thank you very very much for your support and so kind to answer my question. I feel very discomfort of my stomach, I never been in seattle, I heard that united states doctor charge very high ? I don't know how much they charge and how to find a good doctor.My English is not very good. Now, I hope I can recover automatically, wait a little while, now I am taking the IBS for bowel movement pills.

Thanks again !

clara345

[Morecambe]

OK I understand a little better now - it seems that the main reason for the HK surgeon's reluctance to operate is the extra risks of performing the surgery if your intestines contain faeces.

This then prompts the question of whether (perhaps by no food for several days and powerful laxatives/purgatives) the faeces can be eliminated so that it is safe to operate.  I can't answer this question but surely someone must know....??

Are you saying that in Canada none of the colo-rectal surgeons will perform the operation - "publicly or privately"??

If so then I suppose your only chance is to go over the border into USA maybe to Seattle (nearest to Calgary) where there are surely private surgeons who will operate - but who may also have the same opinion about the risks if your intestines are containing faecal matter.

Wishing you luck and I'll always be pleased to hear your news.

regards
Morecambe

[irone]

The things is the calgary doctors no one want to do the surgery for me. (no pirvate clinic here, only public)  If I insists, I have to do in HK.  Whenever I said, my brother is strongly rejected, (If I come back, I must stay in his house, because my parents both die).
My brother said if I insisted to do it, he cann't help me if anything happened.

Now, I searched the interent, one surgeon doctor (pirvate doctor in HK Baptist hospital, said besides the severe diarreha, have the chance of intestinal adehsions, this I heard before from the family doctor in HK (last time I visited) And, the surgeon doctor said if I cannot get rid of the poop by laxative, it leads more dangerous, easily infected and big wound. Many surgery doctors in HK said cannot do it if I have poop inside.

Only one surgery doctor said that she can do it even have poop inside.(in HK).

If I don't do it, eventually I still can have colon cancer.

I will go to the website and check, anyway thanks for your advice.


clara345

I just lost $40,000 for selling a house here, so I hope I can spent max $40,000 candian dollar for the surgery in HK.

[Morecambe]

If I am not mistaken we exchanged postings several times some months ago and you were in a dilemma as to whether to attempt the surgery in Canada or in HK where you have family.  I am still concerned that the advice you are receiving is not correct.  Having said that of course I do not know whether you have special risks (e.g. heart weakness, body overweight, breathing difficulty ...others) that may be causing the doctors to whom you have spoken to recommend that you do not ungergo surgery.  But from where did you get the negative advice - in HK or Canada?  I cannot believe that you got it in Canada??

When I underwent my total colectomy in 2004 (as a reasonably healthy patient) I was told that the death rate for this operation was ~2% (due to heart failure etc etc) and I accepted this because the risk of death from a repeat torrential bleeding was greater than ~2%.  For a healthy patient I believe that the risks that have been mentioned to you are exaggerated.  But who has told you of these risks?  Colorectal surgeons directly or perhaps "intermediaries" who are not giving you accurate information??

If you google "total colectomy for chronic constipation" (**) you will see several sites describing examples of the performance of this operation - and in many cases there are no reports of death or significant complications.  Please read all the postings on these sites and form your own opinion.

Here is my advice:-

- I suggest that if you decide to undergo this operation, you do so in Canada where you can make up your own mind and you are free from possible biased advice and pressure from your family in HK
- in order to obtain correct advice, find the name/hospital of a specialist colorectal surgeon in your city (Calgary??) in Canada (go to the their website which is www.cscrs.ca).
- meet a specialist and ask him/her all the questions about death rate, intestinal adehsions, infection etc etc
- if he/she has special reasons why you should not undergo this operation then I suppose you must accept this but ask him/her about the positive examples as per my (**) above
- but then you will know that you have sought the best possible specialist advice whereas at the moment I think part of your dilemma is the conflicting advice that you have received so far.

Please let me know your progress - and good luck

regards
Morecambe