Hope you are recovering well. Open wound healing takes time and for most part is more icky than painful. I have a visiting nurse come a few times a week, but my wife did most dressing/packing changes daily. Took a while but all healed up nicely. Overall recovery was ok, but I had an issue after surg...

You may want to consider daily enema...lots of info on the site here. I started about about a year after takedown surgery and has really improved quality of life. Not a cure, but keeps symptoms at bay if you keep up with it.

Best.

Hi all - past few scans post LAR and Ileo reversal shows some gas/fluid collecting around the area of the connection (fistula?). Scans show that its getting bigger, but have no symptoms and dr. said to just monitor. If infection we will treat with antibiotics as first step. Its not clear if there is...

Hi - I have been doing daily enemas since end of July. Took a bit of time to click. Needed to experiment with water volume, positions, timing, etc. but have found a good rhythm now. It has allowed me to plan my day better, eat what I want, and reduce concerns for accidents. I found doing it later in...

Thanks everyone...I am going to try to cut back on water. On most days I have need to use bathroom midday and usually at night with some minor clustering of stool. Not having many days of full relief so must be something driving this. I have basically no rectum, not sure how much colon, but it was a...

thanks! Yes, I have researched this extensively, but now that I am doing it just looking for some input as I find results are not consistent and still have some challenges as a result.

Tx

Hang in there, not easy at first. Get as much info as possible to understand where the tumor is, what stage is it (i.e. TxNxMx), and what options exist from a surgical and chemo/rad standpoint. Make sure you have someone with you at each dr. appt so to provide another set of ears and to take notes. ...

Hi - I have been doing for about 3 weeks or so and have mixed results. i use a clear silicone bag with about 2 qts warm water. I do it while on a mat/towel on bathroom floor and most times the fluid goes in fairly quickly and then comes out the same way...overall about 45 mins or so for the full pro...

Hi - I too just had scans am about 15 months post LAR. They identified two small nodules on lung (2mm and 4mm). Dr. said they could have been missed on last scans done a year or so ago, but is having me rescanned in 4 months to see if any change. Too small now to do anything and could be nothing. I ...

Quick question...been doing enemas for a week or so (large bag, 1-2 quarts) and overall good results, but have had a few days where I get some clustering at night. Seems like I have fast transit time thru the colon as I am feeling like each morning I do a pretty good clean out. Wondering if I should...

Hi - I too had a very low T2N0M0 cancer in rectum. Had LAR and temp ileo with clear margins and no lymph involvement. Been 15 post LAR and about 8 months from takedown of ileo. I have definitely suffered from LARS probably in a major way if looking at the definitions. 13-20 BM's a day, clustering, f...

Thanks for the feedback everyone, appreciate it. Will wait and see and hope no change when rescans done in November!

Hi - had first annual scans after LAR and reversal. Small fluid collection identified which may mean some leakage at connection site, but not having any issues (fever, pain, etc.). Dr. is suggesting I watch and wait...go antibiotics route if problems occur. I guess its common with very low tumors to...

Thanks everyone. I have been doing them for a little over a week. Using about half the 2Q bag with warm tap water and seems to be the right volume. Most of the time it removes LARS for a good 24 hours, but on a few days I have had some minor clustering or early evening needs to use the bathroom. Bee...

Hi all - I am just about a year out from my Ileo reversal (October) and have been suffering with LARS. Not much improvement and am all over the map in terms of symptoms. Pretty much at wits end and Dr. won't address any conversation on approaches until we get to the 1 year mark, but I am seeing him ...