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TOTAL COLECTOMY PART 35 THREAD 14

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Posted 8/8/2010 1:30 AM (GMT 0)
My wife had a total colectomy April 26 of this year after years of being told it was all in her head. They said it was for colonic inertia. She's also had a hysterectomy, gall bladder removal, & appendectomy. She's been told she has polyps, herniated stomach, GERD, and other physical problems that are causing her distress. She finally found a dr. who did a marker test on her and found 98% of the markers were still in her colon after 7 days. We were told it took 18 days for the markers to completely clear the colon. That's why she had the colon removed. On June 7 of this year she had to have a 2nd major surgery to remove a huge (that's what the nurses called it) abscess from her abdomen. She bounces from constipation to diarrhea. She has now developed abdominal pain again. Is this normal. When does all of the pain go away?

By the way she also has just been diagnosed with a bulging disk that is pressing against a nerve and causing pain in her right leg.

I would like to hear what others have gone through, good and bad.
Posted 8/8/2010 10:47 AM (GMT 0)
Where on where in the world is ROSEMARY! She must be dancing the nights away.. it's been a while since she posted!

My bowels have finally woke up fully a couple days ago, and things are moving! I've was given instructions not to strain at all, and I do find that almost impossible, but I resorted to using the fleet glycerin and that works like magic. My rectocele is definitely improved, but I can tell.. it's not gone ;( stool gets stuck there still. During my colon resection in December, my uro-gyn did a peritoneal repair to help fix some of my pelvic floor decent, but the jack-ass colon surgeon removed the mesh, so I wasn't able to feel that, but I can tell now that it's "improved". Not perfect, but improved. My stools are not flat either.. for the first time in years and years. I feel hopeful that things will not be so difficult now... time will tell! Of course I'm still using the fleets.. but is that so bad?

Val, wow.. I'm totally impressed on how well you're doing! I'm 13 days post op and this is the best I felt after the last 3 major surgeries. My hardest part is that I'm restricted from lifting more than 5 pounds!! 5 pounds is NOTHING and I'm finding that very hard. No lifting, no vacuuming, no pushing shopping carts, etc.. it has to do with the mesh repair work that is attached to my tailbone.

cookie, I have never heard of that therapy either, but I have been through a couple pelvic floor PT and it's all so embarrassing. Tracey and I have had our sigmoid's removed and I'm hopeful that is all I will need. There are so many here that have had the whole thing removed and still struggle. I myself rather see if this works and than look for other options. (plus I am able to eat ANYTHING! lol) I can always remove the rest, but can't put it back. So often it is not just the colon, but these darn pelvic floor issues.. and they are so hard to fix!

Hodaya, did you talk with your boss yet? Hope it goes well...

Allie, takes for the Lizzie update. When I had my first PT almost 22 years ago.. I had it because I damaged all my muscles in a bad childbirth injury. I had NO pelvic floor tone or muscles, so I was totally opposite of you with your too tight muscles. I would say mine is still too loose.. interesting though.. they did have to use probes via electrical stimulation in both my rectum and vagina to try and restore the tone, because it is just as hard to have a BM with no muscles. I sure hope that someone will be able to keep looking for a solution for you!

conmarjo, THANK YOU for coming back and posting! It's always so awesome to know that there are success stories and hope!! So happy for you, and hope you continue to feel awesome! Both your difficulties and Jen's scared the death out of me, and you're both now doing awesome.. so great to read!! I'm very, very happy for you!

Janie, do you feel like your tummy is smaller without all that colon? That is the one thing I still must say I hate, is that I can feel the stupid, fat and full colon (mostly feel it on the left side). I think it really makes me look fatter, and all these stomach surgeries have ruined my stomach.. it IS fatter!

Hello to everyone else, thinking of your all!
Posted 8/8/2010 6:14 PM (GMT 0)
uncabull
Hello, I too have had a Total Colectomy on Feb 19 of this year.  Sounds like she has had quite a few problems.  As far as the colectomy she should not have any abdominal pain from that.   I get nausiated from time to time, but nothing big, its usually if I introduce like salad and just a tiny tiny one, takes longer to pass, and actually does not feel too good coming out the other end because it does not break down.

Other than that I am doing great and feeling great.  So I dont think the colectomy is causing the pain so its another culpert...

Hope that she gets feeling a lot better...prayers are with you..

Leslie

PS.  I was told by my doc that I don't have the ability to be constipated so thus far its so true.  I dont get the D since about 3 weeks after the surgery, every thing has evened out.  Just mini pooooossss...

Posted 8/9/2010 12:54 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Jenise,

I just got home today. Am exhausted but had a great time on the Princess cruise to Iceland, Greenland, Norway then return on the dance ship the Queen Mary.

Glad you and the others seem to be doing well. Didn't have time to look back for posts on Lizzie, I think she is still awaiting surgery, but is in the hospital near home? WIll still pray for her.

Rosemary
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