Life after Right Hemicolectomy

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I'm three years on from my Right Hemicolectomy & Chemotherapy. All CT's etc fine so far, but if I'm honest my bowels have never returned to normal. Loose stools, urgency & now difficult to recognise what's normal & what isn't. Sometimes have a twinge, fullness, heaviness not sure how to describe it really in the left upper abdomen. Of course your first thought is has the cancer come back; not sure if the absence of a large chunk of bowel might causing a dumping effect from the small bowel which could explain this feeling as it comes & goes. Due to speak to Specialist Nurse next week & will get CEA results then too. Anyone else struggle with these issues post surgery? Can't believe I've come back on here as just want to get on with life; would be grateful for others experience of symptoms years on TIA XX

Kareno62 over 1 year ago

Hi rosiegirl . Have you been tested for bile acid malabsorption? There’s a bit about it on page 6 of this booklet?

bowelcancerorguk.s3.amazonaws.com/.../RegainingBowelControl_BowelCancerUK.pdf

I had a Low Anterior Resection and my surgeon told me that I would never go back to how it was but would get used to a new ‘normal’. Having said that I still get loose days and can’t see to find a cause apart from too many cups of tea? Hopefully your specialist nurse will be able to help

Take care

Karen x

Macmillan Support Line - 0808 808 00 00, 7 days a week between 8am-8pm

rosiegirl over 1 year ago in reply to Kareno62

Hi, thank you so much for this, it's definitely a possible explanation. Gosh this forum is so helpful!

Take care of yourself xxx

Anvil over 1 year ago in reply to rosiegirl

Hi Rosiegirl

I had a subtotal colectomy, leaving my sigmoid colon and rectum, in June 2021. I struggled for about 15 months with diarrhoea and unpredictable bowels. Always looking for the toilet when I was out, disturbed nights etc etc. My nurse explained that everything was passing through too quickly and I did not have enough colon to extract fluid from the stool. She suggested I experiment with loperamide and promised a better quality of life. I was reluctant as I did not want medication, but gave it a go. She was right. I have settled on one 2mg tablet morning and evening. It has given me an almost normal life back. I still have flare ups which I can’t seem to explain. Nothing different in my diet or circumstances, but they only last a couple of days.
I hope all your results remain good and that you find some relief from your symptoms. X

rosiegirl over 1 year ago in reply to Anvil

Thank you so much for your reply,; it's reassuring to know what the new normal is for others. Thanks for sharing! Xx