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Post-op--Will I ever feel normal again?!

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Posted 6/5/2016 2:32 AM (GMT 0)
Okay so it's been a little over 7 weeks since my first small bowel resection. I have good and bad days. I am mostly concerned with my bowel movements though. They are somewhat frequent (5-7 times/day) and mostly just very soft and sometimes liquid. Other times I will have more solid pieces. I have been pretty much sticking to eating almost the same food every day so I don't know why sometimes they are more formed than others! Has anyone else experienced this after surgery? How long til I start having normal bowel movements? Any input would be greatly appreciaed.
Posted 6/5/2016 4:55 AM (GMT 0)
I just had my 1st bowel resection 4 weeks ago and I am having the same issue :( on my good days I have 'form' for majority of he says it is awful! I'm going 6-7 times a day. Are you having issues with bleeding / fissures? I'm calling my surgeon on Monday bc I'm miserable... Honestly get tear when I know I have to go to the bathroom because is burns so bad! Can't wait to get back to a new normal!
Posted 6/5/2016 12:18 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for your response sweetbabyray. YES. I have experienced some bleeding (once in a while) and burning! It really is aggrevating and I thought this far out I would be feeling almost 100%. My surgeon said it could take a while for the bowels to readjust and act normal again. I hope this ends soon. Honestly, I feel worse than before I had my surgery!
Posted 6/5/2016 8:10 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Erica,
For me it did get better slowly over time, but I am over two years since surgery and I still am struggling with loose stools and D, while I used to always be constipated. My struggle now is I might not go at all for a day or two, and then I go a ton...starts formed and quickly moves to D. I do find that Imodium helps in the short term, or if it doesn't start getting better you can ask for cholestrymine (not sure if that's spelled correctly)
Posted 6/6/2016 1:55 PM (GMT 0)
Hello Erica,

I had my ileostomy reversed March of last year, and for months I was assuming that my bowel was taking it's time to readjust, to the point that I thought it never would.

My consultant suggested a Sehcat scan to check on bile salts absorption. I wasn't aware that this could happen, but with having hardly any small bowel left, bile salts may not get absorbed back into our system and ends up being a natural laxative to our body. Explained a lot, and the results of the scan confirmed this was the case for me.

As Gumby mentioned Cholestyramine is the answer, unfortunately I hate the taste of the solution but at least it works...and no more nasty burning.

It may be that you are still early days and things will calm down naturally for you. If not, do mention to your GI/IBD nurse re Cholestyramine/Questran sachets as it really does help.
Posted 6/6/2016 8:13 PM (GMT 0)
Erica---it's been almost 26 years since my resection, but I do remember it was longer than 7 weeks for things to settle into more of a norm. I will say I had many years of "normal" life in the last 26 years. I remember being so discouraged in the first year....it can get better! and for me it really did.

The staying with similar foods was a good way for me to check, but it was more relevant after 6 months or a year. The amount and type of fluids you consume will also play a role in BM consistency. Unfortunately, it is a personal adventure that is variable for each person (drat).

I am wondering about how much and where they removed. Removal at the TI tends to lead to more D due to absorption issues. I do use cholestyramine as others noted---I needed it more when my gallbladder was removed 12 years ago.

cookie38----the cholestyramine generic I get is called Prevalite and it is artificially sweetened and has a hint of orange flavor. I am able to tolerate OJ so I mix the meds in a small amount of OJ and the taste isn't as bad. I know someone who used to be on this board used to mix theirs in applesauce---haven't tried that yet.

Take Care
Posted 6/7/2016 11:08 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks everyone for your posts! HabsHockeyFan, I had 9 inches removed of the TI. The amount of times I have gone to the bathroom have decreased the past couple of days (about 3/day now) but they still are not formed. I started keeping a food diary so hopefully this will help pinpoint any specific foods. I have an appointment with my GI at the end of July. If things aren't more "solid" by then, I will definitely mention cholestryamine. Thank you all for the suggestion. Hope you all are feeling well.
Posted 6/8/2016 1:59 PM (GMT 0)
I think it took me about a year or a little more to get back to normal formed stools after my resection. 12 inches, TI.
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