Pain following Hemicolectomy

FormerMember over 5 years ago

3 replies
11 subscribers
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Hi there, Long post alert.

In April, 4 days after I turned 30 I was rushed to hospital with appendicitis. Had my appendix removed and carried on with my life. A month later I received news they had found a NET in my appendix which was what caused the appendicitis. After all the tests and monitoring they said it hadn't spread but was a T4... which is something to do with size I think (I didn't do much research as anxiety levels have been rather ridiculous and thought best to stay away from googling and finding out everything going to kill me!!!! apologies my humour keeps me going!

Anyway I had a right hemicolectomy on the 11th June, they took half my bowel left me with some interesting bulge where Im assuming stitched me up funny, stayed in hospital for a week. Pain levels after the surgery were normal for major surgery and after 4 weeks really started to feel myself. I have a son who turned 5 last week, and I even started to take him to school on the odd occasion, involved walking but I seemed to be getting stronger. Im able to do days out with regular rest.

I started having a stitch type pain a few weeks ago on my right hand side it quite low down and then sharp pain a bit higher up. The pain isn't there all the time, perhaps when Im walking too fast or doing too much, bending a bit funny, which I know all sounds like reasonable reasons to have pain following major surgery, but the fact that its new, I'd understand if i'd had it from the beginning. I did go to the doctors and he wasn't too concerned, Im not jumping in pain when prodded at, and its manageable, Ive just sort of been getting on with life. I do have my follow up this Friday and will of course mention to my consultant, but was really wondering if anyone had experienced pain following this type of surgery? Felling ok for a few weeks then more pain later in recovery (Im at 8 weeks now)

Should I actually be resting even more (I go back to work tomorrow, and its a new job!!! eeeekk!!)

Thanks for reading!!

FormerMember over 5 years ago

Hello Unicornsparkles,

I had a laparoscopic right hemicolectomy to remove a mass which was causing occasional painful obstruction of my small intestine. This was in Jan 2014. I am a little older than you but I recall that I felt pretty well back to normal in about 3 months.

Having lost half a colon bowel movements can be a bit challenging. The surgeon at follow up said my bowels would be normal but forget about the five a day. My GP predicted loose bowel movements. I am somewhere in between. No pain but sometimes discomfort low down RH side.

Hopefully your consultant should help you with this at your follow up.

After the removed tumour had been identified as a NET I was referred immediately to a NET specialist at our local cancer centre where I am still a regular visitor.

Hope all is well at you follow up and continuing recovery.

George

FormerMember over 5 years ago in reply to FormerMember

Hi George,

Thank you very much for taking the time to respond to me. I did notice today that when sitting at my desk and leaning towards my left side resting on my chair arm causes discomfort, is that where the staples are?

i must admit bowel habits appear to be a nightmare with absolutely no regularity to them. First day of my new job managed to 'go' before i left the house...winning the day already...pull into carpark and I need to go again no idea where the toilet is i end up finding a disabled toilet! I find I don't have a great deal of time sometimes. (apologies if this is too much information, Ive not talked about poo this much in all my life and I'm a mum!)

Interesting that you were referred to a specialist, my consultant only specialises in colorectal and not cancer let alone NET. The situation is very scary and there's a lot I don't understand my consultant wasn't the most forthcoming with information during my stay after the op, there are lot of things I don't understand maybe finding someone who specialises in that field.

Follow up Friday and they can reassure me.

Again thank you for replying

keep in touch you have a fantastic name!

George

FormerMember over 5 years ago in reply to FormerMember

Hi Sparkles,

Don't know where the staples are but the surgeon's sketch before the op when he was explaining the situation suggested that the joint would be roughly where the colon was severed. Higher up than the discomfort zone which is lower right. Maybe be something to do with the larger incision wound. I haven't asked.

I'm sure your bowels will eventually settle down. To slow things down the oncologist gives me loperamide (also available over the counter) which can be taken long term if needed. As I do.

The NET Patient Foundation's web site is a useful source of information on NETs if you ever need it and they should also be able to tell you where your local NET centre is.

You might want to ask your consultant what ongoing monitoring will be provided.

Best regards

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