Recovery from Total Mesorectal Excision

zarlota
zarlota Member Posts: 1
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
My 76 year old mother is having a really hard time recovering from this colorectal surgery. She has terrible gas, bloat and and has developed hemmoroids from the rectal urgency. She is 8 weeks post-op and I was wondering if and when this will all go away and will she have normal bm's again. Can anyone share in this reaction to this surgery?

Comments

  • CherylHutch
    CherylHutch Member Posts: 1,375 Member
    Hmmm... I don't think I can be of much help, Zarlota. I had the resection surgery on Jan 4, 2007 and, although I had some pretty painful gas the week after the surgery, while I was still in the hospital, I didn't have any other problems. Once I was out of the hospital and got back home, everything was back to normal. Actually, better than normal since obviously things hadn't been normal leading up to the surgery... I just hadn't realized it.

    Maybe your mom should take this up with her surgeon and tell him/her things are just not right? I know 8 weeks isn't a long time after surgery, and chances are they will tell her that she can have discomfort for months after the surgery, but it wouldn't hurt for her to have her surgeon check just to be sure.

    Cheryl
  • nudgie
    nudgie Member Posts: 1,478 Member
    I had my colon reconnection surgery on 27 Feb 07 and wad discharged from the hospital on 6 March 07. During my hospital stay I had severe gas and no bowel movement. Care team recommended walking as soon as possible which I did. Surgeon would not release me until I passed enough gas which finally came. Since being home, I have had no problems using the bathroom. I use the bathroom about 2 times a day which is good for someone who normally only used the bathroom for a bvowel movement 2 times a week.

    My surgeon gave me a stool softener to use for several weeks which helped. Also my internal system was out for 7 months.

    I hope this helps