Symptoms while Recouping after colonectomy

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Holdtight
Holdtight Member Posts: 151
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
I have cramping in my lower abdomin after eating alot. Does anyone know if this happens because the smaller intestines have to take time to clean out due to the changes in the the intestines? After 7 days of cramping and one morning having a bout of 5 in a row bowel movements they seemed to go away. I am afraid something else might be going on in there. I haven't talked to my doc yet that is tomm but I was just curious if anyone else experienced this.

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  • Patteee
    Patteee Member Posts: 945
    #2
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    Yes, I had something similar
    Yes, I had something similar after both my surgeries. My surgeon said it was my colon just getting used to itself again. It helped me to get and maintain regular movements- I still use stool softners daily.
  • karguy
    karguy Member Posts: 1,020 Member
    #3
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    cramping
    After my surgery,colostomy,I had a lot of cramping at first,about a month,and I was told to take stool softeners,and that helped alot.After about 4 months I didn't need them anymore.I hope that helps.
  • Sundanceh
    Sundanceh Member Posts: 4,392 Member
    #4
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    Hi and Welcome
    Hello,

    I just wanted to touch base with you, I saw your post. I do not have personal experience with a colonectomy...I looked it up on the web to get a better of understanding of this procedure.
    It says it's the removal of the colon just before the rectum and that a colostomy is the result of this procedure.

    Was your surgery recently? There are always post op complications from any type of intestinal surgery, because the bowel has to adjust to the new plumbing so to speak. This might take awhile before you can anticipate how the new bowel would function.

    I had lower anterior resection surgery and just missed having a colostomy. There was very little margin to work with and I had radiation prior to surgery so it took me a very long time to find the new normal. The bowel had been radiated and cut on and since it had to be used everyday, heaing took a very long time indeed. And there are still issues.

    I can give you one piece of advice though - eat smaller portions of food instead of big servings. I see where you mentioned above, you were eating alot.

    Small portions of food will allow the bowel to handle that volume more effectively while eating bigger portions will put an extra strain on your system and that may be what is causing you the pain and discomfort.

    As always, please give your doctor a complete status of what you are experiencing so they can place that info in your chart and so he can advise you further on eating habits and follow up if he thinks something else might be happening.

    Best of luck to you
    -Craig
  • Holdtight
    Holdtight Member Posts: 151
    #5
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    Sundanceh said:

    Hi and Welcome
    Hello,

    I just wanted to touch base with you, I saw your post. I do not have personal experience with a colonectomy...I looked it up on the web to get a better of understanding of this procedure.
    It says it's the removal of the colon just before the rectum and that a colostomy is the result of this procedure.

    Was your surgery recently? There are always post op complications from any type of intestinal surgery, because the bowel has to adjust to the new plumbing so to speak. This might take awhile before you can anticipate how the new bowel would function.

    I had lower anterior resection surgery and just missed having a colostomy. There was very little margin to work with and I had radiation prior to surgery so it took me a very long time to find the new normal. The bowel had been radiated and cut on and since it had to be used everyday, heaing took a very long time indeed. And there are still issues.

    I can give you one piece of advice though - eat smaller portions of food instead of big servings. I see where you mentioned above, you were eating alot.

    Small portions of food will allow the bowel to handle that volume more effectively while eating bigger portions will put an extra strain on your system and that may be what is causing you the pain and discomfort.

    As always, please give your doctor a complete status of what you are experiencing so they can place that info in your chart and so he can advise you further on eating habits and follow up if he thinks something else might be happening.

    Best of luck to you
    -Craig

    Hi! Thanks for taking the
    Hi! Thanks for taking the time to help me. And you were right the doc told me I need to eat smaller portions so that my inners can adjust. Not that I wasn't told that before but see I feel better and I have to overdue it. Again thank you and all the best in your recovery.
  • Holdtight
    Holdtight Member Posts: 151
    #6
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    Patteee said:

    Yes, I had something similar
    Yes, I had something similar after both my surgeries. My surgeon said it was my colon just getting used to itself again. It helped me to get and maintain regular movements- I still use stool softners daily.

    Thanks for your time. the
    Thanks for your time. the doctor told me it was caused by eating large portions I need to make them smaller and continue with stool softeners. Hope all is going well with you. Have a good night.

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