Post Resection

Hello Everybody

I had a foot of my small intestine removed three weeks ago and I am currently in recovery. However, I noticed that I developed chronic diarrhea since the surgery. Has anybody developed this after their surgery? I am planning on calling my doctor, but thought I would just ask around too.

Appreciate any responses.

I had 3 feet taken out and thats normal it will slow down as your intestine gets adjusted to it.

I had my resection 4 wks ago tomorrow.  I've had diarrhea ever since surgery too.  I saw my surgeon and gi doc this week and both think that things will slow down as time goes by and my body adjusts to it's "new way of life".   I had 18inches of my ti and right colon removed.

I had my resection about 1½ years ago.  I also read that it can take up to a year to totally heal for this kind of surgery.  That's about right in my case.  As the months ticked away I realized I was feeling better and better.  Still have minor problems but I guess that is just going to be my norm from now on.  Don't rush it.  It will get better. 

I had a resection in Oct of last year. I had the D for at least three weeks. Some days it was worse than others running to the bathroom every half hour or so but it did get better. It will for you too. Just give it some time.

I just wanted to thank all for your responses. It makes me feel so much better to hear it from people who have gone through with the surgery. In my case, it is just funny because I never had the diarrhea associated with Crohn's Disease. I actually was constantly bloated and constipated due to a massive stricture. Since they removed the stricture and the fistula mass, I have developed the chronic diarrhea. Does it ever end? I just want some time of normalcy, but I guess it just isn't going to be with this disease. I'll get through it as I have gotten through everything else. I'll manage this diarrhea too. Fun, Fun!

Thanks again.

Hello Lakergal

Sorry to hear about your surgery and ordeal.

Well I guess in the long run, we will both feel much better. It all just takes time from what I have been reading and from the replies above. Sometimes I like to push it because I'm bored to tears from not working and not being able to do much because I'm chained to a toilet, but I'm so looking forward to getting my life back soon.

Take care and feel free to keep in touch.

Hi. Have the D slowed down? I'm better than before, but I still go about 4x's a day. =( Hope you're recovery process is better than mine.

I hate to tell you, but I've had severe diarrhea for almost 30 years. Never had it until after my first surgery back in 1979. After my second resection a couple of years ago it is even worse. I hope I am the exception. It has severely impacted the quality of my life.

Hi! I also had surgery 2 1/2 weeks ago and removed half my cecum, appendix, TI and Ileocecal valve. I've also had D since surgery but it is definitely calming down. I actually had a "normal bm" a few days ago and then went back to the D, but only a couple times a day (it is really crampy also? do you feel really crampy as things are moving thru?) I thought that I might share some info the dietician gave me to take home after surgery. It was a printout that would be for someone that had an ileostomy surgery, but it was a really good guideline to follow.

*need to drink at least 2 more cups of fluid per day than you were before surgery. (eg. of variety of fluids are: fruit smoothies, vegetable juice, herbal tea, soup, fruit juice, milk (if tolerable).

*more potassium and sodium intake is important due to diarrhea. Eat or drink at least 1/2 cup of one high potassium food or drink every day unless otherwise advised from doctor. (eg. beverages - apricot nectar, hot cocoa, orange juice and vegetable juice ( l love v8 juice and drink a few glasses a day, I think it has helped absorb some of the fluid in my bowels)  Food: Kiwi, melon, nectarine, orange, parsnip, yam, potatoe, pumpkin, squash, sweet potatoe, tomatoe, avocado, banana and papaya. ( alot of these fruit I am too nervous to try yet but potatoe, yam, banana, avocado are good so far.)

* foods that help slow diarrhea and thicken output: cheese (aged), white rice, noodles, yogurt,tapioca pudding, smooth peanut butter, marshmallows!! ( I thought that one was weird!) To avoid: prunes (no really!!?) and licorice, caffeine (coffee, cola, strong tea, chocolate) alcohol and smoking.

* adding soluble fibre helps thicken output. Some good examples are: banana, peeled apple,applesauce, strawberries. Canned peaches,pears, apricots and mandarins. Carrots, potatoe (no skin), eggplant. Oats (in cereal, muffins or bread), cheerios (I love a bowl each day with Lactaid milk), rye bread or enriched white bread. Peanut butter ( I eat peanut butter/banana sandwich or toast each day), hummus, split pea soup. Can also add Benefibre or Metamucil (tsp each day).

*tips: chew food well and small bite size pieces, eat small meals more often. Don't try to be a superhero and enjoy conveniently packaged food: eg. canned soups, stews, canned fruit, ready made puddings.

*she also recommended a daily Zinc lozenge - 10 mg daily. She said it helps with the healing process? I have taken  some but definitely not everyday. It is cherry flavoured and helps fight colds also.

Well sorry it was long winded but hope some of this might help even a little bit. Well now I'm off for a little walk outside, my husband is making me get some fresh air since I have been housebound all week! Did I mention Little walk  uggh!!

Take care and talk to you soon.

 Shelley

thanks for the tips, shelley. i try to drink more fluids, and i take a multi-v everyday. jasper01, i go back to work in about a week and 1/2. hopefully, things will slow down or else i'll have to take many breaks. =( i'm hoping the surgery will give me many, many, many years of good health too; however, i share your fears as well.

no colostomy bag, bionic.

good luck,
di

Bionic I had an illeostomy bag for 4 months after my surgery lord I detested it the leaking and burning and ulceration. I had to wake my hubby up in the middle of the night to change the bed after i had showered and fixed a new bag. I swore that I would never again complain about D or C lol this I do on a daily basis and the biggest winge is the burnt heamerriods. You learn to live through the proceedure but you never forget or I never have it is my biggest fear of reoccuring surgeries.