Just over 2 years post surgery and chemo

Hi RL2374 and good to hear from you again. I was told that my bowels would never go back to how they were but I would get used to a new normal which appears to be erratic! I find having too much liquid can have an effect but I had a Low Anterior Resection which is a bit different.

Have you been tested for bile acid reabsorbtion? Have a look at page 7 in this booklet

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

Hi Karen!

oh thank you for the link I will have a look at that.

not been tested for anything, contacted the nurses about a year ago and they suggested  getting my GP to write a prescription to help make everything firmer! But wasn’t keen on that idea as don’t really want to mess with my bowels, and it can be so intermittent at the moment things are really bad

x

Hi Bex,

It’s certainly worth considering Bile Acid Malabsorption (BAM).

Due to complications with my ileostomy reversal after an LAR, I had a further operation very similar to a right hemicolectomy in July 2022, where they took away my ileo-caecal valve, caecum and appendix to enable a better join.

The caecum is responsible for recirculating the bile which is produced to help break down fats and this can lead to Bile Acid Malabsorption where too much bile enters the colon which causes irritation with urgency & diarrhoea (and accidents). I have been diagnosed with sever BAM.

I follow a very strict very low fat diet and take Cholestergel (a tablet form of Colesvelam which makes your poos firmer). These two things have been completely life changing. The diet can be tricky as there is so much ‘hidden’ fat in many foods, but is well worth it.

Hope this helps. Any questions, please ask.

Best Wishes,
Net77

Professor of Gastroenterology Julian Walters has co-written a book ‘What’s Up With Your Gut?’. It’s well worth a read. In it he states that BAM is a type of diarrhoea caused by bile salts produced by the liver not being produced or recycled properly. It isn’t well known about but is estimated that as many as 1/3 of patients currently diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) could have it (this is backed up by reviews of studies). However there is a general lack if awareness amongst both doctors and the general public.

Thanks Net77, I will have a look at that too