I don't know what to do???

[charliesangel0614]

I am a 38 yr old woman and I had a total colectomy with a resection two years ago. Since then I have been in pain, non stop. I have been in the hospital three times since last October, the last being May 27, 2009. Since my last stay I have lost 13 lbs and I am not able to eat anything without terrible cramping and everything I take in, seems to be expelled from my body within a few hours. I have diarrhea 10 - 20 times daily. I feel as if I am worse now than before my surgery and I don't know what to do to make it better. I am told my small intestine looks fine, I just had a CT Enterography last week. Has anyone else ever had to deal with this?

[chloe701]

I have had the problem for 3 months now, the same systems Have you found any relief yet.

[chloe701]

I have had the problem for 3 months now, the same systems Have you found any relief yet.

[ucgirl921]

I have a similar situation. I am now 5 years out from having a laparoscopic colectomy and pouch reconstruction. Before having surgery, I never had any pain just uncontrolled diarrhea. No medications worked. Now after the surgery I have so much pain from cramping and gas and even have leakage at night. My stools are still watery, I have tried antibiotics which work while I am on them but as soon as they are done, my intestines retaliate with a vengence. I have tried adding fiber to my diet with no results. I am so frustrated with my GI doctor. He doesn't seem to understand that I don't want to live like this. Any suggestions would be great as to how to curb my problems.

[Morecambe]

Hi - as Calgal mentiones I underwent a total colectomy about five years ago for torrential diverticular bleeding and, in response to another Medhelp patient's question, I posted my experiences on Medhelp under:-

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

After such a major operation, frequent toilet visits are expected but, in my opinion, the regularity should now have reduced to perhaps 4-6 per day after your two year interval from the - perhaps - 10-20 per day frequency in the period immediately after the operation.

First of all regarding the pain, apart from the "healing of the wound" (2-3 weeks) I don't recall any significant pain and I think that you should continue to pursue your surgeon to help rectify your suffering.  He/she is not only responsible for your surgery but also for your recovery and don't let yourself be "defaulted" to the "well - you're on your own now" group.  Something is not quite right and you are entitled to have it remedied.

Regarding diet, I came up with the (crude) analogy of assuming that my highly liquid motions could be regarded as a liquid spillage on the kitchen floor.  How to clean that up?  Well - throw sawdust on the kitchen flood and then scrape up the residue!!

The intestinal equivalent (I found) was to eat lots of fibre - such as:-

- pulverised raw vegetables (ones that you find tasty) to which organic bran has been added
- pulverised fresh fruit to which organic bran has been added
- yoghurt + added bran
- home made muesli (soak organic oats + bran in milk and add grated fruit, lemon juice, nuts etc).  The mixture looks like wet cement - but it tastes OK
- only organic wholemeal brown bread
- no junk food, colas, white bread etc etc
- it's not all bad - don't eliminate the odd treat of Swiss chololate!!
- drink ~ 2 litres of water per day

I hope that this may help - but do continue to press your surgeon/doctor.

Do come back with any further questions of course.  Good luck.

regards
Morecambe

[CalGal]

Charliesangel, look for past posts by Morecambe who also had a total colectomy. He came up with a decent diet plan that helps to curb the frequency of diarrhea. It may be of a big help to you. You could also drop Morecambe a line and ask your question.