post op problems

pat m · Guest

I am now almost five month post op extensive colon resection for a cancer, feeling much better but have a real problem with diarrhea. I have been told I may have this for life. At this time I'm using Kaopectate but would like to ask if perhaps this will get better with time or can I really expect this to last forever?

leo · Site Admin Joined: 23 Sep 2004 Posts: 1574

Pat

Thanks for sharing your story. Diarrhea after colon surgery is a big problem, and it is exactly like you've been told. It may or may not resolve. The colon essentially serves as a reservoir for stools, and also absorbs water. So when you do not have that anymore, the small bowel tries to adapt to serve this function, and it may take time, and it may not be the way it was when you had your colon. There is no way to predict how it will work.

regards,
Leo
_________________
Leonardo F - Webmaster Cancer Forums
Disclaimer: this information is for informational purposes only. It is not medical advice.

pat m · Guest

Leo - thanks for answering back. I know I'm not alone but was curious. It can be a big problem - hopefully with time will improve. Thanks again. Pat

russell · Guest

Dear Pat,
I am also 5 months post op. I have some severe problems, but I must admit I am much better than 2 months ago or even last month. I have found that 2 metamucil pills or citrucil pills in the morning seem to stop (or sop) up my loose bowels. I have sessions which I call bowel attacks where I will have as many as 35 or 40 firm stools in a couple of hours, until finally all that is left is a watery stool. I assume I have completely emptied out, because I don't do anything again for 3 or 4 days, which isn't good either.

There are embarrassing moments when I can't control what is forcing itself out, or passing gas or leaking through lighter colored slacks. This is tough, isn't it?

What works for one doesn't work for another, I hear. Everyone is made to suffer differently because of the different locations of the surgery and extent of tumors we had. I believe all of us do achieve some sort of compromise acceptance of our altered condition and move one sooner or later. I have fought some depression over this as well, but it's gone now too.

Good luck to you! I am totally empathetic.

babs · Guest

Pat,

I sympathize greatly with you. It has now been three plus years for me, and while things are not normal for me (and may never be), things have finally improved. It did, however, take over two and a half years for me to start feeling as though I did not have to be attached to a bathroom. I also, as did Russell, go through a period of terrible depression, but the support of those on the Cancer Society's website helped me through that. One way I dealt with the situation was to either not eat, or eat very little if I wanted to leave the house! Definitely not a long term solution, but the walls do start closing in! I therefore have been unemployed all this time, but luckily have a husband who understands and continues to work many extra hours to make up for it. I am, however, hoping to get a job very soon (as soon as my next round of testing is done).
I am very disappointed about the lack of available information about this whole problem, both pre and post-op. None of the help I've gotten about this was from my own doctor, only from other colon cancer survivors.

serenity · New User Joined: 21 Feb 2005 Posts: 1

Hi Pat,

I can sympathize with you.
I also experienced severe diarreah.
My oncologist prescribed Lomotil 2.5 mg. He allowed me to adjust the dosage according to the severity of the diarreah.
I'm thankful, I had my last chemo treatment the first of October 2004. It took about 2 months for the diarreah and nausea to subside. I still experiance some symtoms occasionnally. But, I have learned what foods trigger an episode and I take medication before I eat. Then, if I have diarreah, I take another dose.
I hope you're doing better and have no other complications.
Have a great day,
Serenity[size=18][/size][size=18][/size][color=darkblue][/color]

cake · New User Joined: 25 Jan 2005 Posts: 6

Hi Pat,

My husband was operated 2 years ago now.
He can say - like you - that this diarrhea period is really problematic.
It took one year to improve. Now he has a regular function, [b]but he is careful about the diet [/b]: balancing vegetable meal with rice or potatoes or spaghetti everyday. When diarrhea comes, he eats rice for 24 or 48 h then eats a small portion of vegetable or fruit to avoid constipation (or he drinks very much - tea or water or herbal tea).

The bowels rythm became regular [u]step by step[/u]; nothing very spectacular.
But he eats [b]small [/b]servings (5 per day, to get enough of daily needs), balancing the 1rst with the next.

He goes to toilets (excuse my triviality) normally. His real problem is that it happens at night (hard to sleep in this case, and work after such a night).
Another work is to do to "change" the bowel rythm (but I still don't know how. If someone can give me a piece of advice Wink

)

Hope those small habits will help you. You have to be patient but bowels can be "educated" with the time.

