Acidic diarrhea after right helicolectomy

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I had a laproscopic right helicolectomy on 6/5 and came home 12/5

Initially had constipation, which resolved itself with two 'hard' visits to the loo on the day I came home.

Since then, stools have become looser and looser and the last couple have been like passing lava! . I 'go' about half an hour after eating anything.

Colorectal nurse has advised a completely bland diet, white rice, white bread, boiled chicken etc, and to drink plenty and will check in again Friday.

I'm concerned there's something wrong. Has anyone experienced this before? Surgeon said operation went well.

Also have some 'cramp' type discomfort on the right side of abdomen, but as I have a huge amount of scar tissue from previous surgeries, I'm assuming this could be just tightness due to the trauma of the op and that will ease with increased mobility.

Hoping for some reassurance please.

Sending love to all those on their own journey.

Capt Noglos 1 month ago

Hi. If you are having regular diarrhoea, more than four times a day, my treatment book advises a call to your local cancer helpline asap. In any event ring them anyway, it will help with anxiety. Hope you get treatment for this very soon. I was diagnosed with Colon Cancer in Oct25, and similar journey, I did get acute diarrhoea which put me in hospital for a week whilst they treated it. Also make sure you stay hydrated if losing that much liquid.

Kareno62 1 month ago

Hi Scooby25 Yes the bowel can take a good while to settle down and you’re very early days yet. It’s a good idea to follow a low residue diet for a couple of weeks then see how it goes from there.

https://community.macmillan.org.uk/cancer_types/bowel-colon-rectum-cancer-forum/f/general/258088/low-residue-diet

Use a soothing cream on your bottom and if it gets really sore (had me close to tears sometimes I remember) use a haemorrhoid cream as this can have an anaethetising effect.

People who have a right hemi colectomy can also be prone to bile acid malabsorption - see page 7 of booklet below?

https://bcuk.adidocdn.dev/Publications/Bowel_Cancer_UK_Regaining_Bowel_Control.pdf

Lastly there’s the use of loperamide. You can take up to 8 a day and best taken 30 minutes before eating. Start low as you don’t want to go the other way but I would run this past your nurse on Friday as sometimes they like to lets things settle down for a bit first before medicating?

You have had part of your bowel removed so you will probably not go back to how things were before but hopefully get used to a new normal that’s manageable

Take care

Karen x

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

Scooby25 1 month ago in reply to Capt Noglos

Many thanks for taking the time to respond. First thing I did was ring my colerectal nurse and she was very helpful - I'm lucky to have their support. I hope you are doing ok.

Scooby25 1 month ago in reply to Kareno62

Many thanks Karen for taking the time to read and respond to me post. Your advice is incredibly kind and reassuring. Although my surgeon said the operation was a success, (for which I am infinitely grateful), the aftermath is not something you can really prepare for as there is no 'one size fits all' handbook is there...it's all very individual. I'm sure if they went through every possible side effect prior to surgery, the pre op appointments would be hours long!

It's just a case of adapting and seeing how things go using the advice received. Today have gone all morning with no toilet visit, but as soon as I went for a shower, there was movement (why is it always AFTER I shower that I get the urge!! )

Fingers crossed that diet adjustments help, but as you rightly point out, there are other options if not.

Thank you once again. xx