Total Colectomy Part 8

What do you think about my transit test thus far?  Do they look only at the amount retained on day 5 or will having retained all of them after 3 days demonstrate an abnormal colon?  I'm just afraid that with the results as they are the doctor will go to the old "it's in your head" thing so many of you have talked about and I'll be right back at square one with no hope of getting this resolved.

Thanks again!

Chris

@all  My wife, who I discussed earlier as having had a right colectomy seems to be having a problem with incontenence.  Ex:  We were in Wal Mart yesterday and out of nowhere she had to take off running to the bathroom...and didn't make it.  She said by the time she realizes she has to use the bathroom, it's too late, and the deed is already done.  At the best, she says she only has two or three minutes notice that she has to go to the bathroom, at the worst, no notice at all. 

In addition, earlier this year she had to have a complete hysterectomy, which lead to hot flashes.  As she has had breast cancer, she cannot take any sort of hormone replacement.  Fortunately, after a few months, this kind of calmed down...until the colon surgery.  She says the hot flashes have been back since the surgery, bigger and badder than ever.

Have any of you had any experience with these two issues?  Do they get better?  Is there anything that she can do that will help with either issue?  Also, I've seen where alot of people seem to have had to be given potassium in conjuction with this surgery.  My wife had to have 5 bags while she was in the hospital.  What's up with that?

UPDATE:  Just got off the phone with my doctor, he says that with having taken a laxative and having an enema the day before I took the rings, I need to redo the transit test.

Post Edited (kntkyboy71) : 1/24/2006 11:13:41 AM (GMT-7)

Sasha - sounds like you are doing well.  Keep it up!

Chris - you shoudl redo the test.  Alot of the potassium replacement isnt necessarily because of a bad thing, just because of not eating.  We are responsible for taking in 100 percent of potassium per day, and also we get rid of 100% of potassium per day through the kidneys.  So if we are not taking any in because we cannot eat, our potassium levels can get low and this can cause further slowing of the GI tract and also if very very low can cause problems with the heart rhythm.  Because of this, it is standard procedure that abdominal surgery patients usually have some potassium in their IV.  For example, when I was admitted for the prep via ng tube, the first thing they did was start an IV with salt and potassium in it so that I would not get sick.

about your wife, the diarrhea is something that she is going to have to work with... perhaps an immodium might help her if she is having alot of diarrhea.  Every person is different... I STILL dont have any diarrhea but they also think that I have slow transit of the small intestine too... which almost works out to my advantage sometimes! :)  As far as the hot flashes, they are going to come and go... having your intestine removed messes up your hormonal system and may make them worse, but eventually the body will adjust again and they will get better.

Hugs,

Emma