Low Anterior Resection Syndrome - LARS

Hi  I’m sorry to hear that you’re struggling but it is quite still early days and things do improve over time - in fact things can improve up to 2 years. Having said that I remember how exhausting and demoralising it can be in the early days and how sore your bottom can get. I’ve attached a couple of links to booklets below although it sounds like you’re doing the right thing on the medication front

https://bowelcancerorguk.s3.amazonaws.com/Publications/RegainingBowelControl_BowelCancerUK.pdf

https://bowelcancerorguk.s3.amazonaws.com/Publications/StomaReversal_BowelCancerUK.pdf

The sphincter exercises on page 15 of the first booklet are worth doing as it’s often better to try and hold things in when you get the first urge and waiting for it to pass rather than rushing to the  toilet.

You could try keeping a food diary to see if certain foods are a trigger although I never managed more than a couple of days! I’ve heard people talking about the FODMAP diet helping but it’s quite restricting. Do you still speak to your stoma nurse? Mine said I could still contact them for advice even after my reversal?

Have you looked on the Ileostomy/colostomy board? If you type reversal in the search box at the top of the page there’s lots of previous posts that you could have a look at?

https://community.macmillan.org.uk/cancer_experiences/ileostomy-and-colostomy-discussions-forum

Lastly there is a Facebook page called Living with LARS which you can join. There’s lots of people on there in a similar situation and lots of advice if you ever choose to go down the irrigation route.

It is early days but I really hope things start to settle down for you soon

Take care

Karen x

Karen

I hope you don’t mind me asking this but I’ve been wondering.

Did you keep to the same type of foods after your reversal that you ate early days of your ileostomy? 

Hi Artsie Ann. No of course I don’t mind you asking. Yes initially I stuck to a low residue diet and but very quickly the excitement of being able to have foods that I’d previously avoided got the better of me - I was like Paddington bear when given a sachet of marmalade with bits in after my op! 
My surgeon told me I’d probably have to take immodium for life so I was taking 4 a day but the consultant I saw a few months ago (moved house so under a new team) said I was constipated and only to take them on special occasions!? I tried but was going far too often so I just take one a day which seems to be working - the Colorectal Support nurse told me to do what I needed to.

I don’t avoid any food or drinks now. I’ve stuck to white bread and I can find that salad can upset my bowels a bit but generally ok. I know that having a Chinese takeaway will result in an evening of several visits but that’s the price I choose to pay.

The first few months after my reversal were tough with multiple visits to the toilet a day and burning loose stools which had me close to tears at times but things did improve over the following months

Karen x

Thank you so much. 
I did wonder if I’d be really tempted to have my old life’s food choices I do miss some however I’ve got used to white bread. Couldn’t eat it for years. 
Crunchy sweetcorn and salads the one that will tempt me.  I wonder how long I will stay away from it? 
That’s reassured me. Thanks again 

:, hi, and welcome if that's the right word!!

I too have been diagnosed with LARS about 6 months ago. But I did have clusters right after the operation, up to 8 in a batch. These eventually settled to a manageable 3 average per day. Then after a year things got unsettled again, which may have been partly a result of covid. There is light at the end, but I recon it is never going to be the same, how can it with 15" less bowel? I still prefer to know where the toilet is if I'm not at home, friends are now used to me!! I did not have a stoma, so my situation is slightly different, but my guess is 8 weeks after is still fairly early . I wish you the best.

Gemmary, thanks