Pain following right hemicolectomy

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Carstella
Posts: 2
Joined: Sun Apr 22, 2018 8:11 am

Pain following right hemicolectomy

Postby Carstella » Sun Apr 22, 2018 8:35 am

I am a 69 yr old female, ideal weight, non smoker, very little alcohol, active and healthy until a mass in cecum was diagnosed. I had surgery 4 days ago laparoscopicly with removal of mass and part of small intestine, ascending colon and appendix( 18inches). I came home on day two. Pathology showed T1, no chemo needed. Little instructions on discharge. Problem is pain on left side , mid level, increases when standing. Feels like deep burning pain and also feels like contents of bowel will just fall out. I use small pillow getting up and down and standing or sitting. No bowel movement yet, it’s day 4 following surgery. I am unsure if I should be taking Mira lax or benefiber as I fear that things aren’t working right. I’m taking hydrocodone 5mg twice a day and ibuprofen 400mg in between. Surgeon made it sound like a breeze and I’m not a complainer but having a rough time. Please respond if you have similar problems Thank You
iron deficiency anemia Nov 2017
Jan 2018 endoscopy neg for celiac disease
Iron infusions 02/15 and 02/22/2018
03/16/18 Us
03/21/18 CT( I’ll- defined mass within cecum)
03/30/18 Colonoscopy with biopsy:suspicious for adenocarcinoma
04/18/18 right hemicolectomy, with removal of 6” of small intestine, 12” large to include cecum and appendix, with anastomosis
Tumor Grade T2, N0,M0,G2 No chemo recommended
69 yr old female

Beckster
Posts: 438
Joined: Thu Jan 12, 2017 3:01 pm
Location: New Jersey

Re: Pain following right hemicolectomy

Postby Beckster » Sun Apr 22, 2018 1:49 pm

Carstella wrote:I am a 69 yr old female, ideal weight, non smoker, very little alcohol, active and healthy until a mass in cecum was diagnosed. I had surgery 4 days ago laparoscopicly with removal of mass and part of small intestine, ascending colon and appendix( 18inches). I came home on day two. Pathology showed T1, no chemo needed. Little instructions on discharge. Problem is pain on left side , mid level, increases when standing. Feels like deep burning pain and also feels like contents of bowel will just fall out. I use small pillow getting up and down and standing or sitting. No bowel movement yet, it’s day 4 following surgery. I am unsure if I should be taking Mira lax or benefiber as I fear that things aren’t working right. I’m taking hydrocodone 5mg twice a day and ibuprofen 400mg in between. Surgeon made it sound like a breeze and I’m not a complainer but having a rough time. Please respond if you have similar problems Thank You


Hi Carstella and welcome!

I had a right hemi with a mass in the cecum too. Like you, I spent 2 days in the hospital. However, mine was a T3 not a T1...you are very luck because symptoms do not present until later stages. I had stage 2A with no lymph node involvement. When discharged, I was told to eat low fiber for about 1 week. I ate mash potatoes, soup but no salad or foods with roughage. I had a lot of gas and a little pain near the laparoscopic area. I used a pillow too....remember just because you had laparoscopic surgery, it does not mean it was a minor surgery. Muscles take time...it took over a week for me not to use a pillow....but after 2 weeks, I was ready to rock and roll. You should not have come home from the hospital until you were able to poop! I think that is your problem!
57/F
DX:(CC) 10/19/16
11/4/16- Lap right hemi(cecum)
CEA- Pre Op (1.9), Pre Chemo (2.5)
Type: Adenocarcinoma
Tumor size:3.5 cm x 2.5 x 0.7 cm
Grade: G3
TNM: T3N0M0/IIA
LN: 0/24
LVI present
Surgical margins: clear
MSS
12/27/2016 - Capeox, anaphylactic
1/2/17 to 6/9/17- Xeloda
6/17,12/17,6/18,12/18,6/19,12/19,12/20,12/21 CT Scan NED :D
CEA- 6/17- 3.6, 9/17- 2.8 12/17-2.8, 3/18-3.1, 6/18-3.0, 9/18 2.8, 12/18 2.5 3/19 3.1 6/19 3.1 9/19 2.6 12/19 2.8 6/20 3.0 12/20 2.7 6/21 2.9,[color=#000000]12/21 2.7[/color]
Clear Colonoscopy 10/17, 11/19,11/21 :D

