symptoms after bowel resection and diet

I had bowel resection surgery 10 months ago. I had 1 1/2 feet of my small bowel removed and almost all of the colon. Recovery was slow but thankfully, no major problems. I was told by my doctor that the colon absorbs water and since most of mine was removed, it would be normal for me to have loose bowel movements and maybe go 4 - 5 times a day. I'm feeling like I'm worse off since surgery. I had diarrhea before having surgery but I seemed to have more control than I do now. I haven't had any accidents in public but I often wake at night to dirty underwear and have to get up to use the bathroom and wash and change. I still have what I would call severe diarrhea with some days being worse than others. A good day I go maybe 4 - 6 times and a bad day could be as high as 20 times. Most of my BM's are water and I have a lot of explosive diarrhea. I would like to hear from anyone who has had similar surgery. Any advice on diet etc would be greatly appreciated.

We can be twins. I had 2 feet removed. Go to bathroom 7-15 times a day and always water. Does not matter what I eat the out come is the same.
I was told 6 months after surgery i still had active crohns lucky me. The intestines were inflamed and closing so everything had to become water to pass and yes it had less feet to adsorbed the water.

belleenstein, I think you may be right about the fat- malabsorption. Also, there are times when my BMs are yellow water and it burns so bad. Bile right? I'm told there is something I can take for that as well. I'm seeing my doc in two weeks. I haven't seen him since my last check up after surgery. (about 7 months ago) I was told it would take awhile (possibly up to a year) to figure out how my bowels would work once my system got used to the missing parts. I'm maintaining my weight and am taking methotrexate injections once weekly as well as B12 shots once per month. My doc kept me on the methotrexate to hopefully prevent any flareups. I'm hoping absorption is my problem and I can be prescribed something that will help.

Crohn's 4 Ever......Thanks for responding. You say you had 2 feet removed but was that small or large bowel? I too had my gallbladder removed before being diagnosed with crohn's. What is nexium? Right after my surgery my BM's were like mashed potato. Once I got back to a normal diet, my BM's turned into mostly water and have been that way since. The more research I do, the more I believe that absorption or the lack thereof is my problem. I see the specialist in a little over a week from now. I'm hoping that he'll prescribe the drugs you mentioned and they will alleviate my symptoms. Other than having diarrhea all the time, I'm feeling pretty good. I usually feel a little flushed the day of my methotrexate injection but no symptoms from it as such. Did the cholestyramine and nexium make a big difference for you or just help a little?

gmd said...
Crohn's 4 Ever......Thanks for responding. You say you had 2 feet removed but was that small or large bowel? I too had my gallbladder removed before being diagnosed with crohn's. What is nexium? Right after my surgery my BM's were like mashed potato. Once I got back to a normal diet, my BM's turned into mostly water and have been that way since. The more research I do, the more I believe that absorption or the lack thereof is my problem. I see the specialist in a little over a week from now. I'm hoping that he'll prescribe the drugs you mentioned and they will alleviate my symptoms. Other than having diarrhea all the time, I'm feeling pretty good. I usually feel a little flushed the day of my methotrexate injection but no symptoms from it as such. Did the cholestyramine and nexium make a big difference for you or just help a little?

Hi there, sorry I didnt mention where my resection was, it was small bowel.  Right from where the appdendix starts.  I dont have that either, that is how I was misdiagnosed.  Nexium is the "purple pill" or Esomeprazole Magnesium trihydrate release tablets.  It is mostly used for people with acid reflux, ulcers, and burning stomach bile acid.  I dont take them all the time, usually when my big D acts up or burning gut.   I used to take the Cholestyramine, a couple of years ago right after my 2 resection.  Diahreaha all the time, it was like water.  Then I was on Cipro and Flagyl.  I had a terrible resection, never should of had it done where I did and when I did and the old doctor I had.  My first resection was a breeze small incision and healed within weeks and was put on Entocort and 5.5 years into remission, til my second resection. I fully understand what you are going through, you are frustrated and want some relief.  I even tried Remicade, highly allergic and now Humira, my 11th week and doing very well, D is only 4 times in the morning, rare in the evening.  What country are you from?? I am from Canada, Northern Ontario.  If I can help in any way, let me know, so many others have had same problems, different mixtures, it is a long process.  Hope I helped.  Hope you can get this under control.

 

after reading this thread i feel like i should be trying/doing the things you all are.

had a resection 6 years ago, 7" removed. had D after and ever since. only time i don't have D is when i purposely hold it for multiple days, and i have a feeling that's not very healthy. where can i get cholestyramine? sounds like i should try it.

Crohn's 4 ever said...
Hi br4d, the Cholestyramine is a prescription from your doctor. I only had to have one packet a day and my sister who also has UC/ crohns, has to have 3 packets a day. Try one and if in 6 hours you are having D again, take another one. Read all the info on it. You can get sugar free, and it is orangy, have to mix it very well.

interesting. i'll have to ask my GI about it. i told him i was having D all the time and he seemed rather apathetic about it and just ordered the small bowel, blood work and colonoscopy.