After bowel cancer operation

I was the same as you Teabelly. Whilst in hospital I had the runs and constipation. The nurses were amazing and kept reassuring me that what I was going through was perfectly normal and most people had the same issues. I was advised to only eat tiny meals, preferably 5 tiny meals a day, drink plenty of fluids made with water, not to drink fruit juice, just squash. They said it was easy to overload the bowel in the early days and it could cause problems pooing. I followed their advise, the best of which was don't break wind unless you are sitting on the loo!

Once I got home I followed their advice and although sometimes I wanted to eat more, I didn't as I was worried about having the runs which would have made me feel worse. After 2 weeks at home my bowels settled down and I was doing small poos and able to pass wind. I kept up the small meals for a while but as they consisted of low fibre items as instructed, I gradually became a bit constipated and so am back to eating brown bread, a bit of allbran with my cereal and more veg. I am back on 3 meals a day, although they are smaller than I used to eat. 

The discomfort you are feeling will also settle down. I discovered that a lot of mine was trapped wind and now I don't get any. I am starting to feel more normal again! Hope you will soon aswell. 

Debbie xx

Debbie r thanks for your reply.. Its nice to hear that its quite normal for my symptoms. How long after your op did things start to feel OK again. Its been six and a half weeks since my op. Teabelly x

It's been 2 months since my op. This week is the most normal I have felt. Still only poo about every 2-3 days, but upping the amount of fibre has definitely helped. I checked with the oncologist and he said it was a good idea. Still eating smaller meals than I used to. Smaller meals means less poo so less discomfort and less wind.

Sending you a big hug x

Hi I had my op on March 15th. Thank you so much for replying. I'm alternating from laxatives and imodium. The oncologist said this would be OK. Just to use my discretion as to what I need. I'll try the 5 meals a day and see how I I get on. Hus back to you  xx

I've not taken any laxatives or imodium. Have tried to keep things natural. Just a glass of prune juice before breakfast. I just wanted my bowels to settle down normally. This has taken longer than I expected, but apparently bowels don't like being handled! My operation was 6 hours long so I'm assuming they had plently of handling. x

Hi my op was about 5 hours. I felt a lot better then than I do now. In myself I am OK just so much discomfort around the bowel area in my bottom. Trying smaller meals as you said. Have you started chemo yet. I was treated at Leicester hospital but I'm being transferred to Derby hospital as its easier for us so no news on the treatment yet x

HI Teabelly, I had my op in Jan and feel my bowels only returned to 'normal' beginning of April. It took a long time to settle. For me it was more constipation. I got very tired of taking Laxido and as Debbie R mentions in her replies, I also tried to keep things naturally moving. Prune juice is most definitely the best thing I have used for constipation. Pure peppermint tea also helps my stomach feel better. I have also taken up walking every day which seems to help in  that I feel better mentally, my bowels open up after the walk naturally and it also takes my mind off the toilet and my bowels!

I am now on precautionary chemo (oral capecitebane until Sept) and have not had the side effects nurse thought I might, namely nausea, vomiting or constipation. My appetite is really good, I feel hungry a lot but try to just eat small amounts and I don't eat after 8pm as this makes me feel really uncomfortable whilst trying to sleep. 

Hope it starts to come back to normal for you, it does take time. Best Wishes 

Hi thanks for your message. I'm doing the small meals 4 or 5 times a day and I'm hoping not to have to take imodium or the laxatives as in the beginning I was going from one extreme to the nezt.. The discomfort at the rear is easing a bit now. Take care and I wish you a full recovery bx