Thanks for all the information

Hi Jdr7665

You poor thing. I had the same operation and my rectum removed meaning it’s a tube and that’s all you can store. 
Im two months now and improving vastly as I’m taking more steps forward than back 

Have you tried holding the urge with the deep breathes etc?
I found that hard to begin with well impossible when I had water poo but as the consistency thickened I practiced and it became easier 

I hope that work will allow your recovery do you work for yourself? 
Take care 

Hi Artsie,

I have tried holding it but am not very successful.  I am wearing Depends because many times I can't make it to the bathroom in time. I usually have just a small paste like poo that drops into the toilet.  Many times I will have a strong burning sensation afterwards which I believe is the fact that I have more in there that I need to get out but it takes another 10 to 20 minutes.

I actually work for a Children's Hospital and they have been very good to me so far. So far I can't seem to get any long type of poos happening. After 3 weeks I thought I would be further along than this.

Thanks,

jdr7665

Hi jdr7665

its just horrible. I slept downstairs on the sofa when I got home as I couldn’t make it to the toilet and it was easier to use the downstairs toilet with less cleaning and I couldn’t have held anything at all

Have you kept a food diary?. I went back to a similar diet to after my LAR. Stodgy food , helped my consistency. Dry crackers thickened it too. 
I found it really challenging and read everything here like you have. It’s time and what suits you. If you can thicken the stool it may give you more control. 

I experimented with Loperamide and was told one before bed not like the instructions say half an hour before meals. I’m recovering from a blockage and the consultant said that loperamide can cause hard lumps that can lodge. 
Can you phone your colorectal team for some advice?

I did try that but I found them really off. Think she must of been having a bad day plus I wasn’t very well at the time. 

I found the sore bottom so uncomfortable I didn’t want to go. I was near tears sometimes. Then I bought a little bottle from Amazon which is a portable bidet. Now that really is soothing and cleansing.

Im sorry I haven’t got a quick fix but hope that my experience has given you hope that things will improve in time 

Time hopefully and diet will help 

Take care x

Hi Jdr7665

Three weeks is very early and there’s plenty of time to make real progress. I’m nearly two years on from my reversal and it’s a story of some big wins, plateaus, the odd set backs - overall a story of progress. There’s lots of helpful material on the special LARS section of the stoma group, and according to my surgeon, he’s yet to have a patient who ultimately regrets the reversal. Look forward to hearing about your progress - please let us know how it goes and keep asking your questions. 

Thanks Artsie. I will start keeping a food diary.  My surgeon doesn't seem to have many suggestions for me.  I don't think the stool softeners are doing me any good so I stopped taking them.  I will talk to my surgeon again on Thursday and ask about the Loperamide.  I will just keep hoping time will make it better.

Thanks,

Jdr7665

Thanks Wellspring.  After reading everyone's accounts, I just had the feeling I should have seen some difference in 3 weeks so thanks for your encouragement.  My surgeon keeps telling me that because the cancer was so low on my rectum, my results might not improve at all.  That is very discouraging. He keeps saying if I can't live with it, I can go to a permanent colostomy bag which I believe is better then the ileostomy I had before.  I will keep trying and hope things get better.

Thanks,

Jdr7665

Hello again Jdr7665

In case it helps, I was left with all of 2.5cm of rectum. It took me quite a time to make progress, but it has come. My best advice came from the specialist colorectal nurses and St Mark’s rather than the surgeons. And all the experiences shared on this site.

By the way - but please don’t go this way until at least you’ve tried everything - I’ve had both colostomy and ileostomy, and I found the latter easier as it could be emptied and only changed every other day. 

I really hope you discover a new normal that’s worth persisting. For me it was swimming in the sea with no concerns about a bag, and it was worth the wait. Could you set a goal that might draw you onwards?

Hi there 

I am a little confused as to why they gave you stool softeners. Were you constipated?

I know that constipation can cause loose output or fluid with no control but I don’t know why you would be constipated if you haven’t had lopermide. 
Im on nothing at the moment. I’ve eaten no meat since my blockage and side foods. Today was good to see some colour. I think that it’s a slow improvement 

How long did you have a stoma? 

Wellspring you have the hat trick. Colostomy , Ileostomy and reversal. That’s quite unique! Not many have that much you certainly have experienced a lot. I did read your bio a while back. Quite remarkable

Makes my story a walk in the park. 
Are you feeling well now? 

Why is a colostomy better than an iliostomy.surely they both have pros and cons.I was just wondering.

Kath