colon resection

[ezie]

Hi all,  I am back at hospital next week to discuss surgery for the removal of all my large bowel.  I have been told by the registrar that it will mean loose/watery stools for the rest of my life.  I currently suffer with muscle/nerve damage, colonic inertia, slow transit, and diverticula disease.  I am currently taking prucalopride and i am not totally happy with it.  At the end of the day i am just putting off surgery as i realistically cant take this drug forever, also it does not cure my diverticular. Its a new drug and to be honest  i feel like a guinea pig. I currently also suffer with nausea , pain and sever stomach distention,  pain up my bottom which i have been told are bowel spasms. I also at times find walking really painful and this can leave all the right side of my stomach tender to touch for a day or two after and thats while i am still taking the prucalopride.  Will control of my bowel movements be that hard to control after my large bowel is removed?  I could cope with the change in diet, i can't eat cabbage any more or bran flakes they play havock with my gutts and i havent eaten meat for 17 years(just didnt want to eat animals anymore) so will there be real difficulty in eating vegatables or anything else. I love quorn curry!  Hope you can give me an insight into what i may expect.Many Thanks.

[ezie]

I have done some reading and the recovery doesnt sound too bad really.  Pleased to read that fruit and wholemeal bread is on the menu.  I was on the understanding that i would have to change to white bread and cut out lots of fruit.  I went out for a meal on friday not late , approximately 17.30 ate a main meal which just consited of two small yorkshire pudding, mash, sweetcorn,carrots with gravy then a small portion  of pudding with custard.  My stomach felt like it could stretch no more and i was in discomfort for over 4 hours, it eased slightly but my stomach has been so swollen and i have felt as though the brick was in it again. I have still taken my prucalopride and been to the toilet for lots of number 1's but just a little of the number 2's, well hardly anything in that department! Will all my bloating and distention fanish after the operation.  Another thing i am hoping for keyhole sugery and just hope it does not damage my tummy muscles.  Yeh deep down i am worried because my last two operations, hysterectomy i needed 2 units of blood transfused and caesarean section 3 units, so yep the bleeding bit worries me. Thanks for your advice,i'll see what the consultant has to say and at least now i am more aware of what to expect, cheers for that :-)

[ezie]

Thanks for your support, will read as you advised.  :-)

[Morecambe]

Further to Calgal's response, the posting to which she refers can be found on:-

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/show/523166

I suggest that you may like to print this off and show it to your surgeon to see whether he/she broadly agrees with my own experiences.

regards
Morecambe

[CalGal]

Ezie, there is some great advice to be found in Morecambe's posts on this subject. He had his large bowel removed and put dietary changes into place that firmed up the fecal matter substantially. You may want to consider checking out his suggestions and giving them a try when/if you have the surgery done and after the healing process is complete.