This is just a guess, but it may be tenesmus that you're experiencing. Google it to see if it matches your symptoms. A prescription for low dose amitryptiline or nortriptyline is the treatment of choice.
Hope you find relief soon.

Does everyone who has a low anterior resection develop LARS? Good question. The research suggests between 30 and 90% do, though the quality of the research is poor. The risk factors are (in order of importance) height of the anastomosis (lower = higher chance of LARS), radiation, presence of diverti...

Emma, just wanted to let you know that there is a Facebook group for people living with Low Anterior Resection Syndrome (LARS), which is possibly what your partner has. Look it up and ask to join (carers can join if patients do not wish to themselves). There is lots of helpful information, support a...

Thanks for your help Mia.

Mia, I totally agree that informed consent is vital. I do think that at the time we are being asked to make the decision to have a resection our thoughts are often 'just get the cancer out' and we may not fully take on board the ramifications. If the consequences of a resection are played down and p...

Hi NHMike, I'm now 3 years out from reversal of a temporary ileostomy after ULAR. I have major LARS as defined by the LARS score tool (Emmertsen et al). As someone who was a researcher in a pre RC life, I have trawled through the academic literature on LARS and its treatment. Here's what I can tell ...

As usual Karen your comments are spot on. Your post should be compulsory reading for anyone who had a low or ultra low anterior resection and is struggling with evacuation. So much more helpful than the standard 'eat more fibre' response.
Thank you

Hi, sorry you have to be here. The bad news is that between 60 and 90% of people who have a rectal resection have ongoing bowel issues, most commonly known as Low Anterior Resection Syndrome (LARS ). The good news is that it is still too early to tell if your issues will be ongoing. Frequency (going...

I also belong to a Facebook group for people living with LARS. The vast majority of us had a low or ultra low rectal resection however not all had a temporary ileostomy. Many only had their stoma for up to the recommended 12 weeks but they still have LARS. This is not surprising given that LARS has ...

Did you have open surgery? The tummy muscles which act as a girdle for the back are often affected during open surgery, leading to back pain. It is possible that the numbness you are experiencing may be sciatica subsequent to back weakness. This is what happened to me after my ULAR. A few sessions w...

I've found that blitzed soups are an excellent way of getting the nutrients from vegetables that would otherwise cause problems in their raw or even whole cooked state. Start out with safe ones like potato sweet potato and pumpkin and then add in a new vegetable when you make a fresh batch. I have L...

I had a supposedly benign sessile low rectal polyp removed by EMR. Turned out it was malignant, moderately differentiated but with no lymphovascular involvement, T1/2. Margins were clear. I was immediately referred to a colorectal surgeon. He gave me two options: ULAR or APR (would only know once he...

Hi Jancy, Karen has given you excellent advice. Life after low rectal resection is often challenging. As you can see from my signature, I am about 28 months post reversal after a ULAR for stage 1 low rectal cancer. I didn't have chemo or radio either. It is certainly still early days for you so plea...

Hi there, I recently completed a survey investigating the post treatment challenges for CRC survivors. I was not alone in noting that the survey "didn't ask the right questions". As a rectal cancer survivor I have my own ideas about what the "right" questions might be, but I woul...

Hi Malleous, From one rectal reversalist to another, you seem like you are doing really well. I just wanted to clarify one thing though. From looking at your "blow by blow" diary, I would say that what you have is "frequency" rather than "clustering". Frequency is multi...