Removal of rectum

Hi Joannie.

I don't know why it is that some people have more problems with healing than others when it comes to rectum removal.

I was very fortunate because I can honestly say that I didn't have anything that I can say was painful down there at all. At first I would get a strange sort of twinge,or more of a soreness realy,but it was just a slight discomfort not painful. And healing wise,it was almost like nothing had been done there at all. I was very very surprised.

I can only say that I hope the same for you.

Sue

There are two ways of removing the rectum. The first is to remove it and then sew you up down there. This way seems to heal the quickest.

The second, and most preferred way, is to leave the wound open and allow it to heal from the inside out by just packing it. This way leaves you less prone to infection but does take longer to heal.

It's up to your surgeon as to which way they do it.

I was sewn up and didn't have many problems at all.

http://www.ostomates.org

Well I had my rectum removed 2 yrs ago and the surgeon sewed(??) me up. Beautiful job!! The cheeks fused together as if nature did it herself! Although it's been 2 yrs and I still have daily nursing care to clean and repack a small wound that just won't heal. I'm now scheduled for a surgery to fill the wound. I guess I'm trying to tell you, that no one warned me it could take this long. I am a very healthy 34yr old and recovered great from my ileostomy surgery so I thought this would have been a breeze! Since my removal I have met 3 other women who have struggled a few yrs before healing. I don't want to be the bearer of bad news, but I wish I had known that it could take this long ( and not the 6 weeks I was originally told it would take to heal). It's caused a lot of mental struggles, but I would do it again in a heartbeat! I hate my having my Ostomy, but love the life I will have with it!!

Ok I want to know?  Everyone one keeps saying they take your rectum?  Do they sew shut your butt?  Sounds silly but I was wondering? 

I had rectal Cancer cells showing and bad crohn's in whole colon so i got the big clean out. They sewed my anus shut and other finding a staple they had missed a couple weeks later the healing was quick and easy.

I took tons on soak baths and sitz bathes. At least twice a day the first 6 weeks and put scar cream on to help seam look. Don't really care how it looks as long as I can stand my bike seat. Which I am happy to report I can for 2 hours a day now and will work back up from here.

Started riding again at 6 months. Was rather impatient at first waiting to feel better, but it has come a long way. Am so thankful to be able to say that.

There are certainly many variations here. Hope yours turns out well.

Just ran across your note while searching for info on bicycle seats suitable for proctocolectomy patients. Not sure if you've had surgery yet but here's my 2 cents. I'm currently 54 years old and have had Crohn's since I was 14. Had a partial colon resection in 1981 with a temporary loop ileostomy. It was actually temporary for nearly 20 years when I had a total proctocolectomy because a BA showed a suspicious filling defect in an area that was difficult to scope. I remember having the same conversation with my surgeon. His response was more or less along the lines "They have PSA tests for that. Besides, you don't have to worry about prostate cancer for another twenty years." Came to a mutual decision that the risk of colon/rectal cancer was greater than the risk of prostate cancer so I had the surgery (no signs of cancer in any of the biopsies, by the way, you roll the dice and you take your chances).

Two years later my PSA started going up. Normal ultrasound-guided biopsy was a non-starter so I eventually had a series of CT guided biopsies. I think the plan was to keep repeating them until they either got a positive test or until they succeeded in removing my prostate one needle at a time. By the time I had my fourth one or thereabouts, the radiologist was wondering whether I should just have my prostate removed. Given all of my previous surgery, that was likely to be a difficult procedure and I wasn't going to pull the trigger until I was sure. Finally got a couple of positive samples so the next step was figuring out what to do. Eventually went to Memorial Sloan Kettering in NYC and had Peter Scardino do the surgery. It was as difficult as everyone thought but, like Nietzsche said, that which does not kill us makes us stronger. We should all be some sort of superheros by now.

How old are you? If you are relatively young and haven't started the PSA ritual, I would at least get a baseline on that. If it is low and you have no family history of prostate cancer, I would concentrate on keeping the Crohn's/UC/whatever in check. If it is high or trending north, I would think twice about having your rectum removed unless there is a real compelling reason to do so. Given how everything turned out, would I have done the same thing over again? Probably yes. I had Crohn's long enough that the cumulative risk of developing some sort of associated cancer was starting to nag me. Plus, my GI mentioned some anecdotal evidence about the risk of cancer being even higher in patients with long term diversions. It's not pleasant but a good intervention radiologist can biopsy your prostate if it comes to that. Good luck.

I just had my rectum removed and my ab reconstructed.. after a colon rupture, sepsis and an emergency illiostomy last year. I fought for 18 years a loosing battle with atypical crohns disease, and was a medical nightmare.. now, I am trying to live again and adjust and stop fighting the "bag:.. I have been out of the hospital since 2 days post op and my own nurse.. thankful for a great strength and courage and the studies of mental illness when it comes to things like this.. I keep my mind engaged and active and still struggle emotionally daily.. the pain is bad right now due to a pelvic issue and my rectum being attached to my vaginal/pelvic area apparently.. this blog is great to read for me.. I have always done things on my own.. it was one emergency after another and so many allergies and bills from meds/trials etc.. I pray that facing my worst fear (the bag), will save my life and allow me to have one again...

I had my rectum removed 14 years ago. If I do a lot of walking (2 or 3 miles) my "opening" gets itchy. I then have to swab it out with an over the counter antibiotic. Before I started doing this I would endure the itching for a few days. Sometimes when I swab it out there will be a yellow discharge on the Q tip. The opening I have left is about 1/2" deep. This condition keeps me off of thread mills and bike cycles.

Until I read this forum topic, I figured I would just have to live with it.

Ideals anyone?

65 active and otherwise good health

I had a total proctocolectomy 3 months ago, and my butt was sewn closed (although it looks normal, as others said). I had absolutely no complications at all. My surgeon was a bit conservative about removing the stitches, and that became quite uncomfortable by week 4, but once they were out, no real problems since. I feel lucky based on some of the complications others have had.

Wow, this is an old post :) I had total proctocolectomy and I have the hole that is closing from the inside out. It wanted to close from the outside in so we packed it for a week (out patient) then at my last appointment my WOCN shared a new (?) product to the surgeon and we are trying it for the week - some kind of powder with silver in it, similar to the aqaucel products but just different form. I did have the wound vac when I was inpatient and I am fighting to not have it now that I am home. So far the doc is playing along with me but every week she tells me I would be done by now if I would just put it back on. No thanks, I'll take my time :)

My sister has colorectal cancer - stage 3. She has had her rectum removed and anus has been sewed closed. She is in the middle of chemo/radiation treatments. She has had 2 months of just chemo. She just started radiation in addition to chemo and has been experiencing severe vaginal burning and itching. The radiation oncologist told her it is too soon for reaction from radiation (she's had 2 weeks treatments). Has anyone experienced this and how were you able to obtain relief?