All my best
_________________
cake

yzforce · Regular Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 10

Hello, I just joined up looking for answers to this question... my doc lead me to believe I'd be feeling better in a few months so reading this is very depressing. I'm 28 and 3 weeks out of my resectioning surgery. Mine too was very low. I have serious problems with pain right now. I have to go about 30 times a day and am afraid to move around because it seems to trigger things. Will this get better? I ride dirt bikes and spend a lot of time outside not around bathrooms, can I look forward to getting my life back? Any help is greatly appreciated.

leo · Site Admin Joined: 23 Sep 2004 Posts: 1574

Hello

Absolutely. With time you will get used to your new anatomy and probably regain some sphincter control.

best regards,
Leo
_________________
Leonardo F - Webmaster Cancer Forums
Disclaimer: this information is for informational purposes only. It is not medical advice.

ABNRGR · New User Joined: 03 May 2005 Posts: 1

Yzforce,

The first three months after I was re-connected so to speak (had a temporary illiostomy for six months) I was like many others using the bathroom 20 plus times a day. It does get better, in a nut shell your system needs to adjust to what you underwent. I had pre-operative radiation to decrease the size of the tumor I had due to it being so low lying. Because of that my large intestine has sustained some radiation damage which also contributes to the good and bad days that I have. I had my last surgery in May 01, and it took about 2+ years to get things somewhat back to ?normal? for someone who has had rectal cancer.

I have had problems with pain very similar to what you describe. I was on several different pain medications and the one that has worked well for me is B&O (Beladona and Opium) suppositories. It has helped control the number of bowel movements that I have and it helps relieve the pain. I would highly recommend this if you are having pain around the rectum or anus. If you decided to take this I would recommend adding some sort of fiber supplement to your diet to help deal with the possible constipation that you may have.

As far as your daily life right now, if it has only been three to six weeks, three months from now you will notice a big improvement, it just takes time for your system to adjust.

Hope this helps
cce

yzforce · Regular Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 10

Thanks CCE,

I had radiation too which I believe is causing me a lot of pain still. I've seen a slight improvement this week from getting up and moving around more. I'll definately ask about that suppository.

ElaineC · Regular Joined: 17 May 2005 Posts: 22 Location: UK

I had a colo rectal tumour removed in late January followed by a reversal three weeks later. I had it done so early because the stoma retracted.

Unfortunately, I go into hospital tomorrow for a liver resection as the cancer has metasised into my liver so may not hear from me again for a while Rolling Eyes

I have also had problems with very loose stools (especially in the night which interferes with my sleeping). At the moment can't ever imagine working again with the number of visits to the toilet I am making. Think it might be made a little worse because I am a vegetarian who has a high fibre diet.

Something which has really started to bother me though is a stinging anus either just before or just after I've passed a stool. It is awful, like acid is being poured into my anus.

Medics don't seem to be any help on this. I am now taking loperamide, six a day which helps a little. I also wonder if it will settle down and if having 45% of my liver taken away as is going to happen this Thursday will affect it even more.

Glad to have found this site. Good luck to everyone.

maureen lang · New User Joined: 12 May 2005 Posts: 2

Hi Elaine - good luck with your surgery - There is a drug that worked for my girlfried- Sandistatin it's in ijection form - opium is another option although the only thing that did help was the sandistatin - God Bless--

ElaineC · Regular Joined: 17 May 2005 Posts: 22 Location: UK

I am one very upset and angry Elaine this morning. I went into hospital on Wednesday afternoon. Spent more or less the whole of yesterday gowned up and on a drip only to have my operation cancelled because the one preceding me had taken twice as long as the surgeons anticipated.

I now have an appointment for 31st. May but feel like deciding to give up on conventional medicine. Living in the UK is so frustrating we are almost like a Third World country these days and very few of us can afford private treatment because we pay out so much in taxes for a system which isn't serving us properly in the first place.

Thanks for the drug recommendation Maureen. I shall ask my GP about it. At the moment I am just feeling so low, as if I just want out of the whole thing.

CancerDad · New User Joined: 16 Jun 2005 Posts: 1

[quote="pat m"]I am now almost five month post op extensive colon resection for a cancer, feeling much better but have a real problem with diarrhea. I have been told I may have this for life. At this time I'm using Kaopectate but would like to ask if perhaps this will get better with time or can I really expect this to last forever?[/quote]

Pat:
This is unfortunately true. But given the fact that your are still alive, I think it's a small price to pay. There are other medications though. I find Immodium (loperamide) AND Lomotil (dyphenoxlylate/atropine) are very useful. Hang in there. It very well may get better, depending on the area they resected. Remember, your colon has been through major trauma, and different parts are learning to do different things.

Regards

,
CancerDad

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