POST SUB COLECTOMY SURGERY

Hello, I am new to this so please bare with me.  I have always been very active outdoors, healthy (except colon) believe highly in herbs/vitamins/exercise/healthy and mostly organic diet.  I am 50 yrs old,  5' 7" weighing 135.  The only meds I take are for thyroid.

However, since a young child I have always struggled with constipation.  I have been in/out of GI specialists etc. etc.  I have had many tests that alot of you have posted.  I ended up having 2 sections of my colon dialated about 3", very elongated and part of the transverse section was under my left rib cage and the virtually no nerve impulses.    I am 4 weeks post op from subtotal colectomy.  My recovery time in the hospital was very rough mainly because of severe, adverse reactions to the pain meds.

Now that I am home, I am walking alot, felling pretty good, still eating softer foods and rest when tired.  BUT, I am still experiencing constipation and I only have 12" of colon.    I was expecting just the opposite from all the research.   ????   I have been advised to take in more fiber (benefiber) for a few weeks to see if that helps.  Any experiences or advise???

I am new to this site. I have been diagnosed wth both colonic inertia and IBS. I dont think I have IBS, it was a misdiagnosis years ago I think because I only ever suffered with constipation, never d, I wish. Surgeon I am seeing says that because I have IBS that surgery may not improve my constipation. I argued that it isn't IBS, stress doesnt have any affect on my bowel. After decography it was discovered that I had distended rectum, from all pressure I put on it I suppose, also measurements for manometry were a bit worrying, good muscle control, very high, thought it was anismus. Psysio ruled that out and said in fact just very strong musces there but never really got urge to go even when baloon was inflated to its highest. She also said my pelcic flor had been lowered and I had a small rectoceol but not significant. Was sent for bio-feedback and things improved hugely. Was shown how to use muscles there. Have been out of work for 2 years due to bowel problem. Have been pushing for surgery but surgeon sent me to liaison psychiatrist to ascertain if stress was a factor, which it isn't, to help me manage my condition and the constraints of it and to work on body image, surgeon fears I would have problems adjusting to a bag, should surgery not prove successful eventhough I told him I wouldn't. I am 44, have been suffering from constipation since 20. Now taking duphalac, 60 mls in morning along with fibre suppli)ments and Ciprimil (dosage increased to 40g recently, seems to help but hate the side affects so reduced it to 20g again.) I can have a bowel movement naturally but never feel completely cleared, from upper colon or rectum (cant tell difference), can clear from rectum successsfully now, die to bio-feedback but have to use suppositories and enemas numerous times a day to really clear myself. Mot of the time I manage, and this is in morning and evening but could be waitinh hours before things haooen naturally. Problem is I never go out anymore, mot days are spent sorting out bowel. Haven't been on holiday for 5 years, idea of it stresses me out, whats the point with bowel problem. Used to be very active, thought about going back playing squash but whats the point, bowel procedures take up to much of my time. So I manage well enough but I am a prisoner in my home. Hate not working if it wasn't for housework and my 2 children I would go mad, struggle with depresion as a result. there has to be a better life than this. Other than bowel am healthy and have no other health problems, still pretty fit and body in good shape. Problem is will I risk having other problems as a result of removal of large colon. I eat very well, no problem with stomach, very good appetite, very little symptoms except trapped wind and constipation until clear. However husband died 5 years and cant risk my health as i have a 7 and 10 year old. Would distended rectum cause me problems post op, if surgeon agrees to go ahead with it. Sitz marers were left in upper rectum.

Thank you responding. I have been seeing a colo rectal surgeon, one of the best apparently. In the past he considered doing ileal-anal pouch reconstruction with colectomy. Im nervous about this after reading sime of the posts. I asked him to consider ileal-rectal since I think rectal functioning has improved, with problem being further up. He also mentioned colostomy but I wasnt happy about that as I would still be left with dodgy colon. Also am not ready for ileostomy mentally. I would rather a chance of resection. If it wasn't successful I think I would then consider an ileostomy bag, I know I would adjust to it and that it would most likely give me back a better quality of life as I know people with ileostomies and they are very happy with the improvement in their liives. Why didnt your doctor not consider ileo-rectal anamostosis r was it not an option?

Thanks for reply Val. I dont have problems eating or with my stomach. I take Duphalac which initially makes me nauseous but its not for long. I have read posts from people who have had colectomies and who seem to develope problems with gas, bloating and constipation and problems eating post op. That scares me because I dont have any of those problems, except constipation, and dont want to risk having those problems if I have surgery. At least I am well enough to manage with housework and kids in the house, the problem is beng stuck in, its is doing my head in, seriously. I have never heard of miralax before visiting sites. Do you think it is stronger than Duphalac and is it habit forming,  was told Duphalac isnt. Val do you know of anyone who had ileo-rectal anamostosis who also had distended rectum. It doesnt seem to bother me since bio-feedback, as long a I take Duphalac, I dont really get blocked up there and can get rid of whats in rectum most of the time, its further up that its slow I think, with feeling of incomplete evacuation. As I am no longer straining for the last year I think that perhaps there has been an improvement in rectal functioning, but would need manometry to ensure this and decography. There are s many different stories and outcomes after surgery, I just wish I had the statistics of succesful and unsuccessful results. One minute I think I will push for surgery, the next I get disconcerted and scared. 

Ciara

Thanks Val, I did wonder about that, the success stories dont need the same info or support as those with problems. I will try another thread. Are you still doing well?

Ciara