Dionca
Posts: 48
Joined: Sat Dec 02, 2017 2:04 am

Re: Pain following right hemicolectomy

Postby Dionca » Sun Apr 22, 2018 3:28 pm

Hi Carstella

I had a similar surgery, but was in the hospital for 6 days ( I had a leak at the surgical join). You are only 4 days out, so it appears to me that what you are experiencing is pretty normal. As Beckster said, they don't usually discharge you until you are able to poop.

I was given hydromorphone pills when I left the hospital, but they had a constipating effect (as do hydrocodone) so tried not to take them. I tried stool softeners, but they didn't do much good, so I took dulcolax, which helped somewhat. A gentle laxative is probably what you need, but I would call the dr's office and let them know that it's been 4 days and you haven't had a bm yet, and ask them what they recommend.

I know, it's painful and uncomfortable, so I hope you get some relief soon.
stage 3b T3 N1b MX 2/27 nodes (surgery 4/2015)
moderately differentiated
PNI - positive
LVI - positive
Folfox 12 sessions (w/out oxi for 11 & 12)
Neulasta with 3-12 due to low WBC count
CEA at diagnosis 8.6
CEA after surgery 1.2
CEA during chemo 4.6 / 3.3 / 2.3
CEA after chemo 1.5 / 1.2 / 1.2 /1.2 /1.2 / 1.4 / 1.1 / 1.2 / 1.9 / 1.3 / 1.6 /1.4 /1.5
neuropathy
recurrence in left lung (surgery May 2020)

Carstella
Posts: 2
Joined: Sun Apr 22, 2018 8:11 am

Re: Pain following right hemicolectomy

Postby Carstella » Sun Apr 22, 2018 4:41 pm

Thank you so much for your response. It gives me hope that things will fall into place. One reason I was released without having pooped was because I had had a week of clear liquids preceded by a colonoscopy, and then the second cleanse for the surgery. There was literally nothing in me. Since posting earlier today I have had a loose stool. Hurray!
I have an aversion to pain meds but see that I am prolonging my recovery when I hurt too much to move. So I’m alternating a half dose of pain Med, followed in two hours with ibuprofen.
Again, thank you for responding. My spirits have improved and I actually walked around my flower garden.
iron deficiency anemia Nov 2017
Jan 2018 endoscopy neg for celiac disease
Iron infusions 02/15 and 02/22/2018
03/16/18 Us
03/21/18 CT( I’ll- defined mass within cecum)
03/30/18 Colonoscopy with biopsy:suspicious for adenocarcinoma
04/18/18 right hemicolectomy, with removal of 6” of small intestine, 12” large to include cecum and appendix, with anastomosis
Tumor Grade T2, N0,M0,G2 No chemo recommended
69 yr old female

Beckster
Posts: 438
Joined: Thu Jan 12, 2017 3:01 pm
Location: New Jersey

Re: Pain following right hemicolectomy

Postby Beckster » Sun Apr 22, 2018 6:01 pm

Carstella wrote:Thank you so much for your response. It gives me hope that things will fall into place. One reason I was released without having pooped was because I had had a week of clear liquids preceded by a colonoscopy, and then the second cleanse for the surgery. There was literally nothing in me. Since posting earlier today I have had a loose stool. Hurray!
I have an aversion to pain meds but see that I am prolonging my recovery when I hurt too much to move. So I’m alternating a half dose of pain Med, followed in two hours with ibuprofen.
Again, thank you for responding. My spirits have improved and I actually walked around my flower garden.



