Lower Anterior Resection Syndrome

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Hi All,

I hope everyone is as well as can be. I’ve taken a little break away from here after my chemo didn’t go at all according to plan and I just need to rest and recover.

I am almost 7 months post my surgery now and I’ve been having great difficulty with frequency of toilet visits. I tried returning to work but I am currently off again as it was just not practical.

I have been to my GP a few times and spoke to the colorectal team too. Yesterday I spoke with my lead colorectal nurse and she said it sounds like I have LARS.

To put it into context over a 14 day period I had 218 motions (yes I kept a record). It’s all consuming, exhausting and extremely limiting what I can do.

I have passed stools of all shapes and sizes, to the point where I wonder where it’s all coming from.
Mixed in with this I have sudden bouts of constipation. I’m extremely reluctant to try and meditation to slow things down because my bowels are hypersensitive to any change and react in extreme ways. If I had to choose between the constipation and the frequency I would choose the frequency.

I know most of my rectum was removed so I understand why this is happening but I just don’t know how to manage it, I’ve currying to identify what foods of any have an effect.

Does anyone else suffer from LARS and if so how do you manage it?

Thank you,

Craig

Kareno62 3 months ago

Hi Craig123 I’m just on my way out so will try and remember to post again a bit later but here’s a bit to keep you going. Here’s a link to the site on here for stoma reversal and LARS

community.macmillan.org.uk/.../stoma-reversal-and-lars

Here’s a link to a really good talk from a gastroenterologist

Regaining Bowel Control

There’s is a social media page on fb which you can apply to join called Living with Low Anterior Resection Syndrome where there’s loads of information in the files and people going through similar issues. A lot of them swear by daily irrigation which you could maybe broach with your colorectal support nurse?

Take care

Karen x

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

Peter E 3 months ago

Hi Craig

7 years since I had my lower anterior resection....still having some issues.....price we pay.

Never had any contact with Macmillan prior to or after my surgery, only follow ups were poo tests and colonoscopies. Found out about LARS issues by googling (not recommended) .... very little GP contact afterwards

Using Laxido regularly, alternating between constipation and frequent stools....leakages can and do happen...use liners to minimise contamination.

Found the site below helpful

What is Low Anterior Resection Syndrome? (LARS) (fightcolorectalcancer.org)

Peter