Sluggish bowel

Please feel free to read, share your thoughts, your stories and connect with others!
Jen43
Posts: 13
Joined: Sat Mar 23, 2019 9:52 pm

Sluggish bowel

Postby Jen43 » Sat Jun 29, 2019 9:41 am

I had a subtotal colectomy 9 weeks ago. For the first 2 weeks I had diarrhea a lot, but since then I have only one bowel movement a day and in the last few days it’s been very formed. I know with only having a little large colon I was told I would have a lot of bowel movements. The surgeon said I might have a sluggish bowel.

Has anyone else had this.

I know I should be glad I don’t have diarrhea all the time but this other doesn’t seem normal.

boxhill
Posts: 789
Joined: Fri Apr 06, 2018 11:40 am

Re: Sluggish bowel

Postby boxhill » Sat Jun 29, 2019 1:31 pm

If by "very formed," you mean large, hard, and difficult to pass, I'd personally choose to take a stool softener.

Otherwise, if you are having what sounds like a normal bowel movement every day, what's the problem? :D
F, 64 at DX CRC Stage IV
3/17/18 blockage, r hemi
11 of 25 LN,5 mesentery nodes
5mm liver met
pT3 pN2b pM1
BRAF wild, KRAS G12D
dMMR, MSI-H
5/18 FOLFOX
7/18 and 11/18 CT NED
12/18 MRI 5mm liver mass, 2 LNs in porta hepatis
12/31/18 Keytruda
6/19 Multiphasic CT LNs normal, Liver stable
6/28/19 Pause Key, predisone for joint pain
7/31/19 Restart Key
9/19 CT stable
Pain: all fails but Celebrex
12/23/19 CT stable
5/20 MRI stable/NED
6/20 Stop Key
All MRIs NED

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

Re: Sluggish bowel

Postby Beckster » Sat Jun 29, 2019 2:21 pm

I had a right hemicolectomy and once in a blue moon I do get diarrhea, but most times I go one time a day...that is normal. If it is not hard to pass, your bowels are back to normal. I eat fruits and salads to keep me from getting constipated.
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

CF_69
Posts: 109
Joined: Sat Dec 22, 2018 9:44 pm

Re: Sluggish bowel

Postby CF_69 » Sun Jul 07, 2019 5:02 pm

I eat a lot of fiber too. I’m just over 3 months post surgery now, no ileostomy. I tend to constipate, however on occasion I’ve had to beeline to the nearest washroom.

Everyone seems to have their own unique do’s and don’ts when it comes to LARS. I consider myself pretty lucky as I’ve had relatively few issues to date, knocking on wood.

I’m not “normal” but I try to plan ahead as best I can.

Time meals if I need to leave the house for extended periods. I popped 1 Imodium on Canada day before I went out just to be safe.

I try to regulate myself through diet, but sometimes I’ll drink some restorelax (miralax) if I feel too backed up.

I find it increases the probability of wet farts so I don’t take it too often.

Of course I’m doing adjuvant chemo right now so all will probably change when that’s done.

Trial and error is how I’d describe it. I’ve definitely been improving as time passes.
47 at diagnosis
Rectosigmoid junction
Adenocarcinoma
2.8 x 1.8 x 3.5 cm
G2
T3N0M0
CEA:
December 2018 - 1.9
September 2019 - 2.5
March 2020 - 2.3
September 2020 - 2.5
Xeloda / radiation x 25
Laparoscopic LAR April 2019
0 of 12 nodes
Stage 2A
4 cycles of adjuvant Xeloda
MRI on liver for 2mm hypodensity not suspicious.
Clear CT - September 2019
Clear CT - October 2020


Return to “Colon Talk - Colon cancer (colorectal cancer) support forum”



Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 111 guests