Postby sbinwa » Thu Jan 03, 2013 9:07 pm
Hi, I know this query was posted a while ago, but I also know that before my surgery I read everything I could find, no matter how old. I had an LAR in October 2012. I had part of my rectum and all of my sigmoid colon removed. I did not have an ileostomy. Except for the first 24 hours after surgery, I was relatively comfortable and did not need much in the way of pain medication. I was in the hospital for 7 days, the last two because my doctor would not release me until I had had a bowel movement. I was quite concerned about this also. I think that the pain medication I was taking delayed the bowel movement, and I simply did not take any for 36 hours before my discharge. Frankly, I didn't need it anyway. I had diarrhea after I got home constantly with a lot of gas. After about 3 days of this, I started taking Imodium and Gas X. Before your surgery, stock up on both of these medications (try the Dollar store) as well as baby wipes or a "wiping lotion". I learned fairly quickly what I could eat and what I could not eat, as well as when to take more Imodium before it was too late. At first I was eating very little and following the bland diet I had been given at the hospital, but I actually did better once I started eating more normal. With more food in my system, I had less gas and my BMs started to be more formed. I still avoid fiber (veggies and fruit) spicy foods, and anything that gave me gas before the surgery - particularly carbonated drinks. I can eat most everything else with no problem as long as I take an Imodium every 24 to 36 hours. They make a pill that contains the simethicone with the anti-diarrheal which is good. The Imodium stops not only the diarrhea but also the feeling (spasms?) like you have to go all the time.
I wish the doctor would have told me that this procedure would change my life - but he didn't. I will probably never enjoy a bag of popcorn at the movies again, and Chinese food is pretty iffy also. But all in all, life is pretty much the same as always.