Problems after bowel resection

[aross123]

This discussion is related to Problems after bowel resection.


In February 2006 I had an emergency bowel resection.  For no apparent reason, a large portion of my small intestine had twisted and the blood supply to my intestine had been cut off and died.  About 40% of my small intestine (ileum and ileocecal valve) had to be removed.  For the next 2-3 months I had horrible diarrhea after everything I ate.  Within one week I went from 135 lbs. to 115 lbs.  I followed a very low-fiber, low-fat, bland diet.  My surgeon told me that I would suffer from diarrhea for the rest of my life and would have to control it with medication.  My doctor told me that things would get better in time, it just takes awhile for the remaining intestine to adapt.  It took about 6 months for me to maintain a weight of 120 lbs.  (I am 5' 4").    

It's been almost 2 years now and I have problems every day with digestion.  I have diarrhea every morning that lasts sometimes until about noon (some days are worse than others), and the rest of the day I have digestive pain, cramps, sometimes bloating and gas from whatever I eat.  I have tried cutting out certain foods but there doesnt seem to be any rhyme or reason to what causes my discomfort.  I know I am now lactose intolerant and cannot break down fats because of my ileum being removed but sometimes even just a piece of toast will not sit well.  I've recently started taking digestive enzymes to help break down fat, carbs, proteins, milk sugar, and fiber.  The suggested use is 1 capsule before each meal but I take 2 with regular meals and 1 with snacks.  The enzymes have helped considerably with the digestive discomfort (bloating and gas) but I still have diarrhea which I dont expect to every go away.

I've spent the last 2 years trying to find information on life after a bowel resection but I havent had any luck.  I went to see a nutrionist through my medical provider but ended up teaching her a few things about malabsorption.  I get monthly B-12 injections, take a multi-vitam, calcium, magnesium, and probiotics daily, and drink about a gallon of water everyday.  I've had to go to the emergency room a few times for intravenous fluid due to dehydration.

I'm a stay-at-home mom of a very handsome 1 year old so I am always near the bathroom but on the days I am away from home I usually dont eat for fear that my tummy will act up.  Food is no longer a joy, it is a complete hassle.  Anyone out there with the same kind of problem?  I would love to get some advice on how to cope and what things that have helped you to suffer less.

[Sue357]

Hi.  My resection was done in jan. 2008.  I had a rough recovery.  Lots of pain for months and months.  I say hang in there.  It is very soon after your surgery. my colon was small and they had a hard time finding a clip to re-attach then my colon started to spasm.  I am happy to say that I am doing fine now.  Just have to have colonoscopies every 2 years.  Next one is scheduled for tomorrow.  

[ljmd]

Hi All,

I had a segment of my large intestine (sigmoid colon) removed seven weeks ago. It was done laparoscopically.  My recovery has been a rocky one, with good days, one or two, followed by a couple of bad ones.  I am concerned that this is not progressing fast enough.  For instance, I wake in the morning and after having my breakfast (a cup of oatmeal) I have a bowel movement, then another one an hour later and then another one in a half hour or so.  The stools of the third bowel movement tent to be thinner than the first one. The first stools of the morning are usually of normal shape and size.

Also with the third BM I feel some constipation.  I am also feeling some itching, pinching and sometimes pressure in the anal/rectal area.  This is all very stressing and I am having lots of anxiety, specially now that I am returning to work, and don't know how to deal with this multiple BM in the morning.  Also some  back pain, sciatica style.

Can someone share some thoughts, or experiences with me?  Am I making too much of this?

Many thanks

[jbka_kids_grands]

I too ended up with a hernia as a result of my resection surgery, but I never thought about that causing back pain. It doesn't look to be very large according to my PCP, but of course it looks huge to me. Nothing fits right anymore and clothes are uncomfortable now. Doc says trying to "fix" it will only weaken the muscle more so unless it gets serious or strangles it is best to leave it alone.

[jbka_kids_grands]

Were you able to at least recover some money/financial aid from the doctor who caused all this to you?  I don't believe in frivolous law suits, but this certainly sounds like something you should at least look into.

I will keep you in prayers and hope to hear better things in the future.

[jbka_kids_grands]

In Dec of 2010, I was diagnosed with a carcinoid tumor on my small intestine near the joining with the large intestine. On Jan 3, I had surgery to remove the tumor and 12 lymph nodes. They ended up taking about 3-4 inches of small intestine and the whole right side of the large intestine. Of course, the tumor and 3 of the lymph nodes showed cancer. I saw a specialist and was advised i had to learn a different outlook on this particular cancer (same type, NET, as Steve Jobs) as it is very slow growing. I am scheduled for tests and a visit with the specialist over the next 4 weeks. There has been no further treatment for the actual cancer as the surgery is the first line of treatment.

As far as I know right now, there have been no more tumors, and the symptoms that alert to the carcinoid seem to be gone for the most part.

However, and here we go, the main symptom is severe diarrhea, and I really can't tell if I have it or if the bowel movements are as they are due to the resection.

I understand the large colon is where the fluid is taken out of the body, and given that I have about one third less of that to perform that function, the movements will obviously be more liquid and loose.  I've been searching all year for somewhere on the internet that someone can advise me or at least talk intelligently about what I should expect as bowel movements at this point.

I go for several days or even weeks at a time and nothing seems like diarrhea and then suddenly it is all very loose and flakey and I go many times a day and the urgency is intense.  I can't wait when I feel the urge to have a movement.

I just don't know what is "normal" and what to consider as a problem.  Has anyone else had anything like this following a resection? Am I just not giving it all enough time to become some sort of normal for me?

I was so happy to find this site/group as I feel rather alone in this.  The surgeon is no help at all.  I had a bad infection after the surgery and it took him until March 22 to finally listen to me and run scans and tests to discover the reason for the severe pain I was having. Obviously I doubt that I use him again as a surgeon if that becomes a need in the future.

I hope there is at least someone who can share some advice with me as to what to expect and what to

[shelly305]

I had a Dr. accidently laserate my spleen and colon during removal of a kidney with a soft ball size growth on it.  The Dr. decided it would be best to take the kidney rather then cutting off the growth so as not to spread infection in my body.  The Dr. also inadvertantly laserated the growth spewing out the fluid within the kidney.  The Dr. released me after three days.....I was so sick and thought it was to soon, but he was the Dr. after all.  The first night home I spewed up bial all night and was back in the hospital the next day.  From that point on I was in and out of the hopsital for three months.  The Dr. seemed to be ignoring my severe weight loss, illness and a lime green fluid spewing out of my previous incision wounds. I believe he knew what he had done doing surgery but was hoping things would naturally get better.  Finally I got so sick I didn't even know that I was sent to the hospital. Next I knew i woke up in ICU after several surgeries.  During the first surgery at this point when they opened me up I had fecal matter throughout my abdoeman.  To make the three years and counting shorter for ya; I've had 12 surgeries thus far and one or two more to go.  I've had a severe internal infections, colonostomy (bag), up to nine fistulas, coma for three weeks due to ARDS, and so on so forth.  The original surgery was done the same month I retired from the Army with 27 years.  I earned my MBA at the end of my military career and moved my family in prep for a good job after retirement.  I have yet to use my MBA or enjoy retirement from the Army.  I had medical insurance but I'm financially destroyed due to day to day bills and support of my family.  It's been a long three years and I hope to be normal eventually.  Thanks for being my shoulder to cry on.