Does the Rectal Pressure and Chronic Diarrhea ever stop after having a Sub-Total Colectomy?

Hi Everyone, I just wanted to update you on what is going on with me. First though, I am thinking of all that you are going thru; so many difficult problems! Leslie, I feel so bad for you; you have been thru so much and I hate it that doctors withhold info. from you. . . that is so "not right." I really hope you get to the bottom of, "who dropped the ball." More importantly though, I just hope you get well and soon! Tracy, I hope you get your problems resolved too so you can just Live your Life!

Here's my situation. As most of you know I had a SubTotal Colectomy with ileo-sigmoid (2 " of colon left) anastamosis in Apr. 2009. Every since then I have diarrhea 8 -20 times/day. I felt very, very weak for months after this surgery, had to quit my teaching job and often stayed in bed for a good part of the day. I lost 30 pounds and have never been able to regain them (I am way too thin now). Then I started to have this hot/cold, hot/cold sensation all thru out my body. Thru more testing they found that I had developed a "blind-loop" of small intestine where stool was getting stuck for days. In April 2010 my doctor did a simple surgery to "cut off" the blind loop (it was at the anastamosis). Since April 2010 I still have diarrhea from 6-20 times a day and often feel so weak that I have to keep going back to bed all day; I live a very isolated life and I find that my husband and son have really "pulled away" from me. Recently (past week) my doctor did a "small bowel thru" using gastro-gaffin contrast (had to drink it; it tastes horrible!). He said that everything looks fine and didn't know what else to suggest except maybe an ileostomy. He said it may not "slow things down" but at least I wouldn't have the severe discomfort of having diarrhea up to 20 x's a day. Also my PCP called and said that a stool test she had done shows a major yeast infection so she wants me on a 10 day course of Diflucan. I guess it must be possible to just get an "intestinal yeast infection" because I don't have any problems with a vaginal yeast infection and it seems a woman would get that also. So, I will go on the Diflucan but I am thinking; the reason I probably got the yeast infection is because I pretty much have to eat the low-residue diet (white bread, white rice, pasta, etc.) to try to control the diarrhea . . . . and yet this is exactly the kind of diet that causes a yeast infection. I am just at my witts end! One other thing, even though I have chronic diarrhea and often feel a downward, rectal pressure . . . I really have to strain to get things going. One doctor suggested doing a test to check how well the rectum works; my other doctor says probably an ileostomy would solve my problems. What do you all think? I just don't know what to do anymore!

Thanks,
Gilda

Thanks, "Old Hat" for answering my post. I don't actually have UC but my body acts as if i do and that is why i posted here (sorry if that upsets anyone). I also post on another site but I just need all of the info. I can get before deciding to go forward with an ileostomy! The reason I had the subtotal colectomy was because of chronic, severe, constipation (I think they call it "obstification"). Anyway I had an extra long, very twisted colon, especially in the transverse colon area. The docs really felt it best to leave a little bit of colon because it certainly does serve a purpose. They really didn't want to do a J-Pouch Surgery on me, partly because they said I was too old (I was 56 at the time!). In many ways, I am glad that I didn't have that surgery though because now I have friends who had it and aren't doing real well (I do know it works well for some though). I live in San Diego which has wonderful medical facilities and i have really good insurance so I can see any specialitst I want to (pretty much). What tests should be done to see if the remaining colon is causing the problem? I don't really see how it could be causing the diarrhea because it is the colon that absorbs liquid from the stool. If you do have any further suggestions please offer them now; I am going to make a decision within the next few weeks about scheduling the illiostomy!

Thanks for you time. I hope you stay in remission!

Gilda

Since you have a yeast infection have you tried the Candida Diet? From what I've read it is very similar to the Specific Carbohydrate Diet which has helped me and others. Basically (as you have already figured out) you eliminate sources of sugar which includes most carbohydrates and starches as well as the obvious sugars.

It makes me sad to hear of your pain and struggle after having surgery that I'm sure was deemed to be the solution to your problems.
It seems sugars of all forms cause many diseases and dysfunctions. Perhaps the Candida Diet could help.