Bowel Movements after Resection for Endo

[YDI]

I had a Bowel Resection for treatment of endo last Tuesday May 28th. I am now at home and find I am having uncontrollable and unpredictable bowel moevemnts. I know its ealry stages but can someone PLEASE advise what they experienced after having this surgery and if literally running to the bathroom is "normal"

Im worried about all of this post op bowel behaviour....

[EmnM]

Hi,

I didn't have a resection but loads of endo removed from the bowel wall. After 6wks post op my bowels still felt weird. I did lots of running to the toilet, lots of bowel pain before needing to go. I think finally felt 'normal' after 4mths. I rang my gyn a few times to check what I was feeling was ok. he was really approachable and would return calls after hours if need be. that certainly relieved some of the anxiety I was feeling post op.

HOpe you are feeling better soon,

Mcih

[YDI]

Thanks for your reply. Were you able to return to work after 6 weeks or were you out of action for 4 months?

I feel like this is never going to end!

[YDI]

thank you so much for your replies.

I am experiencing horrible diarrhea and literally need to run to the bathroom. its more an emotional process for me thatn a physical one at the moment as i keep thinking this is how ill be from now on.

[Willow]

You poor thing! I haven't had a reseciton either, but I did have surgery to remove an endometrium from my left ovary, I'm not sure how much my bowel was involved (I do remember being told it was stuck either to my ovary or somewhere in my pelvis) but I can tell you that following surgery bowel movements were excrutiatingly painful. I didn't have any urgency or diarrhea, but lots of pain before needing to go and actually going was so, so painful.

It took me at least 8 weeks for that to fully resolve, so I'd imagine you're healing will take quite a bit longer. I too phoned my Dr who assured me that it was totally normal and could take a few months to resolve. I was very distressed about it too and at one point thought it would never end. BUT IT DID!

I wish you all the best on your recovery sweetie.

[EmnM]

Thanks for your reply. Were you able to return to work after 6 weeks or were you out of action for 4 months?

I feel like this is never going to end!

At the time I was home with my 2yr old daughter 6 days a week and 1 day of work - so I had to return to 'work' so to speak (ie not allowed to be sick with kids ).

I had a week of recovery where I was waited on 24/7 then we drove home from sunshine coast to Roma (5hr drive). then , I had to just keep going and was tired for a long, long time. I went back to my one day of work after 3 weeks. I also tended to nap on other days when my daughter had her lunch time sleep. I think that was the worst for me - always feeling tired. The tiredness for me lasted for months, I think if I had been able to rest more when the operation was done I might have recovered quicker. In retrospect, I wish I had spent more time on the coast with family to look after my daughter so I could have rested more then (no family in Roma!).

Not exactly answering the question you asked...sorry. How are you feeling now?

Mich

[YDI]

Hi
I can see gradual improvements on a weekly basis moreso than daily... i still need to be as close to the toilet as possible whereever i go. The diarrohea is slowly subsiding in terms of not needing to run to the toilet in order to make it on time.
I went to my post op gynae appt who advised my endo was very extensvie and widespread and amongst the worse he has seen in terms of it being everywhere. He drew a diagram and the diagram had me in tears as my organs that he drew were covered in spots which represented endo. My large bowel had endo shaved off it and a bit of that removed, 40 cm of small bowel removed and a massive nodule whihc was stuck to my rectum. My appendix was cut as was my bladder, POD ovaries and tubes. Surgery took 4.5 hours. He was sure he got it all though and so i can now say i am disease free.

I am going on Synarel to "turn off my periods" to try and keep my pelvis in good order for when i decide to have children. From what i have read you should only be on it for 6 months but he wants me on it for 2-3 years if thats how long i want to wait until i have kids which is really scary.
I am vfery afraid of the side effects as I am 25 and about to start feeling menopausal effects! He told me i need to do this as if i dont prevent the endo from coming back then my bowels wont be able to handle it and i may end up with a colostomy bag (again i burst into tears!!)... apparently i will ineveitably need a hysterectomy...

