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After TC for Colon Inertia, what were your stools like?

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Posted 3/30/2009 3:05 PM (GMT 0)
I know this is a strange question, but I'm curious.  I came home last Thursday and for the rest of that day, Friday and Saturday, my stools were pretty loose, not alot at once, but about 15 times a day, usually 4 times after each meal.    I could control my urges fine and never had an accident.  On Saturday I started taking a fiber supplement and then my stools changed....became more like brown toothpaste, but I could hardly get anything out.  I felt horrible all day Sunday; only went a few times and had to strain to get anything out. I felt like everything was trapped in my butt.   Today I stopped the fiber and already I've gone back to my looser but easier to move stools.

Does everyone start on fiber right away?  I have an appt. with my surgeon on Thursday, and I don't plan to start the fiber again until I see him, as long as I can keep going this way.  I know I have a rectocele that may be part of the problem...just wondering what seems to be normal.

Thanks, Janie

Posted 4/1/2009 1:58 PM (GMT 0)
janie--I think it is an individual thing about the fiber...I'm bumping this so for someone else to stop in that might have more info...
Posted 4/2/2009 1:07 AM (GMT 0)
Hey I know I haven't been on here a while but checked back in and seen your message... I hope you feel better really soon. The only concern I have is that it doesn't sound like they fixed your rectocele at the same time they did the tc??? As for me I have the ostomy and am loving it my life is so much better even with a bag, its almost weird to me...
Posted 4/2/2009 3:30 AM (GMT 0)
Sunshine,

Hey!  Glad you're doing well!  No, they didn't fix the rectocele.  My doctor said to see how things go, and it can be fixed later.  So far, since I cut back on the fiber, I'm going quite a bit.  I'll see the surgeon tomorrow, and I have a few questions.  All in all, for only having surgery 2 weeks ago today, I think I'm doing ok.  I'm up and around, and going out daily and feeling pretty well.

I'm still confused why you needed a bag?  Didn't you have colon inertia?  I know you said your rectum hurt; was there a problem with it so you needed the bag?

janie

Posted 4/4/2009 3:43 AM (GMT 0)

Hi Janie,

So glad you are doing well! After my subtotal I was going like 20+ times a day & my surgeon had me try the fiber also, it bound me up almost immediately; when I stoped using it my stools went back to the same as before then my GI had me try immodium once a day & that did the same thing, we even tried 1/2 a pill every other day and I still had no bm's so I went back to using nothing and having the frequent bm's they soon slowed down as by my 6 wk post-op I went back to work full-time and was only having 8-10 bm's a day.  So, if you can deal with the frequent bathroom trips I would just deal with the bm's...you might want to only use wipes though...that's the only thing I use to this day...otherwise the burn is quite uncomfortable mad ...hope this helps

Judy

Posted 4/4/2009 4:31 PM (GMT 0)
Judy,
Thanks so much for your reply. When I saw my surgeon on Thursday, he said 20x was too much...I should be going 6-10x at the most. I really wasn't complaining! Anyway, I've taken lomotil 1-2 times a day and it has helped slow down a little. I'm taking only a little fiber in the morning and in the afternoon--1/2 of what he gave me. So far it hasn't stopped me up completely and has only slowed me a little, so I'm going to stick with this. If I start getting stopped up though, I'll stop everything in a minute. I don't ever want to be constipated again!
I had my total colon removed, how much of yours did you have left? Maybe because I have no colon at all it goes through me a little faster.

Are you doing ok now? Are you still going 8-10X a day? This is heaven to me, and yes, I use the wipes and lots of good lotion. It's all good!!! LOL
Posted 4/6/2009 12:38 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Janie,

I have 2 inches of my colon left and I have never felt better!  I even have other drs of mine tell me how healthy I look now.  I didn't realize how unhealthy I was because I was sick for so long and just got used to feeling bad all the time that I would just go on with life.  It's great to now have a healthy life.  I didn't take any chances at all in the beginning as far as over doing it, I hired a house cleaner and my husband did all the shopping and such; this was this first surgery I was determined that I was finally going to be healed for good.  Even when my surgeon told me I might end up with a temp. bag, I said there was no way and he better run if I do because he's in big trouble. I still have anywhere from 3-8 bms a day & my GI doesn't really like me having that many but after all I've been through it isn't a big deal to me. He still has me on the low residue/low fiber diet though due to the frequency of my bms and some food sensitivities.

I do have some kidney stones right now but I'm used to them, I get them at least once a year. I continue to see my GI dr whereas most on here don't.  I have Dr. Chey, Sr., the father to who Lizzie is seeing, he is absolutely amazing just like his son so I am very confident that Dr. Chey will be able to help Lizzie.  Dr. Chey was my 5th GI dr; I traveled as far as 6 hours to get help & was led to his area of practice 3 hours away so I now go 3 hours away for appt & had my surgery that far away too.

I wish you the very best; things will slow down before you even realize it.  You might want to get some coconut water for electrolytes, it's the best thing to use, you can get it in the natural food section at Wegman's or any health fod store; you only need one container a day, it comes in juice box containers.

Many blessings, peace and prayers,

Judy

Posted 4/6/2009 3:26 AM (GMT 0)

Judy,

Thanks for advice about coconut water.  I'll be getting some tomorrow.

I'm so glad you're doing well.  I was so scared about the surgery not working, and I'm still nervous that I may have trouble again.  I spent my whole life being horribly constipated and it's hard to believe I can actually go now!

I took 3 lomotil yesterday and this morning I had a hard time going, so I didn't take any today.  I really don't mind going so often, and I'm sure it will slow down in time.  I'm just playing around with the meds and fiber to see if I can slow it down a little.  I do have a sore rear end when I go so often though!  I don't have to go back to work for another 6-8 weeks, so I have time to deal with this. 

I'm so sorry about your kidney stones.  My husband had one a couple years ago and he was in so much pain.  Do you know why you get them so often?  Is there anything you can do to keep from getting them?

I've heard about both Dr. Chey's, and I'm glad Lizzie is in such good hands.  I just hope they can help her soon; she's been through so much already!

Take care,

Janie 

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