One more thing....walk...walk...walk! That is the best medicine!
57/F
DX:(CC) 10/19/16
11/4/16- Lap right hemi(cecum)
CEA- Pre Op (1.9), Pre Chemo (2.5)
Type: Adenocarcinoma
Tumor size:3.5 cm x 2.5 x 0.7 cm
Grade: G3
TNM: T3N0M0/IIA
LN: 0/24
LVI present
Surgical margins: clear
MSS
12/27/2016 - Capeox, anaphylactic
1/2/17 to 6/9/17- Xeloda
6/17,12/17,6/18,12/18,6/19,12/19,12/20,12/21 CT Scan NED :D
CEA- 6/17- 3.6, 9/17- 2.8 12/17-2.8, 3/18-3.1, 6/18-3.0, 9/18 2.8, 12/18 2.5 3/19 3.1 6/19 3.1 9/19 2.6 12/19 2.8 6/20 3.0 12/20 2.7 6/21 2.9,[color=#000000]12/21 2.7[/color]
Clear Colonoscopy 10/17, 11/19,11/21 :D

TXLiz
Posts: 249
Joined: Thu Sep 22, 2016 3:31 pm

Re: Pain following right hemicolectomy

Postby TXLiz » Mon Apr 23, 2018 9:28 am

Had 9 cm mass in Cecum. I was in hospital about 7 days.

They released me with ibuprofen and Tylenol 3. Worthless.

I had pain for a long time. Since I wasn’t on a “good” pain relief med, I had pain but my bowel habits were “ok.”

It’s going to take time, try to relax and just get through each day.

I am glad you walked through your garden. Take care!
Vomiting and blockage 9/19/16 46 y F
R hemi colectomy 9/20/16
Stage 3 B CRC, located in cecum
3 out of 16 lymph nodes positive
perineural invasion/lymphovascular invasion
infiltrating, mod differentiated adenocarcinoma with a mucinous component
separate tumor nodules present in pericolonic adipose tissue
MSI-high
Baseline PET scan clear 9/16 CEA 0.5
FOLFOX 10/16- 3/17
April 16th, CT scan clear. CEA 1.1
Lynch "inconclusive"
Colonoscopy 10/5/2017 clear

User avatar
JJH
Posts: 408
Joined: Mon Apr 24, 2017 7:26 am

Re: Pain following right hemicolectomy

Postby JJH » Mon Apr 23, 2018 11:48 am

In my opinion, the problem may he due to the hydrocodone that you are taking, because it is known to cause constipation:
Hydrocodone use can cause various side effects, even with legitimate medical use. The most common side effects include nausea and vomiting. The drug may also cause constipation since opioids have the potential to reduce how fast it takes stool to move through the digestive system. In addition, opioids like hydrocodone increase nonpropulsive contractions in the middle of the small intestines and lessen the motions in the intestines that are responsible for moving food through them. The drug also has the potential to cause food to remain in the body’s organs for longer than usual as well as cause a reduction in digestive secretions and the urge to defecate.
https://americanaddictioncenters.org/hy ... e-effects/
"The darkest hour is just before the dawn" - Thomas Fuller (1650)
●●●

TeriS
Posts: 7
Joined: Tue Jan 02, 2018 3:37 pm
Facebook Username: Teri “Parker” Smedley

Re: Pain following right hemicolectomy

Postby TeriS » Tue May 01, 2018 10:43 pm

My cecum mass and right hemicolectomy was done December 21st, 2017. I was discharged after 48 hours. But pooped the night of my surgery (it was a surprise poop). I was at stage IIIC so am undergoing chemo now. My surgery recovery was actually pretty easy, but I also stuck to a soft food diet and tried to get up and move every hour, even if it was only to walk around the living room. Make sure your diet is calorie focused because you are eating such small amounts. I’m not a. Hocolate person, but found that eating chocolate, avocados, eggs, and whole milk helped me through the recovery. Hang in there — it gets better pretty quickly once you get moving in the right direction!
12/1/17 - 5.5 cm mass found in cecum during colonoscopy
12/8/17 CT scan showed questionable regional lymph nodes and cecum mass only
12/21/17 - right hemicolectomy laparoscopy
1/4/18 - pathology report says T4aN2a — Stage IIIc


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