[Magic]

I have had 12 laps and numerous bowell resections. My recoveries have been around 2-3 weeks but my bowell movements returned to normal quicker than that.

i have had the "hysteretctomy" talk and used zoladex (menapausal treatment), so I empathise with you. But all I can say is that my endo has had periods of acceleration and deceleration, not necessarily in co-relation with treatment or operations. That is why it is an insidieous (sp) disease.

However, I do recommend that you get all the surgical and dr notes and contact the endo assocn in your state, so that you can get a second opinion.

Best of luck.........

[Willow]

I agree with Magic, I'd be getting a second opinion about future treatment options.

[YDI]

Magic
Thank you for your reply.. what was the extent of your bowel resection and how did the recovery progress go?

[EmnM]

Hi ,

That sounds like good and bad news for you. good that your symptoms are lessening and that Dr thinks he got it all; totally full on if you have to take synarel long term. I took zoladex for 6mths (same thing) and had the menopausal stuff, I was most concerned with getting my periods back. I agree with the other girls, definitely get a second opinion. There was a thread in here about zoladex/synarel not long ago - have a look and see if you can find it - maybe the moderator can direct you to it. It was a discussion about getting pregnant and using zoladex/synarel to help. Have you thought about natural remedies? are you seeing a fertility natropath/acupuncturist. All the best, let us know how it all goes for you,

thinking of you,

Mich

[YDI]

can you recommend ant naturopaths for this kind of treatment in Melbourne?

[Laranna]

Hi YDI

I had a lap where the gyno removed endo adhesions that were holding my left ovary and tube to my bowel. While, I didn't have any bowel resection, it took a few months for my bowel movements to return to normal. I couldn't eat anything spicy, heavy or sugary, even the slightest bit otherwise I'd have to run to the toilet which was frustrating and painful. I was eating very bland food for ages. It has improved now, but I still avoid anything too spicy and definitely avoid the fatty and sugary foods as my body still doesn't quite agree with them..

Hope you start to feel better soon..

[EmnM]

can you recommend ant naturopaths for this kind of treatment in Melbourne?

Sorry, my natropath is in Sydney. Maybe if you post a thread in the herbal supplements area someone there could direct you?

Good luck

Mich

[LJ*]

Hi,

I also had a bowel resection recently (30th May)for endo but had the opposite problem to you. After the initial bowel movement in hospital I was constipated until yesterday. This caused pain in my lower back and legs and doc was concerned as he said that is the worst thing to have after bowel resection. I have been living on high fibre diet to fix problem. Thankfully this seems to have been resolved (although still isn't normal) and back pain has reduced.
I guess we all react differently to surgery and our bodies take a while to recover!

Hope your feeling better soon.

[YDI]

Hi LJ!
Soundsl ike we are at the same stage in our recovery period... Sorry to hear about your experiences with constipation throughout the past month. Im feeling much better at this point and am on top of it emotionally as well! Am looking forward to feeling better and better each week.

I had horrible period pain a few days ago though which had me in ER. I didn't expect the pain to be as bad as it was post op.

Anyway thatnks for your reply and hope you are on the mend

[LJ*]

Hi YDI,

Glad to hear youre feeling much better than after op. I had barely any pain with my period after op and wasn't even sure if it was my period as I'm not used to it being pain free and it was different than normal! Sorry to hear you ended up back in hospital, but hopefully all your endo has gone and you will be pain free from now on

I have been constipated again pretty much since the day after my last post ( a week ago!) but have no back pain. Yay! Apart from that I am recovering well and feel pretty good. Have you had any other problems with your recovery? The nerves in my bladder aren't working as well as they should (had a catheter for 2 weeks); I don't feel the need to go to the loo very often!! Doc says this should change, I am just very swollen on the inside! I see my the bowel surgeon next week for a check up and the gyno/surgeon in 3 weeks.

I'm looking forward to proving that the surgery was a success by getting pregnant asap.

Hope you don't have any more problems or end up back in ER.

Thanks, LJ

[YDI]

Hi LJ
well im glad you are recovering well. It seems we are very different in how our bodies are reacting to the surgery! I have been running to the bathroom all afternoon. I am unable to leave the hosue one month on. The bowel movements are ridiculously frequent and ive lost a lot of weight from this surgery.
I meet with my bowel surgeon next thursday so im hoping he will tell me that what i am experiencing is normal. I hope it gets better!!!