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Extreme Fatigue 7 months after sub-total colectomy

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Posted 10/27/2009 10:13 PM (GMT 0)

I really hope that someone can give me some advice.  I had a sub-total colectomy (small intestine connected to rectum) in April '09.  I had this surgery to stop the chronic pain I felt from very slow motility or "colonic inertia."  I don't have the pain now and for that I am very grateful.  But, I am always so tired!  I had to quit my job and I only have enough energy each day to do about 1 load of laundry and maybe take my dog on a short walk.  My doctors ran some blood tests and said everything is fine!  I am eating a pretty good diet but I am just exhausted all of the time.  Also, I do have BM's about 10 times/day.  I wish they were less but the doctors say this is not uncommon.  Any suggestions?  I just can't have a life when I am sooo tired and weak all of the time (or at least most of the time).

Thanks,

Sinda

Posted 10/28/2009 1:07 AM (GMT 0)
Sinda~welcome to the forum! I am sorry to hear you are having problems with fatigue. A couple things come to mind: low B12 (if they removed your terminal ileum) or dehydration. Do you know if they checked your B12? Are your bm's loose/liquid?
Posted 10/28/2009 1:20 AM (GMT 0)
Sinda,

I was going to suggest serum B12 blood test too. Also have them check your MMA (methylmalonic acid) and check for intrinsic factor antibodies. I developed low B12 after a gut surgery. Due to the High MMA and presence of intrinsic factor antibodies, I was dx'd with pernicious anemia. Very important to get my monthly vit B12 shot.

It is also possible to simply have a B12 deficiency without pernicious anemia. You may still need the shots or may be able to take sublingual vitamins.

Good Luck,

Rosemary
Posted 10/28/2009 4:59 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks to everyone for your responses. They did check my B-12 levels and said they are fine. The sub-lingual b-12 spray seems to help a little though, so I think (regardless of what the blood tests show) that maybe I do need more B-12. I will also check into your other suggestions although I have never heard of MMA or intrinsic factor; what are they?

As I said earlier I used to have very slow motility and great difficulty with BM's. I guess I should be glad that this problem is gone but now I have liquid/soft BM's sometimes as often as 15 times/day. I really don't eat much so I don't know how this can be! I also have a problem with a clear liquid (no smell, seems like water) coming out of my skin at base of tailbone! I have told 2 doctors this and they act like I am crazy. Believe me, I feel like I am going crazy when I discover that "high up" on my panties, there is a big wet spot. Has anyone had anything like this happen?
Posted 10/31/2009 4:02 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Gilda, I would really get that high up at base of tailbone issue looked into. I cannot even imagine what that is all about.


The MMA test tests your blood level of methylmalonic acid. If it is high, it means you have a B12 deficiency. The MMA is important to have in addition to the test for B12. I don't know why but that is what my doc said.

the instrinsic factor are cells that our stomach produces that help us absorb B12. If we produce antibodies to these and it kills off the intrinsic factor cells, it means we cannot absorb B12 from our food and we need the shots. I am not a doc, so do ask your own doc about this. But I do know about this because I have pernicious anemia and need the B12 shots for life. Hope your energy improves. Rosemary
Posted 11/1/2009 9:26 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Rosemary for your recent reply. As far as the clear liquid that periodically leaks, it seems, out of my skin - so far no doctor has been able to figure it out! It is bizarre and usually happens after I have been up in the morning for an hour or two. The main problem is, it's hard to "pad" this area and high up on the back of my pants, I get a wet spot (embarassing). It really looks and smells like water! One doctor said maybe the nerves to a sweat-gland were accidentally cut so now I leak! Whatever, it is embarassing and depressing! Thanks for trying to help, though!
Posted 11/4/2009 2:55 AM (GMT 0)
Have u try Questran?

Or perhaps pot.I find it quite constipating.

Hope this help.

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