Member Comments are provided by individuals and reflect their personal opinions only. Under NO circumstances should you act on any advice or opinion posted in this forum. ALWAYS check with your personal physician before taking any action regarding your health! MedHelp International and our partners, sponsors and affiliates have no obligation to monitor any comments posted on this site, or the content and/or accuracy of such exchanges. MedHelp International does not endorse the views of any user.
Gastroenterology (Expert Forum)
total colon removal
Answered by
Kevin Pho, MD - Internal Medicine
Kevin Pho, MD
Boston - MA
This forum is for questions regarding Gastroenterology issues such as Acid Reflux (GERD), Barretts Esophagus, Colitis, Colon/Bowel Disorders, Crohn's Disease, Diverticulitis/ Diverticulosis, Digestive Disorders, IBS, Stomach Pain.
total colon removal
by patty307, Apr 10, 2008 05:00PM
Hi,
I am going to have surgery to have my colon removed due to atonic colon. I was born this way and have tried every thing for constipation(chronic) I am 57 years old. If I didn't have cit mag to drink, I would eventually die because nothing else works. Besides that I am healthy and in good shape. Anyway I am very afraid and don,t know what to expect afterwards. Also do I have to change my eating habits? What will happen to me?
Thankyou for your time
Patty Collesano ***@****
I am going to have surgery to have my colon removed due to atonic colon. I was born this way and have tried every thing for constipation(chronic) I am 57 years old. If I didn't have cit mag to drink, I would eventually die because nothing else works. Besides that I am healthy and in good shape. Anyway I am very afraid and don,t know what to expect afterwards. Also do I have to change my eating habits? What will happen to me?
Thankyou for your time
Patty Collesano ***@****
Doctor's Answer
by Kevin Pho, MD, Apr 10, 2008 07:27PM
, Apr 10, 2008 07:27PM
These are questions that you have to ask your surgeon.
Because I'm not involved in your case, I cannot speculate exactly as to what the expect.
A colostomy may be involved, and there is indeed a chance that your eating habits may change. It would depend on the extent of the surgery and how much colon is removed.
These options can be discussed with your personal physician.
This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patients education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.
Kevin, M.D.
www.kevinmd.com
Because I'm not involved in your case, I cannot speculate exactly as to what the expect.
A colostomy may be involved, and there is indeed a chance that your eating habits may change. It would depend on the extent of the surgery and how much colon is removed.
These options can be discussed with your personal physician.
This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patients education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.
Kevin, M.D.
www.kevinmd.com
patty307
Hi - I've just read the recent postings and can tell you the following:-
back in 2004 I underwent a total colectomy for torrential diverticular bleeding. Another term for this operation is "ileorectal anastomosis" - i.e. where the far end of the ileum is joined to the near end of the rectum. The whole colon (+ appendix) is removed. My operation was not performed laparoscopically by the surgeon - but via the full "cut me open" method which involved about a 10-11 inch incision from the bottom of the sternum to the pubic area. Other experiences:-
- the operation lasted about 4 hours
- I felt pretty groggy afterwards but felt more normal the next day
- you will have numerous I.V. tubes with drugs, nutrients, antibiotics
- pain is quite well controlled via an epidural drip in the spine
- on the day after the operation, you will probably be visited by a heartless physio who will insist that you get out of bed and walk around. They are only doing their job and take this action to minimise the chance of blood clots etc.
- after some days I developed an ileus which, in simple terms, is a failure of the intestines to start working again because of the shock/manhandling that they have undergone during the operation. This may necessitate a neo gastric tube to suck out bile juice etc from the stomach until the intestines start to work again.
- in addition a suprapubic catheter was inserted to allow urine to drain from my bladder.
- I was lucky and the 2% chance of requiring a colostomy bag was avoided. I think that this depends on the "geometry" of the open ends of the intestines and how closely they can be sutured together.
- it was predicted that I should be able to leave hospital after 6-7 days but because of the ileus, I was kept in for 12 days.
- of course it may be that if your resection is carried out laparascopically, then your stay in hospital may be reduced - please ask your surgeon.
- occasionally, if the sutured intestine develops minor leaks then another operation is necessary to prevent peritonitis. Again, please ask your surgeon.
After the operation, my motions were very watery but gradually they became more muddy/sludgy with 6-8 visits to the toilet during the day and 2-4 at night. This falls off and today there are perhaps ~ 4 per day and 0-1 at night.
To avoid anal soreness, I suggest that the last toilet paper wipe is with toilet paper dampened with soapy water. Take very mild baby wipes when you are away from home.
From the diet point of view, I suggest eating plenty of roughage including oats and bran (home made muesli, also bran added to yoghurt) to "bulk up" your motions. I did not have to stop eating anything but plenty of fruit/vegetables/roughage did solidify my motions.
Hope this helps, please sent through a "post comment" if I can give you any further information
Good luck
Morecambe
patty307
I am going to have surgery to have my colon removed due to atonic colon. I was born this way and have tried every thing for constipation(chronic) I am 57 years old. If I didn't have cit mag to drink, I would eventually die because nothing else works. Besides that I am healthy and in good shape. Anyway I am very afraid and don,t know what to expect afterwards. Also do I have to change my eating habits? What will happen to me?
Thankyou for your time (I hope this is what CalGal meant regarding posting, instead of e-mailing, so that more people would benefit from responses) Thanks again! :)
Patty Collesano ***@****
It's very understandable that your frightened. I hope Morecambe's post helped. I know it was an education for me. If you have more questions, ask. Don't hesitate. Some of us may not have gone through exactly the same thing, but enough of us have experience with a variety of GI issues that we might be able to give you a hand or perhaps steer you in the 'right' direction.
Take care.
I was back on the tennis court playing tennis after 6 months.
I am sure that the discomfort of the operation will be well rewarded by the relief of a normal working lower intestine. Don't worry about the greater number of toilet visits. Remember, it just means that every time you do a "#1 (~8 times per day???) you will just do a #1 and a #2!! Also I do my best thinking while on the loo....!!
I suggest that you eat normally but adjust your diet if any foods seem to cause excessively loose motions. I can recommed the bran/oats mixture blended with milk + grated apple + other fruits/nuts/lemon juice all mixed together as a home made muesli (it looks like wet cement) to "bulk up" your motions. Also do drink plenty of water (~2 litres per day) because the water storage capacity of your colon will not be there any more. In other words do avoid dehydration.
Good luck - and do ask your surgeon to clarify any questions that you may have about the operation.
Morecambe
Patty307