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Rectum removed but still feel phantom urges

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Posted 9/8/2007 3:45 AM (GMT 0)
 I had a complete protocolectomy 5 weeks ago. I am slowly adjusting to new way of life. If it wouldn't have been for the support of my friends after my surgery, I would have had a much harder time adjusting because I am a super worrier. My problem is that I still have sensations in my anus which are driving me crazy.  I constantly feel like I have to go to the bathroom like I always did. I guess you would call these phantom urges. Please let me know of any means to ease this.  My doctors don't seem to care!

NeNe 205

Posted 9/8/2007 4:25 AM (GMT 0)
NeNe,
The area where your rectum was removed is healing, so you're going to feel urges and sensations down there. It's normal and will go away, although I wish I knew of a way to make it go away quickly. Maybe someone here will know of something you can do. All you can do is ask, right?
Take care,
Cecilia
Posted 9/8/2007 6:28 AM (GMT 0)
It's called Phantom Rectal Pain and is something the docs forget to warn you about. Just like someone who has had a limb removed but can still 'feel' it itching, so your body has to get used to it's new plumbing. The only way I found to relieve it was to go and sit on the loo like I used to do even though I knew nothing would come of it.

The good news is that in time, it will lessen in frequency and eventually go away altogether :)

Good luck.
Posted 9/8/2007 7:09 AM (GMT 0)
I also had that phantom pain/urges, but they eventually went away. Be paitent. It is just part of the healing process, like the girls said above. Sorry there is no quick way to end it that I know of. Hang in there!
Posted 9/8/2007 8:55 AM (GMT 0)
It has been 5+ years since mine was removed and I still catch myself raising a butt cheek when I fell gassy and feel like I gotta rip a good one.
Sometimes it helps when you get it to go and sit on the toilet till the urge passes.
Posted 9/8/2007 7:59 PM (GMT 0)
Thank ya'll for replying to my problem. The scariest part of this whole ordeal is not knowing what to expect. I can can usually cope with about anything if I know that others have experienced the same thing and have lived to tell about it.
NeNe205
Posted 3/25/2011 6:43 AM (GMT 0)

Hi,

My mom underwent permanent ileostomy in december 2010. It has been almost 3 months now and she is continously experiencing pain in her rectum area eventhough it is sewn closed. But her pain in continous. She needs to take pain medication twice a day for relief. Can somebody let me know if this is normal? I heard about the phantom pain. Will it be continous? Will it fade away as time passes? Please let me know.

Thanks

Posted 3/25/2011 10:41 AM (GMT 0)
I don't think that pain sounds normal...it may be worth contacting the dr.

As for the phantom urges, I had those for about 6 months after surgery, and now I'm good. Unfortunately not much you can do about them except smile and be glad they ARE just phantoms and you can go about your business :)
Posted 3/25/2011 11:53 AM (GMT 0)
this pain is not normal. sometimes after surgeries like these there could be nerve damage, has your dr mentioned anything like that? is she being treated at a pain clinic? i also think you should contact her dr. hope there's a solution for her pain.
Posted 3/25/2011 3:28 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks 80sChick and 2bColonFree!

She did contact her doctor for the pain and they mentioned it is normal and gave her pain medication. Her pain is more of like a spasm and it only relieves after she takes pain medication. She is 72 years old she underwent 3 surgeries for her colon cancer. I will ask her to contact the Dr and see what he is to say.
Posted 3/25/2011 3:32 PM (GMT 0)
     It's been 9 months since my surgery and I still get that feeling from time to time.  It has lessened some.  I still have mucus coming out the anus but the surgeon said that will go away eventually too.  Funny, but last weekend I had a dream where I pooped out a live chicken and ever since that night, I have had some pressure in the anus.  Wonder if I was straining while asleep..lol.
Posted 3/26/2011 1:09 AM (GMT 0)
I had a lot of phantom urges for about a month after surgery, and I found them so annoying. Fortunately, they reduced a lot after that, though I still get them occasionally- especially if I am feeling gassy. They were never painful though... just felt like a had to have a bowel movement.

The muscles deep in my rectal area did hurt for a while after surgery and still do a little bit now that I am 4.5 months out from surgery. It is very slowly fading away. I asked my surgeon about this last week and he said this is normal as that area takes a while to heal. Still mine are nothing I would need pain meds for. If you are worried and your mom's pains are that severe, I would definitely ask about it.
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